 Blue Rock State
Park
LOCATION: 7924
Cutler Lake Road
Blue Rock, OH 43720
CONTACT: Dillon State Park, 5265
Dillon Hills Dr, Nashport, OH 43830
740-453-4377
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
322 |
|
|
Water, acres |
15 |
|
|
Nearby State Forest, acres |
4573 |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hunting -nearby state forest |
yes |
|
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
4.6 |
|
|
Bridle Trails, miles
nearby state forest |
26
|
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelters, # |
6 |
|
|
Swimming Beach, feet |
250 |
|
|
Summer Nature Programs |
yes |
| Boating |
Boating Limits |
EMO |
|
|
Launch Ramps, # |
1 |
| Winter |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Ice Skating |
yes |
|
|
Ice Fishing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-electric campsites |
94 |
|
|
Camper Cabins |
3 |
|
|
Rent-A-Camp sites, # |
3 |
|
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
|
Walk-in Tent
Camping sites, # |
20 |
|
|
Group Camp,
units |
120 |
Rugged hills and rich green forests provide the backdrop to Blue Rock State
Park. Escape to nature's solitude, and enjoy the diverse flora and fauna of this
scenic state park.
Camping
There are 94 non-electric campsites available for tent or trailer camping in two
separate areas near the lake. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites.
Latrines, picnic tables, water, dump station and fire rings are provided.
Showers are available to campers at the beach bathhouse.
Three Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, sheltered picnic table, cooler,
cookstove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months. Three
camper cabins are also available with campstove, lantern and cooler provided.
A group camp is available by reservation for organized groups only. A
primitive camp area is also available. This walk-in "tents only" area is off
Cutler Lake Road.
Register for campsites at the camp store, where snack foods, camp supplies,
sundries, souvenirs, ice and firewood can be purchased in season.
Boating
Boats with electric motors only, rowboats and canoes can be used on Cutler Lake.
A launch ramp provides access to the 15-acre lake.
Fishing and Hunting
Bass, catfish and bluegill provide sport for the fisherman in Cutler Lake.
Hunting, though not permitted in the park, is permitted in season in the
surrounding state forest. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is
required.
Trails
Several miles of hiking trails begin near the campground and picnic areas of the
park. Additional hiking trails are in the adjacent forest lands. Horsemen can
enjoy more than 26 miles of bridle trails through the Blue Rock State Forest. No
overnight facilities are available. You must provide your own horse as no
rentals are available.
A land navigation course where visitors can practice map and compass skills
is located between the Hollow Rock and Ruffed Grouse trails. The design and
course markings were a local Eagle Scout project.
Picnicking
Tables and grills are located in several tree-shaded areas in the park. Call the
park offices to reserve a shelterhouse with electric service. One of the three
shelterhouses has a very picturesque covered bridge, ideal for outdoor weddings.
Swimming
A public beach is located on the north end of the lake. Swimming is permitted
during daylight hours only. Change booths, lockers, restrooms and snacks are
available.
More To Do
The campground offers volleyball and basketball courts, a horseshoe pit and a
playground.
 Nature of the
Area
The origin of Ohio's bedrock materials can be traced back millions of years when
the state was inundated by a shallow inland sea. Materials deposited by this sea
formed the bedrock types now found in Ohio--namely limestone, shale and
sandstone. The silt from these waters formed the sedimentary shale found within
the Blue Rock State Park region. This blue-colored shale gave the park its name.
Before settlement of the area began, most of Ohio was in forest cover. By 1900,
only twelve percent of the original forest remained. In the Blue Rock region,
the rough terrain, poor soils and the economic woes caused by the Great
Depression forced farmers to abandon their lands allowing them to revert back to
forest.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources now maintains 4,573 acres of the
Blue Rock State Forest surrounding the park. The forest is dominated by oaks and
hickories. In the lush undergrowth, woodland wildflowers such as trilliums,
cardinal flower and rare orchids can be found amongst a variety of ferns, mosses
and lichens. Deer, grouse, squirrel and wild turkey are just a few of the
woodland game which make the forest their home.
History of the Area
Years before this beautiful region was known to the white man, the great
Shawnee Nation built Old Town, the village of Chief White Eyes, near present-day
Duncan Falls on the Muskingum River. For years, White Eyes was on friendly terms
with the white man including the adventurous trapper named Duncan who was
permitted by the chief to hunt, trap and trade with them. Duncan became enraged
when he found game was being stolen from his traps by a hostile band of Indians
from across the river. Duncan began to shoot all Indians who meddled with his
traps until he himself was shot by the hostiles while crossing the river at a
low spot. His body was found on a gravelly ripple now called Dead Man's Ripple,
and the falls at that spot are called Duncan's Falls because it was there that
Duncan fell.
Rich coal deposits were discovered in the area. By utilizing the Muskingum River
for transporting the coal, a prosperous mining industry soon developed.
In 1856, this area was shaken by one of the most remarkable mine disasters in
history. The collapse of the mine happened about 11 a.m. on Friday, April 25,
1856. It was soon discovered that four persons were either imprisoned or crushed
to death inside the mine. A dangerous rescue attempt began at once combining the
greatest speed with the utmost caution possible. The rescue continued night and
day with varying success. An immense crowd of people from the surrounding
countryside and towns gathered at the mouth of the mine to offer help,
encouragement and prayers for the imprisoned men. At 11 p.m., on Friday, May 9,
after having been entombed for fourteen days, the men were reached and brought
to safety--alive!
To the north of Blue Rock lies the city of Zanesville, Ohio's state capital from
1810 to 1812, and a leader in the manufacture of clay products. Several
potteries still exist. In 1796, Congress gave Ebenezer Zane authority to
construct a road from Wheeling to Maysville, Kentucky. The point where the road,
known as Zane's Trace, crossed the Muskingum River became the site of
Zanesville--named for Ebenezer Zane.
In 1936, the state of Ohio purchased the lands comprising Blue Rock State
Forest. Construction of Cutler Lake was completed in 1938. Blue Rock officially
became a state park with the formation of the Division of Parks and Recreation
in 1949.
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