Fun fact: there are literally hundreds of lakes peppered all over Indiana. Of those hundreds of lakes, just 19 are natural – the rest are all reservoirs and man-made bodies of water. But hey, don’t let that fool you – our man-made lakes and reservoirs are wonderful, and oh-so-perfect for a hot summer day. Sure, we can always discuss the ones we always do – popular destinations like Lake Monroe, Patoka Lake, Lake James, Lake Michigan, and many others – but when it comes to all the awesome lakes in Indiana, I prefer the ones that are a little less traveled. Enter Lake Freeman, a reservoir just outside of Monticello, Indiana, that’s a perfect little hidden gem. Often overlooked in favor of other larger, more popular lakes, Lake Freeman is a special treat that you won’t soon forget:

Formed in 1925 by the finished Oakdale Dam, effectively damming the Tippecanoe River, Lake Freeman is one of two lakes making up the Twin Lakes region.
Karen Fausimpar/Wikimedia
The other lake, for the record, is the much-more-popular Lake Shafer, which is features the totally-awesome Indiana Beach Campground and amusement park.
But Lake Freeman's no slouch, either - it's got its own delights just waiting to be discovered.
Lake Freeman Life/Facebook
Lake Freeman is home to the totally-fun Madam Carroll boat ride, a one-of-a-kind river adventure you'll literally ONLY find here.
At its longest, Lake Freeman is 12 miles long.
Lake Freeman Life/Facebook
It has a surface area of just 1,500 acres, so it's not overly huge but nor is it a small-time pond, either. At its deepest, it's 45 feet down to the bottom.

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Few things are as relaxing as a day spent on the water.
Lake Freeman Life/Facebook
What once served as barracks for the men building the dam is now the Oak­dale Dam Inn, which is definitely where you should stay if you decide you don't want to go.
I don't blame you; it's an outrageously beautiful little slice of paradise, and nothing's as wonderful as floating off in a boat and watching the sun go down (or come up).
Lake Freeman Life/Facebook
Do keep in mind that this lake, compared to Lake Shafer, is a lot quieter and less public, so should you come out, do be respectful of the space.
After all, it's not every day you end up somewhere this beautiful...
Lake Freeman Life
...but it could be.

For more information about Lake Freeman and all the fun stuff going on all the time ’round these parts, be sure to check out the official Lake Freeman Life website. Need somewhere else to stay? Check out our friends at Kayak.com and all the awesome spots you can rest your head near Lake Freeman.

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Lake Freeman, Indiana 47960, USA