STATE & NATION TRAVEL · alerts
Low water closes every boat ramp at Hardy Lake in southern Indiana
By Staff Writer · Published November 5, 2026
Indiana DNR says all four launch ramps are closed after dry weather and a continuing water-utility drawdown pushed the reservoir to extremely low levels.
Official announcement: Indiana Department of Natural Resources · November 2, 2026
Source: Indiana DNR Hardy Lake alerts and visitor information
Indiana has closed every boat ramp at Hardy Lake after a combination of limited rain and a continuing drawdown by the water utility left the reservoir at extremely low levels. The Department of Natural Resources posted the update on November 2 and did not provide a reopening date.
The closure applies even though the property page ordinarily lists four launch ramps and identifies Wooster Ramp as the hand-launch location for kayaks and canoes. Travelers should not treat that usual description as an exception to the current all-ramp notice. DNR asks visitors to check the page again or call the park office at 812-794-3800 for the latest status.
Boaters also need to plan around a separate, continuing service limitation: the Hardy Lake marina no longer sells fuel. There is no other fuel vendor on the lake, according to the park, so watercraft operators must arrive self-contained if launching resumes during their trip.
The notice is a launch-access restriction, not an announcement that the entire recreation property is closed. Hardy Lake continues to list hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking and the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center among its visitor offerings, but seasonal services and shoreline conditions can change as the water-supply reservoir responds to demand and precipitation.
What Travelers Need to Know
Do not tow or carry a boat to Hardy Lake on the assumption that one ramp will be usable. The November 2 alert closes all ramps, including the location normally described for kayak and canoe launching. Recheck the official park page or call 812-794-3800 before departure.
If DNR reopens a ramp, bring enough approved fuel for the outing because the marina does not sell fuel and the park says there is no other fuel source on the lake. Follow current transport and storage rules rather than refueling at the shoreline.
Treat camping as a separate reservation decision. Hardy Lake participates in Indiana's central reservation system, and the state advises travelers to contact a property about services and rates outside the main late-April-to-early-November camping period. A campsite booking does not establish that a launch ramp is open.
Current Indiana DNR guidance also warns that blue-green algae can occur year-round. Do not drink lake water, shower after swimming and follow any posted beach notice. Standard state-managed-lake entrance fees are $7 per in-state vehicle and $15 per out-of-state vehicle unless a current property notice says otherwise.
About the Location
Hardy Lake is a 741-acre water-supply reservoir near Scottsburg in southern Indiana. The surrounding DNR property covers 2,178.16 acres and supports boating, camping and trails, while the reservoir level can fluctuate with utility demand, season and rainfall. That operating purpose explains why a period without much rain can affect access even when no storm has damaged the ramps.
The property also contains the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center, one of three raptor centers at Indiana DNR properties. Operating since 1989, it houses permanently injured birds of prey used in educational programs rather than running a wildlife-rehabilitation service.