Events Calendar
Strouds Run State Park
Location: 11661 State Park Rd, Athens
Contact: Ohio State Parks
Phone: 740-592-2302
Click here for a map of the trails.
Camping
Strouds Run offers campers a family camp area with sites for
tents or trailers with a 150-person capacity. Latrines, waste drains, picnic tables and fire rings are
provided. Ten sites are available for campers with pets. A group camp area is
available for organized groups on a reservation basis. Three Rent-A-Camp sites
consisting of a dining fly, sleeping cots and pads, cookstove and other gear
are available by reservation. Two Camper Cabins are also available.
Boating
Boats with a 10-hp limit are permitted on Dow Lake.
A boat ramp and tie-up stakes are provided. Boat rental information may be obtained
at the park office.
Fishing and Hunting
Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie, and channel
catfish are taken from the lake. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. Wild
turkey, gray squirrel, and white-tailed deer are abundant. A valid Ohio fishing and/or
hunting license is required.
Trails
Fifteen miles of hiking trails meander through the wooded hills
of Strouds Run and lead to scenic vistas throughout the park. Excellent bird
watching and nature study can be done along the trails. The park also offers an
8.5-mile bridle trail built by volunteers from the Ohio Horseman's Council,
Athens County Chapter, working under the Adopt-A-Trail program. The trail can
be accessed from the parking lot off Township Road 21 and at locations along
County Road 20.
Swimming
A 900-foot sand beach on the east side of the lake is open
during the summer months from sunrise to sunset. Change booths, drinking water,
and restrooms are available. Scuba diving with proper equipment is also
permitted. Diving alone and within the beach area is prohibited.
Picnicking
Picnic tables and cooking grates are located at the north
end of the lake and south of the dam. Each area has restrooms nearby. Three
shelter houses at the north end of the lake are available on a first-come,
first-served basis and may also be reserved for a fee.
Geographical History of the Park
Strouds Run State Park is in the scenic forested
hills of Athens County, in the midst of the unglaciated
Appalachian Plateau. Although untouched by the vast ice sheets that moved
across portions of the state over 12,000 years ago, the effects of the glaciers
can be seen today in the deep ravines and high hills of Strouds Run. Stream
valleys served as outlets for torrents of glacial meltwaters. The erosive power
of these waters began carving valleys and hillsides into familiar topography
Ohioans know today. Large deposits of glacial outwash, primarily sand and
gravel, were deposited along these streams and strongly affected the type of
biological communities present today at the park.
History of the Area
Several mounds and ancient fortifications were
found in this area by early settlers telling us that the Adena Indians once
lived here. In more recent history, this was home to the powerful Shawnee
Nation until the Treaty of Greenville forced them to abandon their lands in
southern Ohio.
Activities: Hunting, fishing, hiking and horseback trails, swimming,
boating.
Get There!
Stroud's Run State
Park is just 7 miles from Athens.
From Parkersburg: Take St. Rte. 682 off of 50,
and follow the signs to Strouds
Run State
Park
From Columbus and US 33: take a right off of the Columbus Road exit, follow
Columbus Road for just over 1.5 miles, take a left onto North Lancaster Street.
Lancaster becomes Columbia Avenue. Continue on Columbia Avenue and drive over the US
33 overpass. Take a right onto Strouds
Run Road - approx. 2 miles to the park.
