Getting Oriented
Interlake sits northeast of Lynnville in southwestern Indiana, on the Warrick and Pike county line about 30 miles from Evansville. The Indiana DNR reclaimed the ground from surface coal mining and opened the riding area in 2000. It spans roughly 3,550 acres with nearly 100 miles of trail and 17 water-filled strip pits, which makes it the largest off-road property the state runs. State Road 61 forms the west boundary, County Road 1200 S the north, and State Road 68 the south, with the Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area bordering the east. It is the larger counterpart to Redbird Off-Road State Recreation Area near Dugger, which the DNR manages under the same permit system.
Trail Overview
The multi-use trail network is open to full-size 4WD, ATV, UTV, and dirt bike. Trail markers follow a four-tier system: green circle for beginner, blue square for intermediate, black diamond for advanced, and red for expert. Most of the property is multi-use, but a few segments are restricted: Trail 2 segments and Trails 3, 3A, 3B, and 7 are ATV-only, and the Zone 4 system in the south is limited to single-track riders on dirt bikes and ATVs. A marked Training Area near the center gives new drivers a place to learn before heading onto the spoil banks and hill climbs. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horses share most trails.
Points of Interest
- Rock Garden: a four-stage crawl area. Stages 1 and 2 suit most stock 4WDs and ORVs; stages 3 and 4 call for experienced drivers and modified vehicles.
- Overlook Hill: one of the highest points on the property, with views across the whole area.
- Skinny Pedal Hill: a narrow, steep 4WD climb that challenges experienced drivers.
- Mud Bog: a basin for mud and hill-climb practice, useful for teaching new drivers.
- Marion Parking: a former mine-equipment staging yard where heavy machinery, including the Big Kate dragline, was assembled.
- Waterfall: a seasonal cascade from Perched Lake that runs strongest after rain and beaver activity.
- Hole in Rock, Zone 4 Overlook, and an ADA-accessible Observation Deck over the reclaimed South Fork Patoka wetlands.
Where to Camp
Camping is primitive and first-come, first-served, with 36 sites total: 11 in the family camping area and 25 in the horseman's campground. Each site has a picnic table and grill, with pit toilets and seasonal drinking water. There are no electric hookups. Campers self-register on arrival. A service area sits near Bass Lake at the south end of the property. Riders wanting full hookups or lodging look to Boonville or Evansville.
Permits and Regulations
Everyone who enters pays at the gatehouse. A daily trail pass runs $15 per ORV and includes property entrance. The annual ORV trail-use permit is $95 per ORV for unlimited trail use. Out-of-state riders on non-registered ORVs can buy a $20 annual permit that covers both the Interlake and Redbird trails. All off-road vehicles must be registered or titled with the Indiana BMV, or be street-legal. DOT-approved helmets are required at all times, and every vehicle needs a functioning spark arrestor and muffler. Indiana's youth helmet law applies. A free ORV safety course is offered through offroad-ed.com/indiana. Trails are open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, year-round, and close when conditions turn hazardous.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Carry recovery gear and ride with a partner. The DNR posts that it provides no tow or vehicle-retrieval service.
- Call the gatehouse at 812-922-0002 for current trail conditions before towing in; wet clay closes trails.
- Air down for the clay and spoil-bank climbs, then air back up for the gravel connectors.
- Confirm your spark arrestor, muffler, and registration before you reach the gate.
- Start in the Training Area if you are new, and read the four-tier trail signs before committing to a line.
- Keep clear of highwall edges near the overlooks and off the steep banks around the 17 strip-pit lakes.
Fuel and Water
There is no fuel on the property. Fill up before you arrive. Boonville, about 12 miles southwest, has the closest full services and stations, with additional stops along I-64 and smaller options in Lynnville, Elberfeld, and Chandler. On-site drinking water is seasonal and limited to the campground, so pack your own water, fuel, and spare parts for the day.
Nearby
Redbird Off-Road State Recreation Area, the smaller sibling near Dugger about 90 miles north, is the same idea on roughly 1,400 acres of reclaimed mine land and runs under the identical DNR permit system. The annual and out-of-state ORV permits cover both properties. The Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area borders Interlake to the east for hunting and fishing. Boonville and Lynnville are the nearest towns, and Evansville, about 30 miles southwest, has full lodging and supplies.