Interlake State Recreation Area

Interlake State Recreation Area is an Indiana DNR-managed 3,600-acre off-road vehicle park in Warrick and Pike counties in southwestern Indiana: near Lynnville approximately 20 miles east of Evansville, positioning it to serve the Evansville, Owensboro KY, and greater Ohio Valley OHV markets. Like Redbird SRA to the north, Interlake occupies reclaimed coal mining land that was actively strip-mined through the 20th century before transitioning to state-managed recreation, and the reclaimed mining legacy defines the terrain character: deep pit lakes scattered across the property (the 'Interlake' name reflects the interlinked pit lake system), reclaimed overburden hills, varied topography that the surrounding flat Ohio Valley agricultural land lacks, and the mining-era access roads that form the backbone of the trail network. At 3,600 acres, Interlake is significantly larger than Redbird and offers the most mileage of any public OHV facility in Indiana, the trail network totals approximately 110 miles of designated routes. ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, and 4x4 trucks are all accommodated on appropriately rated trails. The pit lakes add a recreational dimension unusual for a Midwest OHV park: riders frequently combine riding with swimming and fishing in the pit lakes during summer months. Indiana DNR OHV permit is required; day-use fees are charged at the entrance station. Primitive and RV camping are available. Interlake is the larger of Indiana's two public OHV parks and particularly popular with riders from the lower Ohio Valley who have shorter drives to Interlake than to private commercial parks further north. Interlake SRA office (812-789-2724) manages operations.