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           Mississinewa Lake

            and State Recreation Areas

                                  Miami County

For an introduction to Mississinewa Lake, go to the home page. Click on East-Central, click on Wabash County, then click on Mississinewa. Click on the photos below with your mouse, to make the image full size. The Mississinewa Lake, and surrounding property, is owned by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers. The State Recreation Areas and Resource Management Units are leased to the state of Indiana (D.N.R.).

  DIRECTIONS TO MISSISSINEWA LAKE, FROM THE CENTRAL AND WEST SIDE OF THE STATE: From Indianapolis, drive north on U.S. 31 (Meridian Street in Indianapolis) to the city of Peru.   Drive north on U.S. 31 past the Grissom Aeroplex on the left (west) side of the road (the old Grissom Air Force Base).   Drive north roughly 1 1/2 miles past the Grissom Aeroplex to C.R. 500 S. (a large green rectangular "Mississinewa Reservoir" arrow sign will signal this turn).   Turn right (east) on C.R. 500 S Watch for stop signs along C.R. 500 S.   Drive roughly 8 miles east to the 2-way stop. From this point, going straight on C.R. 500 S. will lead you to birding sites along the south side of Mississinewa Lake.   Turning left (north) on C.R 550 E. will lead you to the Dam and Tailwater Area.  It is also the shortest route to birding sites on the north side of Mississinewa Lake.

        

                     Frances Slocum State Forest

 

1. The Horseman's Parking Lot" sign.

2. The Horseman's Parking Lot.

3. A narrow horse trail in Frances Slocum State Forest.

 

DIRECTIONS TO FRANCES SLOCUM STATE FOREST: From the intersection of C.R. 550 E. and C.R. 500 S., turn left (north) on C.R. 550 E.   Drive north roughly 1 1/2 miles to the T-section with C.R. 375 S. [a brown "Outlet Fishing Site" arrow sign is on the left (west)].   Turn right (east) on C.R. 375 S.   Follow C.R. 375 S. as it winds around to the first stop sign.   At this stop sign, turn right (east) on Peoria Drive.   This is a detour for the Mississinewa Dam Road, which is closed while the Dam is being repaired.   Veer right at the Peoria Bait and Tackle Shop and drive across the steel bridge.   Continue driving east for roughly 1 mile to the stop sign / T-section.   Turn left (north) on C.R. 675 E.   Drive north roughly 3/4 mile and turn left (west) on C.R. 290 S. (a T-section).   Drive west roughly 3/4 mile and veer right (north) at the green C.R. 625 E. sign.   Drive north 25 yards and turn left (west) at the brown "Horseman Parking Lot-Day Use Only" sign.    

 

                    Peoria Outlet Fishing Site

          Tailwaters of the Mississinewa River

 

4. The Peoria Outlet Fishing Site sign. This is at the parking lot on the west bank of the tailwaters.

5. Looking south, from the Peoria Outlet Fishing Site. Heavy equipment repairs the Dam.

6. The steel bridge over the tailwater fishing site below the Dam. This steel bridge serves as a detour during Dam repairs.

7. The tailwater outlet is at the base of the north side of the Dam. Food filters thru the Dam's drains and out into the tailwaters, attracting fish.

8. Fisherman hang over the aluminum rails at the Outlet Fishing Site. A 10 lb. catfish was caught here on this day.

 

DIRECTIONS TO THE PEORIA OUTLET FISHING SITE: From the intersection of C.R. 550 E. and C.R. 500 S.,  turn left (north) on C.R. 550 E.   Drive north roughly 1 1/2 miles to the T-section with C.R. 375 S. (a brown "Outlet Fishing Site" arrow sign is here).   Turn right (east) on C.R. 375 S.   Drive roughly 3/4 mile east and just past the bait shop, turn right into the Outlet Fishing Site parking lot.   If you continue straight on C.R. 375 S., going past the official Outlet Fishing Site, it will lead you across the steel bridge to the east bank of the Peoria Outlet Fishing Site.  When you reach the first stop sign beyond the official Peoria Outlet Fishing Site parking lot, turn right (east) on Peoria Drive. That will lead you over the steel bridge.

 

9. View from the Outlet Fishing Site steel bridge, looking north along the Mississinewa River.

10. The east bank of the Outlet Fishing Site and the Mississinewa River serve as the western border of the Frances Slocum State Forest.

 

 

                  The Dam at Mississinewa Lake

 

11. The sign along Mississinewa Dam Road. Mississinewa Dam Road passes directly over the Dam. It is currently closed during Dam repairs (2004).

12. Mississinewa Dam Road and the Dam, looking east.

13. A view of the Mississinewa Lake, looking south from the Dam.

14. Another view of Mississinewa Lake, looking south from the Dam.

15. Heavy equipment is used to repair the Dam on Mississinewa Dam Road (October - 2004).

 

DIRECTIONS TO THE MISSISSINEWA DAM AND MISSISSINEWA DAM ROAD: From the intersection of C.R. 550 E and C.R. 500 S., turn left (north) on C.R. 550 E.   Drive north roughly 1 mile to C.R. 400 S. / Mississinewa Dam Road.   Turn right (east) on Mississinewa Dam Road / C.R. 400 S.   The U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers Office is here. A map of the Mississinewa Area can be obtained here. 

 

                     Miami State Recreation Area

 

16. The Miami State Recreation Area sign, on C.R. 500 S. and C.R. 625 E.

17. The Miami State Recreation Area Boat Launch. The Dam is on the left side of the picture.

18. The Miami State Recreation Area Boat Launch, looking north to the Dam.

19. The Moswa Trail sign. This trail is on the main park road, on the way to the beach. The wildlife Mgt. Pond is also here.

20. A view of the beginning of the Moswa Trail.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MIAMI STATE RECREATION AREA: From the intersection of C.R. 500 S. and C.R. 550 E., continue straight (east) on C.R. 500 S.   Drive east 1 mile to C.R. 625 E. [(the Gateway Bait Shop and a "Miami State Recreation" sign is on the left (north) side of the road].   Turn left (north) on C.R. 625 E., into the Miami State Recreation Area.  

 

21. The Wildlife Management Pond on Moswa Trail.

22. Looking north to the Dam, from the Miami State S.R.A. The lake was drawn down for Dam repairs, creating dry lake bed and islands near the Dam.

23. Looking south, from the Miami S.R.A. Beach. Drawing the lake down for Dam repairs creates shorebird habitat. The beach is in Wabash County.

24. Islands near the Dam are migratory staging areas for shorebirds, waders and seabirds.

When Dam repairs are complete, this habitat will disappear as the lake refills. Winter pool will still offer mudflats and islands during winter and early spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  

                                          

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright © 2003 Steve Pancol
Last modified: 02/08/07