Route: Three Lakes Trail (IN)

Submitted by Mackenzie Anders on Fri, 08/20/2021 - 02:08pm
Location
Indiana, US
Distance
10.4 mi
Vertical Gain
1,283 ft
Description

The Three Lakes Trail is named after the three lakes it formerly passed, one of which has since been drained due to a dam failure on Bean Blossom Lake.  It begins at Cherry Lake, which is very near the forest headquarters (directions to headquarters are below).  It is a 10-mile path which loops around back to the start.  It does have several large, long hills, somewhat tempered by switchbacks.  It also has some long stretches that are relatively flat and scenic, either along a high ridge top or following along a low stream or ravine.  Overnight backcounty camping is not allowed along this trail.

GPS Track
3_Lakes.gpx648.56 KB

FKTs

Images

Comments

This route has been used on the race course for the Run with the Foxes 10 mile event, put on by the Hoosier Hiker's Council since at least 2002. The FKT route submission guidelines state that race courses are generally not accepted as FKT routes. I'm not sure if that applies here. Some related links about the Run with the Foxes event:

The posted Run with the Foxes 10 mile race results document faster times then the FKTs posted here as far back as 2003. In the 2003 race results for the 10 mile events, there are these times: 

  • 10 Mile Male: Chad Coplen finish time of 1:08:11
  • 10 Mile Female: Brooke Usrey finish time of 1:13:05

If someone goes through the results for all the posted years, there's possibly a yet-faster time than those.