Strouds Run State Park

About Strouds Run State Park

The rugged terrain and picturesque lakes offer visitors a unique escape into the wilderness of southeastern Ohio. Strouds Run State Park is located in the wooded hills of St. Clair County, Ohio, south of the Ohio River. The effects of the glaciers are visible throughout the park, as the huge ice sheets that moved through the area more than 2,000 years ago have remained untouched. Scattered across acres of uninterrupted deciduous forest is a small lake, the largest of its kind in Ohio and one of only a handful of states with such a large number of lakes.

Streams in the valley served as drains for glacial streams, and the erosive power of water began to carve valley slopes into the familiar topography that Ohioans know today. Plateaus and steep walls of valleys were formed and deposited by glaciers, which greatly influenced the biological communities that now live in and around the park, such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and reptiles. The rugged terrain of Strouds Run State Park and its surroundings is highly erosion resistant due to the high altitude of the terrain.

Deep gorges are crossed by winding roads and forest paths leading to the scenic Strouds Run Trail, one of the state's most popular hiking trails. This seasonal spectacle features flowering dogwood, whose colourful foliage is visible in autumn.

Stay in the woods and access to the Strouds Run Trail, the state's most popular hiking trail, from the park's entrance.

This rugged hilltop forest is part of the wilderness that characterized the land of Ohio in the days of the early settlers and that characterized the land of Ohio until the day of their arrival. Early settlers who told the story of the Adena Indians who once lived here found several hills and ancient fortifications in the area. This is where the mighty Shawnee Nation lived until the Greenville Treaty forced it to give up.

In 1795, the Ohio Company divided the two communities in this area in favor of a university, and in 1796 the first settlers arrived in the Athens County region. The settlers were encouraged to settle on the college land to make it attractive and productive and to provide funds for the establishment.

They took the flat boat from Marietta, Ohio, across the Hocking River to the attractive steep slopes where the city of Athens is now located. Athens County became one of the state's leading coal producers, and the company was run by the Ohio Company, then the largest coal producer in the United States. The Hocking Canal and the railroad provided an easy way to transport coal to distant markets.

Clay, brick and brick salt were just some of the other industries that brought prosperity to the region, as well as a variety of other agricultural products.

The park was named after the Strouds family who settled in the area in the early 19th century. The state bought the land in 1948 and 1953 for forest conservation purposes, and again in 1953 for the purposes of the state park.

The dam that created Dow Lake was completed in 1960, and the lake was created as a result of the work of C.L. Dow of Ohio University, who was instrumental in initiating the project.

For campers, Strouds Run offers family campsites, pitches - in tents and trailers, latrines, sewers, picnic tables and fireplaces are available.

Ten pitches are available for campers and pets, and group camps are available on organized group reservations. Three pitches - one - one - one - one tent, trailer, tent - one - tent and trailer with latrine and picnic table, are available upon reservation.

Diving with appropriate equipment is permitted, but diving alone in the beach area is prohibited, and diving alone in all beach areas is prohibited. Changing rooms, drinking water and toilets are available at the Stresses Run State Park beach campground at the northern end of the park. The beach with its sandy beaches and sandy beaches is open from sunrise to sunset in the summer months.

Boat ramps, ties - there are attachments and inserts, picnic tables and cooking nets are located at the northern end of the lake, south of a dam. Boats with a maximum power of 10 hp are allowed on Dow Lake and information on boat rentals is available at the park office.

Three accommodations at the northern end of the lake are available on the basis of the First - come, first - service. Nearby there are toilets, and accommodation can be booked for a fee.

This 15 km trail winds through the wooded hills of Strouds Run and offers picturesque views of the park. Along the way, you can do excellent bird watching and nature studies, as well as enjoy a great view of Lake Ontario.

The trail was built as part of the Adopt-A-Trail program and is operated by the Strouds Run State Park Conservation Authority and the Ontario Department of Natural Resources.

The nearby city of Athens is home to Ohio University, which borders Strouds Run State Park to the east and the University of Ohio campus to the west. Guided tours of the university campus can be organised via the Admission Office. The former Athenian mansion houses the Anthony G. Trisolini Gallery, which is located on campus, as well as a number of other historic buildings.

The park offers tents, lodges, cabins, fishing and swimming, and is just a short drive from Coolville, which is located south of Strouds Run State Park on the east side of the park.

Across the county, parts of Wayne National Forest offer a wide variety of forest and recreational activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and camping. The reserve is heavily forested and is home to a number of wildlife areas as well as a large number of wild flowers and other wildlife.