Bloomington Articles · Outdoors

Griffy Lake, Bloomington: trails, paddling & nearby stays

Five minutes north of the Indiana University campus, Griffy Lake Nature Preserve is Bloomington's backyard wilderness — roughly 1,200 acres of forested hills wrapped around a quiet reservoir. It's the closest thing to a secret the town has, and it's where locals go when Kirkwood gets loud.

The trails

Griffy's trail network winds through mature hardwood forest with legitimate elevation for Indiana. Favorites include the lakeside loop from the boathouse — easy, shaded, and pretty the whole way — and the north-side ridge trails, which earn you actual quiet. Spring wildflowers and October color are the showstopper seasons; early morning is deer-and-heron hour year-round.

On the water

The Griffy Lake boathouse seasonally rents canoes, kayaks, and rowboats at reasonable rates — no motors allowed beyond electric trolling, which keeps the lake glassy and calm. Anglers pull bass, bluegill, and crappie out of Griffy regularly (Indiana fishing license required). There's no swimming, which is exactly why the paddling stays peaceful.

Know before you go

• The preserve is open dawn to dusk; the main lot off Dunn Street fills on nice weekends — go early.
• Trails are dirt and can get muddy after rain; real shoes beat sandals.
• Dogs are welcome on leash.
• It's five minutes from campus — you can hike the lake loop and still make a noon kickoff. Locals do our game day double all fall.

Staying near Griffy Lake

The wooded neighborhoods around Griffy — Bloomington's 47408 zip code — are the best-kept stay location in town: silent mornings, deer in the yard, and still just five minutes from Memorial Stadium and ten from downtown. Two ROE homes sit here: the Hoosier Champ House, our flagship stone estate, and the Peach Bowl House, a private guest cottage. Both are available short or long term.