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Lake Lemon

Unionville, IN

Spotting Scope RecommendedPicnickingHandicap Accesible
HuntingFishingBoat Ramp

When to Visit:
January - Less ProductiveFebruary - Less ProductiveMarch - Most ProductiveApril - Most ProductiveMay - Most ProductiveJune - Less ProductiveJuly - Less ProductiveAugust - Second Half Most ProductiveSeptember - Most ProductiveOctober - Most ProductiveNovember - Most ProductiveDecember - - Less Productive

Lake Lemon is a medium-sized reservoir located in northeast Monroe and northwest Brown Counties.  The lake provides excellent habitat for migrating gulls, shorebirds, and waterfowl.

Specialty Species:

Waterfowl:  All stops have potential for great waterfowl.

Shorebird:  Check for shorebirds from the observation deck at Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area.

Where to Bird:

Riddle Point Park:  This park is located on the west side of Lake Lemon.  It is a small park but offers many great birding opportunities.  After entering the park, turn right.  Take the next right and park in the gravel lot.  From the parking lot, walk back to the road you were just on and turn right.  Follow this path around the point.  Scan for waterfowl and gulls on the lake.  The trees on this peninsula are a good spot to look for passerines.  Cross the small foot bridge and turn left.  Walk through the trees and back to your vehicle.  From the parking area, return to the road and turn left.  Continue straight past the gatehouse and turn left into the boat launch parking lot.  Park in this lot and scan the lake for waterfowl and gulls.  The small island is called Cemetery Island.  Cormorants are normally found resting on this island.

South Shore Drive Pull-off:  From Riddle Point Park, drive 0.7 miles on Tunnel Road to South Shore Drive.  Turn left.  After 0.9 miles, there will be a small gravel pull-off on the right side of the road just before Shuffle Creek Road.  Park here and scan the lake for waterfowl and gulls.  Do not enter any of the docks because they are private property.

Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area: From here, continue another 2 miles on South Shore Drive to Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area.  The entrance to this stop is very easy to miss.  Once you have made the sharp S-curve, the entrance is 0.2 miles down the road on the left.  Park in the gravel parking lot and take the trail by the large chain link fence.  This ½ mile trail loops back around to the parking lot but not before getting to a raised viewing platform.  This platform looks out over the east end of the lake and can be a good spot to see shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, egrets, and gulls.  Bald Eagles also frequent the area.

Hours:

Riddle Point:  Sunrise to Sunset
Little Africa:  Sunrise to Sunset

Fees:

Riddle Point:  Memorial Day – Labor Day; Monday-Friday $4, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays $5
Little Africa:  No Fees

Accessiblity:

Some of the lake can be birded by car.  Little Africa is not accessible.  Riddle Point is mostly pavement and is wheelchair accessible except for the Tulip Trace Nature Trail.

Trails:

Riddle Point:  0.5 mile Tulip Trace Nature Trail.  Be sure to walk to the end of the peninsula.
Little Africa:  0.5 mile loop trail

Non-birding Equipment Needed:

Lenght of Visit:

2-3 Hours

Map:

Website:

Directions:

From the North:  Take SR-37 south to East Sample Road.  Turn left (east) onto East Sample Road and go 1.4 miles to Old State Road 37.  Turn right (south).  Go 1.3 miles and turn left (east) onto East Boltinghouse Road.  Go 1.6 miles and turn left (east) on East Earl Young Road.  After 1.8 miles turn left (east) on SR-45.  After 1.6 miles turn left (north) on North Tunnel Road.  Tunnel Road dead ends into Riddle Point Park.

From the South:  Take SR-37 north to SR-45/46 Bypass.  Turn right (east) and travel 3.5 miles to 10th Street in Bloomington.  Turn left (east) and go 6.5 miles to North Tunnel Road.  Turn left (north) and follow North Tunnel Road until it dead ends into Riddle Point Park.

From the West:  From Ellettsville go 8.3 miles on SR-45 to 10th Street in Bloomington.  Turn left (east) and go 6.5 miles to North Tunnel Road.  Turn left (north) and follow N. Tunnel Road until it dead ends into Riddle Point Park.

From the East:  From Nashville, IN take SR-46 west towards Bloomington.  After 15.7 miles, turn right (north) on South Smith Road.  Travel 0.6 miles to SR-45 and turn right (east).  After 5.5 miles, turn left (north) onto North Tunnel road.  Tunnel Road dead ends into Riddle Point Park.

Address:

7599 Tunnel Road
Unionville, IN  47468
(812)334-0233

Nearby Birding:

Morgan-Monroe SF
Yellowwood SF