Indiana LogoIndiana Black and White Logo
Favorites
Home
  • Best of Indiana

    Best of Indiana

    • Winter Fun
    • The Twenty in 20 Lists
    • You Voted - See the Winners!

    VIDEOS

    • Katie's Home-State Adventures
  • Things To Do

    Attractions

    • Museums
    • Historic Sites
    • Entertainment
    • Music, Art & Theater
    • Cities & Downtowns
    • Tours
    • Zoos
    • Sacred Places
    • Amusement & Water Parks
    • Casinos & Gaming
    • Spas
    • Themed Trails
    • Roadside Attractions

    Outdoors & Sports

    • State Parks & Gardens
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Farms & Orchards
    • Lakes & Water Sports
    • Hiking & Biking Trails
    • Motorsports & Sports Teams
    • Golf
    • Ziplining
    • Camping
    • Horseback Riding

    Shopping

    • Made in Indiana
    • Antiques & Flea Markets
    • Sweet Treats & Food
    • Home & Gifts
    • Downtown Shopping
    • Outlets & Malls
    • Artisans & Handcrafts
    • Farmers Markets

    Visitor Services

    • Visitor Centers
    • Convention & Visitors Bureaus
    • Chambers of Commerce
    • Associations / Councils

    Agritourism

    • Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries
    • Seasonal U-Picks
    • Trails & Tours
    • Farming, Growing & Eating

    On a Budget?

    • Discounts
    • FREE Things to Do
  • Road Trips
  • Winter Fun
  • Events

    Events & Festivals

    • Holiday & Season Celebrations
    • History & Cultural Festivals
    • Fairs & City Festivals
    • Music & Dance
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Theater & Movies
    • Food, Beer & Wine
    • Nature & Outdoors
    • Sports & Competitions
    • Vehicles & Collectors
    • Antiques & Shopping
    • Families & Kids

    On a Budget?

    • FREE Admission
  • Lodging

    Lodging

    • Hotels / Motels
    • Bed & Breakfasts / Inns
    • Campgrounds
    • Cabins
    • Resorts / Lodges
    • Vacation Rentals

    On a Budget?

    • Lodging Discounts
  • Food & Drink

    Food & Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wineries
    • Breweries
    • Food Tours
    • Fresh Markets
    • Distilleries
    • Event Venues

    On a Budget?

    • Discounts
  • Brochures
  • Contests
  • Discounts
  • Blog
  • About Indiana
  • Contact Us
  • Email Subscribe
  • For the Media
  • For Travel Professionals
  • Hoosier HospitalitySafety Promise
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Indiana Insider Blog
  • Delightful Days of Fall at Patoka

Delightful Days of Fall at Patoka

By Visit Indiana on September 29, 2011
Back

Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, Dana Gehlhausen:

Dana Gehlhausen - DNRDana Gehlhausen is an Interpretive Naturalist at Patoka Lake for Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs. Dana studied Wildlife Biology at Ball State University and has worked at Patoka Lake since 2006, where she started as an intern. She always enjoys time spent outdoors, and a few of her favorite activities include archery, hiking and kayaking.

This time of year around Patoka Lake is one of my favorites. Why? Once the young eagles have left their nests the adults become more active, flying high above the entire property. There are more chances to view and even photograph eagles in the fall months than in the summer. The boat traffic on the 8,880 acre lake has slowed down and the wildlife activity is steadily increasing. Patoka’s seasonal naturalist, Lyndsey Day and I love to get out and pre-paddle our tour for the coming month. In October, we will be taking kayakers to see a new location and it was essential that we go there and check out the site ourselves. It has been 5 years since I’ve been back to this remote area of our property at King’s Bridge boat ramp.  Along our paddle up river, we saw many Great Blue Herons, Plovers, various ducks, Killdeer,a White-tailed deer drinking from the waters edge and other varieties of wildlife including two Bald Eagles. The nesting site of these eagles is just along this branch of the lake/river. It is amazing how active the wildlife become when their are less people around.

Bald Eagle near King's Bridge
Bald Eagle seen near King's Bridge

Head out to Patoka this season to view the wildlife! After all we were voted as one of the 51 Great Places to See Wildlife in USA Today.

As you look around the sky and land for critters, be sure not to miss the colors of the coming harvest. Farm fields in this area of the state are filled with combines, tractors and trucks as corn and beans are being removed from the land.

Cornfield on a delightful day
Cornfield on a delightful day

This field has yet to be harvested, but can be seen just outside of the Patoka Reservoir property on Highway 164. Corn maze season is here and with corn mazes comes all other Halloween themed events!

Start your fall planning early: Campsites are already booked for Autumn Getaway but there is plenty to come and participate in and programs to see on Friday October 14th and Saturday October 15th.

Come kayaking with Lyndsey and I at King’s Bridge on Saturday, October 22nd. Not sure how to get there? Just meet us at the Visitor Center before 8:15 am and we will car caravan to the ramp for this 9:30 am tour upstream of the Patoka River to Grimes Lake Marsh! Check out our website for more details!

Map

Related Posts

No related posts.

Related Topics

  • Camping
  • DNR
  • Family Activities
  • Festivals & Events
  • Fishing & Hunting
  • Hiking, Biking & Trails
  • Indiana
  • Outdoor Adventures
  • Places To Go
  • Regions
  • Rural & Small Towns
  • South
  • Things To Do
  • Water Activities
  • West

Featured Post

Rebuilt & Reinvented: This Small-Town Favorite is an All New Restaurant

Featured Trip Idea

Couples: Top 8 Indiana Getaways

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

Follow Along the Indiana Insider Blog

Get the latest blog posts to your inbox

SAVINGS

DISCOUNTS

Coupons and Special Deals

THINGS TO DO

THINGS TO DO

Plan Your Getaway

Explore VisitIndiana.com
  • Things to Do
  • Lodging
  • Food & Drink
  • Events
  • Trip Ideas
  • Discounts
  • Discounts
  • Best of Indiana
  • Brochures
  • Enter Contests
  • Local Contact Information
  • About Indiana
Other Links
  • About IDDC
  • Contact Us
  • For Media
  • For Travel Professionals
  • For Teachers
  • VisitIndianaGolf.com
  • Film Indiana
Blog Disclosure

This blog reflects the opinions of those writing and commenting and not necessarily the view opinions or endorsements of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Indiana.

 

FTC Disclosure

Follow Us

Indiana Destination Development Corporation

 

One North Capitol Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204
(800) 677-9800

 

© Copyright 2014-2020

 

Privacy Policy