Kiser Lake State Park
4889 N. St. Rt. 235
St. Paris, OH 43072
(937) 362-3822
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
The quiet and relaxing atmosphere of Kiser Lake State Park makes it a favorite
Ohio getaway. The rolling wooded hills and diverse wetlands add to the beauty of
this scenic lake known for its clean, clear waters.
Camping
A family camping area with 114 non-electric sites is open all year. Picnic
tables, fire rings, a trailer waste station and latrines are provided.
A group camp is available on the south side of the lake for youth and adult
organizations on a reservation basis.
A camper cabin can be rented during the summer months by reservation.
Boating
Sailing is popular at Kiser Lake as boats with motors are not permitted on the
lake. A launch ramp and public docks are available. Boats can be rented at two
boat rentals within the park.
Fishing and Hunting
Kiser Lake offers good catches of largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish,
crappie and saugeye. Five fishing piers are located on the lake. Hunting of
migratory game birds is permitted when in season. A valid Ohio hunting and/or
fishing license is required.
 Trails
Five hiking trails are located within the park and provide 5.1 scenic miles of
walking pleasure. Red Oak and the Nature Preserve Boardwalk trails are located
near the family camp area at the east end of the lake. Pine Tree and Possum
Hollow trails can be reached from the group camp area. The North Bay Trail
follows the lake shoreline for 1.5 miles. Seven miles of horse trails are
located near State Route 235.
Picnicking
Eight picnic areas with tables and grills are located in the park. A group
picnic shelter may be reserved, and an additional shelter is available on a
first-come, first-served basis.
 Swimming
A 600-foot swimming beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A refreshment
stand is near the beach. Scuba diving is permitted except within the beach area.
Divers must be accompanied by at least one person. Proper equipment and marking
of the diving area are required.
More To Do
Recreational amenities are offered throughout the park, including a
volleyball court and playground at the campground, and a basketball court at the
beach. An additional playground and a horseshoe court are located at the Nature
Center.
 Nature of the
Area
The area surrounding Kiser Lake State Park is a gift of the ice age. Two natural
phenomena caused by the glaciers helped shape the region into its present form.
The gently, rolling wooded hills were caused by glacial deposits in the form of
end moraines when the ice edge remained stationary for a period of time,
creating a linear ridge along the ice front. One such moraine called the
Farmersville surrounds the lake on three sides creating a hummocky elevation
through the area. Moraine deposits contain boulders, some weighing many tons,
carried from as far away as Canada. These boulders, called erratics, are a
familiar sight at Kiser. Another geologic feature at Kiser Lake State Park is
the kame field at the southeastern end of the lake. Kames are mounds of sand and
gravel that are formed by meltwater flowing across glacial ice. The water
deposits sediment into holes along the ice margin leaving behind hummocky
mounds.
The wetlands at Kiser are in the form of fen and wet meadow habitat. These areas
were formed when blocks of ice broke away from the glacier and became covered by
sand and gravel. As the climate warmed, the ice melted and left a depression
filled with water surrounded by glacial deposits. These areas are filled with
many intriguing plants including pitcher plant, sundew, tamarack and spruce.
 History of the
Area
The Kiser Lake region in Champaign County was the home of Tecumseh, the great
Shawnee warrior. He lived and hunted on Buck Creek near the site of present-day
Urbana. It was also near here where Simon Kenton, the legendary frontiersman,
was once held captive by the Shawnee. Kenton admired the Shawnee for choosing
such a beautiful area in which to reside. He remembered the area well and
returned later in his life. Around 1802, Kenton settled in Urbana for several
years. His remains lie in Oakdale Cemetery, southeast of Urbana under an
impressive monument.
Kiser Lake was a dream of John W. Kiser and other members of his family. Their
idea was to create a lake in the Mosquito Valley area which was low, swampy and
dotted with numerous springs. In 1932, the Kiser family offered to the state of
Ohio several hundred acres of the Mosquito Creek Valley. In 1939, a dam was
constructed and the new lake was named Kiser becoming part of what is now Kiser
Lake State Park. The lake is nearly 2.5 miles in length and has 5.3 miles of
shoreline.
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