Lake Lonidaw Loop

Pokagon State Park is located in northeastern Indiana near the town of Angola and is one of the state’s most historic and scenic protected areas. The park is named in honor of Leopold and Simon Pokagon, influential leaders of the Potawatomi Nation who advocated for the rights and preservation of their people during a time of major displacement and cultural change. Established in the 1920s as part of Indiana’s early state park system, Pokagon quickly became a model for outdoor recreation and conservation in the Midwest. Much of its early infrastructure was developed during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), whose workers constructed many of the park’s roads, trails, stone buildings, and rustic landscape features that remain in use today. The park’s rolling terrain reflects its glacial origins, with gently rising hills, kettle lakes, wetlands, and hardwood forests that create a diverse and visually appealing landscape. Centered around Lake James and Snow Lake, the park offers abundant opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife observation. More than 10 miles of trails wind through its varied ecosystems, providing access to quiet woodlands, marshy lowlands, and elevated viewpoints. The Potawatomi Inn, a historic lodge within the park, serves as a comfortable base for visitors and offers lodging, dining, and lakefront views, while rustic cabins and a large campground provide additional overnight options for those seeking a more traditional outdoor experience.

This short loop hike begins at the Potawatomi Inn and follows Trail #3 as it gently winds through mature forest toward Lake Lonidaw, a quiet and scenic water body tucked into the wooded landscape. The trail is well-maintained and clearly marked, making it an easy and enjoyable route for hikers of all experience levels. As the path approaches the lake, it transitions into a series of boardwalk sections that cross over marshy wetlands, where interpretive signage highlights the ecological importance of the area and its role as habitat for birds, amphibians, and aquatic plant life. From here, the route connects with Trail #6, which climbs gradually over a forested ridge, offering elevated wintertime views across Lake Lonidaw as well as glimpses of Lake James and Lake Charles West, a privately owned lake visible through breaks in the trees. Along the ridge, the terrain remains gentle but varied, with hardwood forests transitioning between oak, maple, and beech depending on slope and moisture levels. At least two well-placed benches along the boardwalk provide opportunities to pause and take in the quiet marsh scenery, especially during early morning or late afternoon light when the water reflects the surrounding trees. The loop eventually descends back toward the Potawatomi Inn, completing a peaceful and well-rounded hike that showcases both the wooded uplands and wetland ecosystems that make Pokagon State Park such a distinctive destination in Indiana’s state park system.