Deam Lake and Starve Hollow State Recreation Areas

Deam Lake and Starve Hollow State Recreation Areas Official page for Deam Lake and Starve-Hollow State Recreation Areas. Comment policy: on.IN.gov/dnrsocial.

Deam Lake is forest property designed for recreational activities. Under the multiple use concept, a variety of compatible activities are available. These include fishing, boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking and hunting in designated areas. The 194-acre lake was constructed in 1965 and was named in honor of Charles Deam, Indiana's first state forester. Deam is best known for his book, T

rees of Indiana, a comprehensive study of trees throughout10 or more, and all programs and field trips are free of charge with admission to Deam Lake. The Forest Education Center is wheelchair accessible, and is now open 8am-3pm Monday thru Friday, and is closed on weekends..

The 2nd Annual Deam Lake Loop 5K/10K Trail Run will take place on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at 8:00 AM! All distances...
08/14/2026

The 2nd Annual Deam Lake Loop 5K/10K Trail Run will take place on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at 8:00 AM! All distances are only $30. Sign up by September 15th to get a shirt for an additional cost.

The 10K (6.2 miles) will travel around the entire iconic Deam Lake Loop Trail, which is the perimeter of the property. The 5K (3.1 miles) will travel part way around this loop but cut back across the dam, giving the runner or hiker stunning views of the lake. The race is only 7 weeks away, so start your training now! All runners, walkers, and hikers are welcome!

This year we are offering Group Training Runs to help get runners acclimated to these trails, which can be hilly. Our training runs will take place Sunday, August 23rd at 8:00 AM, Thursday, September 3rd at 6:00 PM, and Sunday, September 20th at 8:00 AM. There will be 2, 4, and 6 mile options; meet at the Forest Education Center. For more info on the training runs, visit the Facebook event page at https://ow.ly/3LRP50ZzVJ0.

Registration and more information can be found here: https://ow.ly/kk9Y50ZzVIZ

Starve Hollow had a great time celebrating Smokey Bear's 82nd Birthday! Thank you to everyone who said hi to Smokey, roa...
08/12/2026

Starve Hollow had a great time celebrating Smokey Bear's 82nd Birthday! Thank you to everyone who said hi to Smokey, roasted some marshmallows and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day with us!

Visit Starve Hollow SRA for future hiking, fishing, kayaking & more, and remember Smokey's saying: Only YOU can prevent wildfires.

on.IN.gov/starvehollow

The Deam Lake Summer Hiking Series will continue at 9:00 AM Saturday, August 15 with a counterclockwise guided group hik...
08/12/2026

The Deam Lake Summer Hiking Series will continue at 9:00 AM Saturday, August 15 with a counterclockwise guided group hike around the lake on the yellow trail. Meet at the Forest Education Center. This trail is an easy to moderate horse trail that includes views of the lake in several places. The entire trail is 6.2 miles long and will take approximately 2.5 hours. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Bring water and snacks. Maps and bug spray will be provided. This hike will follow the same trail that our Deam Lake Loop 5k/10k trail race will use this fall, so a preview of both courses is possible. Completion patches will be available for purchase after the hike if desired. This event is weather-permitting. More information is available at https://events.in.gov/event/guided-hike-around-the-lake-loop-deam-lake-sra?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=State+of+Indiana

Deam Lake SRA Interpretive Events August 2026 Saturday, August 1: Watermelon DayVisit the Forest Education Center betw...
08/12/2026

Deam Lake SRA Interpretive Events August 2026

Saturday, August 1: Watermelon Day
Visit the Forest Education Center between noon and 4pm to learn about watermelon and other Cucurbits (gourd family). There will be watermelon-themed treats and activities.

Saturday, August 8: S’mores in the Campground and Smokey’s Birthday
Smokey the Bear will officially be 82 years old this month. We will celebrate Smokey with crafts and activities that teach Smokey’s history and important messages about wildfire prevention. Visit the Forest Education Center anytime during the weekend of August 8-10 during regular hours.

Do you like making your own S’more and sitting around the campfire enjoying your creation? Meet at the campfire near the playground in the family campground between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Marshmallows graham crackers, chocolate, and roasting sticks will be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own ingredients. Everyone is invited and the event is free once you gain entrance to the park.

Saturday, August 15: Guided Hike Around the Lake Loop
Join the naturalists for a guided hike around Deam Lake on the Yellow Trail. This is a continuation of our Summer Hiking Series. Meet at the Forest Education Center at 9:00 AM for this easy to moderate difficulty loop, estimated to take 1.5 to 2 hours. Bug spray and maps will be provided, however it is recommended to bring plenty of water, snacks and closed-toed shoes. This hike will be a preview of our 5k/10k trail run in early October. Email [email protected] with questions or concerns. This event is weather-permitting.

Saturday, August 22: Group Kayak Tour
Join the naturalist for a guided kayak tour around Deam Lake from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The first 8 participants to sign up can use DNR kayaks free of charge. (There are 6 single and 2 tandems available.) Email [email protected] to secure your spot. Additional participants are welcome to join with personal kayaks or paddleboards; please note that an annual $5 launch permit is still required for personal boats. Please include your name, phone number, and whether you would like a single kayak or a tandem when you email. Plan to gather at the beach house just before 8:00 AM, so that we can launch by 8:15 AM. This event is weather permitting.

