Boat Ramps In Indiana: Open For Business?

Indiana has a plethora of boat ramps, both public and private, for easy access to its lakes and rivers. The state's Public Fishing & Boating Access Program, which began in 1953, provides free access to Indiana waters for anglers and boaters. However, low water levels due to drought conditions have made some boat ramps unsafe, especially on rivers, with shallow water increasing the risk of boat operators driving their trailers over ramp ends. While some ramps remain suitable only for canoes, kayaks, and small hand-carried boats, Indiana's boating enthusiasts can still enjoy numerous accessible boat ramps across the state.

Indiana boat ramp locations

Indiana has a plethora of boat ramps and launches, with access to lakes, rivers, and waterways for public and private use. Here is a list of boat ramp locations in Indiana:

Northern Indiana

• Adams Lake, Wolcottville
• Adams Marina, Madison
• Admirals Anchor Marina, Jeffersonville
• Alcoa Public Access, Newburgh
• Alton Town Ramp, Alton
• Anchor Bay Marina, Leesburg
• Angel Mounds Boat, Evansville
• Appleman Lake, Lagrange
• Arnold Creek Launching, Rising Sun
• Atwood Lake, Wolcottville
• Aurora Marina, Aurora
• B & E Marine, Trail Creek
• Bass Lake Marina, Bruceville
• Bass Lake, Starke County Access, Knox
• Bedford Ramp, Bedford
• Bloomfield Access, Bloomfield
• Blue Ribbon Marina, Aurora
• Brownies Marine, Fairland
• Brownstown Ramp, Brownstown
• Bruce Lake, Fulton County Access, Kewanna
• Bruce Lake, Pulaski County, Winamac
• Bryant Creek Launching, Patriot
• Burns Ditch, Portage Marine, Portage
• Camp Shore Campground, Aurora
• Cannelton Town Ramp, Cannelton
• Caps Marine, Vevay
• Cedar Lake, Columbia City
• Chapman Lake, Warsaw
• Chinook Fish & Wildlife Area, Sullivan
• Chinook Pits, Brazil
• Clarks Landing Marina, Hamilton
• Clear Lake Marina, Fremont
• Columbus Ramp, Columbus
• Corner Landing, Angola
• Culver Marina, Burr Oak
• Deer Creek, Rocy Point Access, Cannelton
• Doyne's Marine Inc, Portage
• Doyne's Marine Inc', Ogden Dunes
• Dress Plaza Ramp, Evansville
• Duffys Landing, Jeffersonville
• Eagle Hollow Marina, Petersburg
• East Chicago Marina, East Chicago
• Edwardsport Ramp, Edwardsport
• Eel River, Adamsboro Access, Logansport
• Eel River, Laketon, North Manchester
• Eel River, Liberty Mills, North Manchester
• Eel River, Roann, Roann
• Elkhart River, Elkhart
• Elnora Ramp, Elnora
• Erwin's Marine, Valparaiso
• Erwin's Marine', Valparaiso
• Fairfax Marina Sales & Srvc, Bloomington
• Fancher Lake, Crown Point
• Ferdinand Old Town Lake, Ferdinand
• Ferdinand State Forest Lake, Ferdinand
• Four Winds Marina, Bloomington
• Freedom access, Spencer
• Geist Marina, Indianapolis
• Geist Reservoir, Geist Marina, Indianapolis
• George Rogers Clark, Clarksville
• Gibson Lake, Princeton
• Grassy Creek Chain, North Webster
• Greensburg Reservoir, Greensburg
• Griffiths Wawasee Marina, Syracuse
• Hamilton Lake Marine, Hamilton
• Hammond Marina, Hammond
• Harbor Guard Marine, Bloomington
• Hardy Lake State Rec Area, Scottsburg
• Hazelton access, Decker
• Henderson Ford Ramp, Mooresville
• Hindostan Ramp, Shoals
• Hominy Ridge Lake, Lagro
• Hoosier Hills Marina, Celestine
• Huntington Lake, Huntington
• Hursey's Marina', Syracuse
• Hurshtown Reservoir, Grabill
• Inland Marina, Evansville
• Iroquois River, Rensselaer
• Iroquois River, Brook
• Jaycees Boat Ramp, New Albany

Indiana boat ramp safety

Indiana has a lot of boat ramps, many of which are free to access and maintained by the state's Department of Natural Resources. However, some are privately owned, so permission should be sought before using them. Some ramps are only suitable for launching canoes, kayaks, and small, hand-carried boats.

