 Wolf Run State
Park
16170 Wolf Run Road
Caldwell, Ohio 43724-9503
(740) 732-5035
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
|
Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
1046 |
|
|
Water, acres |
220 |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
4.5 |
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelters |
1 |
|
|
Swimming Beach, feet |
200 |
| Boating |
Boating Limits |
10HP |
|
|
Launch Ramps |
1 |
| |
Docks |
19 |
| Winter |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Cross-Country Skiing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-Electric Campsites |
67 |
|
|
Campsites with Elec. |
71 |
|
|
Fly-In-Campsites |
20 |
|
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
|
Showers |
yes |
|
|
Dump Station |
yes |
|
|
Youth Group, capacity |
150 |
The rugged hills of southeastern Ohio provide the setting for Wolf Run State
Park. The scenic woodlands and cool, clean waters of the park offer visitors a
quiet retreat in this remote area of the state.
Camping
A family campground with 71 electric and 67 non-electric sites is located on the
south shore of the lake. Showers and laundry facilities are provided. A walk-in
group area with fire rings is available for use by organized youth groups on a
reservation basis.
A 20-site primitive fly-in camping area is located on the north side of the
lake. The area is within walking distance of the 4,700-foot runway at the Noble
County Airport. Picnic tables, fire rings and latrines are provided.
Boating
Boats with motors of up to 10 horsepower are permitted on Wolf Run Lake. A
launching ramp and tie-ups are available on the south side of the lake, easily
accessible from State Route 215.
Fishing and Hunting
The lake is well known for large catches of bass, bluegill, crappie, trout and
catfish. Hunting is permitted in special areas only. A hunting map can be
obtained at the park office. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is
required.
 Trails
A 3-mile section of the Buckeye Trail passes along the west side of the lake. A
half-mile loop trail begins at the nature center providing opportunities for
nature study and wildlife observation. The 1.5-mile Lakeview Trail skirts the
lake, providing a pleasant walk from the campground to the beach.
Swimming
A public swimming beach is located on the south side of the lake and provides
restrooms and changing booths. The beach is open during daylight hours only.
Scuba diving is also permitted in the lake, except within the beach area. Proper
equipment and marking of the diving area are required. Diving alone is
prohibited.
Picnicking
Picnic areas are located in scenic areas of the park. A shelterhouse may be
reserved for special occasions, otherwise, it is available on a first-come,
first-served basis.
More to Do
The campground offers a basketball hoop, in addition to playground equipment
for youngsters. The camp office loans games and sporting equipment to registered
campers.
Nature of the Area
Wolf Run State Park is nestled in the heart of the unglaciated Appalachian
Plateau of southeastern Ohio. The hills in the park region remained untouched by
the glacial advances that passed over much of the state more than 12,000 years
ago.
Nevertheless, meltwaters from the vast sheets of ice helped to permanently alter
the topography of the area. Stream flow was greatly increased, hastening the
cutting of valleys and creating the rugged terrain so prevalent today. The
predominant bedrock in the Wolf Run region is sandstone deposited during the
Pennsylvanian period, with alternating layers of coal.
The Wolf Run area has been dramatically changed since the settlement of man. The
original forests soon fell to the ax and were replaced with farms and villages.
Fortunately, much of the forest has regrown and now covers 70 percent of the
region. This second growth forest is mixed mesophytic, meaning that dominance is
shared by a large number of tree species. White and red oak, tuliptree, sugar
maple, beech, wild black cherry and white ash are frequent members of this
forest type. Mixed mesophytic forests are renowned for their plant diversity
including ferns, clubmosses, mosses, algae, fungi and lichens. These forests are
in some ways the most ecologically exciting in the state. Deer, gray squirrels,
raccoons, skunks, weasels, bats, black rat snakes, box turtles, wild turkey,
ruffed grouse and great horned owls are among the many animals that make this
area their home.
History of the Area
Wolf Run State Park is located near the town of Caldwell in Noble County, the
last of the 88 counties formed within Ohio. In 1795, the Treaty of Greenville
was signed ending the Indian threat in this part of Ohio paving the way for
settlement. The first settlers to the area were New Englanders travelling by way
of Marietta, Ohio up the valley of Duck Creek from the Ohio River into what is
now Noble County.
Agriculture, livestock and profitable industries_born of the many mineral
resources of the area_provided a living for the settlers. Coal, iron ore,
building stone, petroleum and salt were plentiful. Oil was accidently discovered
near Caldwell in 1814 when Robert McKee began drilling a well to obtain brine.
At the depth of 475 feet, a crevice was struck containing oil. At first
considered a nuisance, the true value of the oil was eventually realized and
derricks soon lined the valley of Duck Creek. Oil prices declined drastically
during the Civil War bringing an end to major drilling efforts in the area.
Land acquisition for the park began in 1963. Construction of the dam and
spillway for the lake was complete in 1966 as part of the West Fork Duck Creek
Watershed Project. The 1,338-acre facility including the 220-acre lake was
officially dedicated as a state park in 1968. The park received its name from
the Wolf family, the first to settle in the area.
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