Friday, August 28: Full Moon Hike/Night Hike
Plan to join us from 8:30 to 10:00 PM at the Buzzard Roost/Knobstone Trailhead Parking Lot for a short, guided hike to celebrate the Sturgeon Moon. We will hike .25 miles to the dam, were a small, amateur telescope will be set up to take a closer look at the moon. For those interested, a continuation across the dam to the dark woods to listen for night sounds will occur. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toes shoes and bring water and headlamp/red flashlight, if available. This event will take place even if it is cloudy, but will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/deam-lake-sra/deam-lake-sra-events/

Visit Starve Hollow August 10th through the 16th for upcoming Nature Center interpretive programs, including:Mon. August...
08/08/2026

Visit Starve Hollow August 10th through the 16th for upcoming Nature Center interpretive programs, including:

Mon. August 10th
2-2:30pm Fish Friends - Learn about the different kinds of fish in Starve Hollow Lake

Thurs. August 13th
2-2:30pm Frogs & Toads - Distinguish between frogs & toads & learn about their role in the park!

Fri. August 14th
1-2pm Guided Kayak Tour - Meet @ Boat House. Bring your own boat OR rent from our Boat House. Bug spray recommended.

Sat. August 15th
2-2:30pm Turtle Time - See our box turtle ambassadors up close!

Sun. August 16th
10:30-11am Turtle Time - See our aquatic turtle ambassadors up close!
2-2:30pm Owl-you-doin' - Learn about the different kinds of owls in Southern Indiana.

All nature center events are subject to change without notice. For more information & the Starve Hollow Events Calendar, please visit on.IN.gov/starvehollow

You're invited to join Starve Hollow SRA in celebrating 82 years of Smokey Bear! Park visitors can stop by the nature ce...
08/05/2026

You're invited to join Starve Hollow SRA in celebrating 82 years of Smokey Bear! Park visitors can stop by the nature center to make a Smokey-themed craft, learn facts from Smokey's history & enjoy s'mores with Smokey!

Look for Smokey around the campgrounds & get your picture with him! We look forward to seeing you there!

All nature center events are subject to change without notice. For more information & the Starve Hollow events calendar, please visit on.IN.gov/starvehollow

Starve Hollow SRA has plenty of upcoming events for back-to-school season! Visit the nature center for some late summer ...
08/03/2026

Starve Hollow SRA has plenty of upcoming events for back-to-school season! Visit the nature center for some late summer activities, including:

Thurs. Aug. 6th
2-2:30pm National Tree Check Month - Help the naturalists check our trees for invasives, disease & pests.
3-3:30pm Coyote Clues - Learn about how coyotes live as scavengers & how they use the environment to their advantage!

Fri. Aug. 7th
2-2:30pm Geode Chase - Learn about how geodes form & how to find them.

Sat. Aug. 8th
ALL DAY: Smokey Bear's 82nd Birthday Bash! Celebrate Smokey's Birthday with s'mores, crafts & Smokey themed activities!
2-2:30pm Box Turtle Time - See our box turtle ambassadors up close!

Sun. Aug. 9th
10:30-11am Aquatic Turtle Time - See our aquatic turtle ambassadors up close!

All nature center programs are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit on.IN.gov/starvehollow

Visit Starve Hollow SRA this weekend for upcoming interpretive programs July 31st through August 2nd! Upcoming Programs ...
07/31/2026

Visit Starve Hollow SRA this weekend for upcoming interpretive programs July 31st through August 2nd!

Upcoming Programs include:
Fri. July 31st
4-4:30pm: Phases of the Moon - Learn about why we have different phases of the moon & how to track them!
Sat. Aug. 1st
ALL DAY: Watermelon Weekend - Celebrate National Watermelon Day with watermelon themed activities & crafts!
10:30-11am: Moths - Learn about the different kinds of moths in Southern Indiana & how to identify them!
2-2:30pm: Box Turtle Time - See our box turtle ambassadors up close!
Sun. Aug. 2nd
8:30-9:30am: Women's Morning Hike - Meet @ Trail 6. Closed shoes recommended.
10:30-11am: Aquatic Turtle Time - See our aquatic turtle ambassadors up close!

All nature center programs are subject to change without notice. For more information & the Starve Hollow SRA Events Calendar, please visit https://ow.ly/PTut50ZuKB8

National Watermelon Day is celebrated annually in early August to honor summer's most hydrating and iconic fruit. Waterm...
07/29/2026

National Watermelon Day is celebrated annually in early August to honor summer's most hydrating and iconic fruit. Watermelon is a member of the Cucurbit family, which also includes pumpkins, cucumbers, gourds, squash and other melons.

Stop by the Forest Education Center at Deam Lake SRA on Saturday, August 1, between Noon and 4pm to learn more about the botanical family Cucurbitaceae and sample some fresh watermelon!

To learn more about this and other events at Deam Lake SRA, visit https://events.in.gov/deam_lake_state_recreation_area

Address

1217 Deam Lake Road
Borden, IN
47106

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 3:30pm
Thursday 8am - 3:30pm
Friday 8am - 3:30pm
Saturday 8am - 3:30pm
Sunday 8am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+18122465421

Website

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