Boat operators should exercise caution when launching trailered boats, especially in low water levels, as there is a risk of driving trailers over the ends of boat ramps. This is particularly true for muddy rivers where ramps can be difficult to see underwater. It is recommended to proceed slowly and use common sense when launching trailered boats.

Some safety tips for boat ramp users in Indiana include:

• Use common sense and don't push your luck, especially in low water levels.
• Proceed slowly when launching trailered boats, especially in muddy rivers.
• Always seek permission before using private boat launch ramps.
• Observe all safety regulations and take precautions when launching and retrieving boats.
• Be aware of any restrictions, such as horsepower limits and speed limits for motorized boats.
• Use extra caution to avoid shallow water, rocks, and other obstacles when on the water.

Indiana boat ramp maintenance

Indiana's boat ramps are administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through its divisions of Fish & Wildlife and State Parks & Reservoirs. The DNR's Public Access Program, which began in 1953, aims to provide free access to Indiana waters for anglers and boaters. The program works with local, state, and federal agencies to acquire new sites annually and currently maintains hundreds of boat ramps across the state.

The DNR does not monitor water levels at each ramp, and during droughts, some ramps may become unsafe for launching trailered boats, especially on rivers. Shallow water increases the risk of boat operators driving their trailers over the ends of ramps, and some ramps may only be suitable for launching canoes, kayaks, and small, hand-carried boats. Boat operators should exercise caution and use their discretion when launching in low-water conditions.

The Public Access Program acquires new sites based on several factors, including the availability of land to purchase, road access, sufficient water depth, proximity to other river access sites, and environmental conditions. The program is funded through the sale of fishing and hunting licenses and federal aid from the Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

To ensure the proper maintenance and safety of Indiana's boat ramps, the Public Access Program relies on volunteers through its Adopt-A-Ramp initiative. This program allows individuals and groups to support healthy waterways, outdoor recreation, and their local communities by caring for a designated ramp. Volunteers are expected to collect trash, report any site issues, and visit their assigned ramp at least three times per year. By reporting their volunteer hours, participants help the Public Access team secure additional federal grant funding for projects.

Indiana boat ramp volunteering

Indiana's Division of Fish & Wildlife offers a volunteering opportunity called Adopt-A-Ramp, which is part of the Public Access Program. The Public Access Program was started in 1953 and works to provide free access to Indiana waters for anglers and boaters. The Adopt-A-Ramp volunteering program is an easy and flexible way for individuals and groups of any size to support healthy waterways, outdoor recreation, and their local community.

There are over 400 public access sites throughout the state, and volunteers can visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife volunteer page to create a volunteer profile and sign up for the Adopt-A-Ramp opportunity directly. Once approved, volunteers are expected to care for their designated ramp by collecting trash and reporting any site issues to staff in a timely manner. Volunteers are also expected to visit their site at least three times during the calendar year and report their volunteer hours so that the public access team can leverage the value of volunteer time and use more federal grant funding to support projects.

Indiana boat ramp permits

Permits can be purchased online at Mother Nature's Mercantile, or in person at property offices and entrance gates (when staffed) at state parks, reservoirs, and forests, as well as the DNR Customer Service Center in Indianapolis.

Some lakes that require permits include:

• All lakes at Chain O'Lakes State Park
• Cagles Mill (Lieber) Lake
• Cecil M. Harden (Raccoon) Lake
• Kunkel Lake at Ouabache State Park
• Lake Lincoln and Weber Lake at Lincoln State Park
• Lakes at Interlake State Recreation Area
• Lakes at Redbird State Recreation Area

Lakes that do not require permits include:

• Lakes located in Fish and Wildlife areas operated by the Division of Fish & Wildlife
• Indiana streams and rivers, including the Ohio River
• Natural lakes such as Lake James, Lake Wawasee, and Lake Michigan
• Lakes at National Forests and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges

It is important to note that the placement of the permit on your boat is specified. The permit should be placed on the left front side (port side) of the boat, not on the boat windshield. This is where an Indiana Conservation Officer will look for the permit if they stop your boat.

In addition to the annual lake permits, there are also fees associated with boat slip permits and boat and bicycle rentals at Indiana state parks.

Frequently asked questions