Strouds Run State Park
Location: 11661 State Park Road
Athens, Ohio 45701
(740) 592-2302
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
Contact: Burr Oak
1022 Burr Oak Lodge Rd.
Glouster, OH 45732
(740) 592-2302
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
2606 |
|
|
Water,
acres |
161 |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
15.5 |
|
|
Bridle Trails, miles |
8.5 |
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelters |
3 |
|
|
Swimming Beach, feet |
900 |
|
|
Summer Nature Programs |
yes |
|
|
Programs All Year |
yes |
| Boating |
Boat Rental |
yes |
|
|
Boating Limits |
10hp |
|
|
Boat Tie-Ups |
53 |
|
|
Launch Ramps |
1 |
| Winter |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Cross-Country Skiing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-Electric Campsites |
75 |
|
|
Campsites with Elec. |
0 |
|
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
|
Group Camp,
capacity |
150 |
|
|
Rent-A-campsites |
3 |
|
|
Camper Cabins |
2 |
Acres of uninterrupted hardwood forest sprawl over the many hills and coves of
Strouds Run State Park. The rugged terrain and scenic lake provide visitors a
unique wilderness escape in southeastern Ohio.
Camping
Strouds Run offers campers a family camp area with sites for tents or trailers.
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.
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
leading to scenic vistas throughout the park. Excellent birdwatching and nature
study can be done along the trail. An 8-1/2 mile bridle trail has been
constructed 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 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 shelterhouses, located
at the north end of the lake, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Shelterhouses may also be reserved for a fee.
More To Do
The campground offers a basketball court and playground equipment. Boat
rentals are available at the beach, along with a volleyball court and another
playground.
Nature of the Area
Strouds Run State Park is located 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 erosion power of these waters began carving valleys and
hillsides into the 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.
Sandstone, the principal bedrock outcropping in the region, is very resistant
to erosion and forms the uplands and steep sides of the valleys. Twisting roads
and forest trails pass through these deep ravines and lead to dense stands of
beech, hickory, oak, maple and tuliptree. Seasonal displays are offered by
flowering dogwood, redbud and spring wildflowers--with fall presenting a pageant
of colorful foliage. These woods are home to white-tailed deer, fox, raccoon,
opossum, squirrel, wild turkey and a variety of songbirds. Woodthrush,
white-breasted nuthatch, scarlet tanager, pileated woodpecker and the rufous-sided
towhee inhabit the forest canopy. These rugged hills and woodlands are truly
reminiscent of the wilderness that characterized the Ohio country in the days of
early settlers.
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.
The first settlers arrived in the Athens County region in 1796. Two townships
of land in the area had been apportioned by the Ohio Company in 1795 for the
benefit of a university. Settlers were encouraged to settle on these college
lands so as to make them attractive, productive and to form a fund for the
institution.
This venture led to the founding of the town of Athens and Ohio University,
the first college in the Northwest Territory. Settlers came by way of flatboats
from Marietta down the Ohio and up the Hocking River to an attractive bluff
where the town of Athens is now located.
With the discovery of rich coal fields in the area, Athens County soon
developed into one of the leading coal producers in the state. The Hocking Canal
and railroads provided easy means for shipping coal to distant markets. Clay
tile, brick and salt were other industries that brought prosperity to the area.
The park derives its name from the Strouds family who settled in the area in
the early 1800s. The land was purchased by the state for forest conservation
purposes from 1948 to 1953. The dam creating Dow Lake was completed in 1960. The
lake bears the name of C.L. Dow of Ohio University who was instrumental in
initiating the project.
|
