Jefferson Lake State Park
Location: 501 TWSP RD 261A
Richmond, Ohio 43944-9710
(740) 765-4459
Contact: Guildford Lake State Park
6835 E. Lake Rd., Lisbon, OH 44432
(330) 222-1712
1-866-644-6727 for camping reservations
Camping
There is a family camping area suitable for tents and trailers offering 97
non-electric sites. Latrines water fountains, picnic tables and fire rings are
provided. Campers with pets are permitted on designated sites.
Boating
Non-motorized boats and boats with electric motors up to four horsepower are
permitted on Jefferson Lake.
Swimming
A nice public beach offers recreation for swimmers and sunbathers. Facilities
include a bathhouse, showers and toilets.
Picnicking
Many picnic tables are located in scenic spots around the lake. Two
shelterhouses are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fishing and Hunting
Jefferson Lake offers great catches of largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill and
redear sunfish. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. A valid Ohio fishing
and/or hunting license is required.
Trails
Eighteen miles of scenic, sometimes rugged, multiple-use trails meander through
the park challenging hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers during any
season.
More To Do
Volleyball and basketball courts, as well as horseshoe pits are available at
the campground. the camp office also loans games and sporting equipment to
registered campers.
Nature of the Area
The sandstone hills of Jefferson County are part of the Appalachian Highlands
which envelope the southeastern part of Ohio. In the sandstone bedrock can be
found layers of coal which were formed by decaying swamp vegetation millions of
years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period.
Covering the hills and valleys of the area is a second growth oak and hickory
forest. Growing side-by-side with towering white oaks and shagbark hickories are
stately beeches and maples, tulip trees, walnuts, elms and ashes.
The forest is composed of much more than trees, although they constitute its
most conspicuous feature. The observant visitor may find a wealth of wildflowers
such as wild geranium, hepatica and bloodroot. The leafy canopy rings with a
harmonious chorus of bird songs. Wild turkey and ruffed grouse are dispersed in
these hills and forests as well. These are just a few of the natural wonders
found at Jefferson Lake.
History of the Area
The Jefferson Lake region was once the home of Logan, the celebrated Mingo
chief whose family was massacred near here on the Ohio River at the mouth of
Yellow creek. This incident spurred Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.
In more recent times, the area has been home to the steel industry in Ohio.
The underlying coal fields and Ohio River access have made it a focal point of
this industry.
Jefferson Lake State Park was developed on 962 acres in the valley of the
Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Land acquisition began in 1928. The lake and other
facilities were constructed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the
old Ohio Division of Conservation as a project of the Civilian Conservation
Corps during the depression. The dam was constructed in 1934 and the 17-acre
lake was filled in 1946. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created
Division of Parks and Recreation.
Area Attractions
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