USDA Forest Service · Indiana
Saddle Lake Rec. Area
USDA Forest Service · Indiana, United States
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 728 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SADDLE LAKE (NFSR 1121.000) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- Gatchel
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. This campground has 13 primitive campsites with a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hanger at each site. The Saddle Lake Recreation Area was one of four that was associated with flood control lakes built along the Middle Fork of the Anderson River. A boat ramp for the lake and a hiking trail are also available in this area. The scenic, somewhat remote lake is an excellent place to get away from crowds and you will often have the place to yourself. Open season: Year-round. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
$5 per night, paid at the self-service pay station located within the campground. Exact cash or checks accepted.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 26° | 2° | 66° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 46° | 29° | 3° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 40° | 18° | 79° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 49° | 30° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 77° | 61° | 43° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 67° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 71° | 64° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 70° | 61° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 64° | 53° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 50° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 54° | 39° | 16° | 75° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 45° | 31° | 3° | 67° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
All 102 trails in Hoosier National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Saddle Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 13 sites
- Tipsaw Lake · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 50 sites
- Tipsaw Dogwood Loop · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Tipsaw Jackpine Loop · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Tipsaw Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
All public campgrounds in Indiana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.