Harrison Lake State Park - Ohio - State/Provincial Parks on Waymarking.com

The area comprising Harrison Lake State Park was at one time part of a vast wetland. This mysterious area contained towering trees, soggy black soil and was a haven for the swamp rattlesnake (or massassauga, as it is also known). Very little remains of that once great swamp, but the park still harbors unique natural features associated with wetlands.

Great blue herons and common egrets can be sighted at the lake's shallow western end. Numerous songbirds inhabit the park's meadows and woodlands such as the vesper sparrow, common yellowthroat and brown thrasher. Several species of reptiles and amphibians find the park's habitat suitable. Box turtles, painted turtles, garter snakes, green frogs and American toads are found here. Small mammals such as red fox, raccoon, skunk and the uncommon thirteen-lined ground squirrel are frequently seen.

Even today, northwestern Ohio remains one of the most sparsely populated regions of the state, although it is one of Ohio's richest agricultural regions.

In 1836, the United States Congress and the Ohio Legislature finally settled a 10-year argument with the state of Michigan as to the location of the Ohio-Michigan border. For years, both states claimed ownership of a strip of land 11 miles wide that extended from the mouth of the Maumee River near Toledo to the Ohio border with Indiana. Today's Ohio-Michigan boundary is the one agreed upon in 1836. Had Congress favored Michigan's claim in that year, Harrison Lake State Park may have become a Michigan State Park!

In 1941, a dam over Mill Creek was completed and Harrison Lake was created. The lake and surrounding area were maintained primarily for hunting and fishing purposes until 1950 when Harrison Lake was established as a state park and development for additional recreational usage began.

Park Type: Overnight Activities: Camping 173 campsites, 152 of which have electric hook-ups Showers, flush toilets, a dump station Sites designated for campers with pets Playground is located at the campground Games and sports equipment can be borrowed by registered campers at the camp office A group camp area with a 100-person capacity is available for organized youth groups on a reservation basis. Boating Non-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors only are permitted on the lake 1 launch ramp provides access to the lake Harrison Lake State Park Activity Facilities Quantity Resource Land, acres 142 Water, acres 105 Activities Fishing yes Hiking Trail, miles 4 Picnicking yes Picnic Shelters, # 3 Swimming Beach, feet 150 Nature Center yes Summer Nature Programs yes Boating Boating Limits EMO Launch Ramps, # 1 Winter Rec Sledding yes Cross-Country Skiing yes Ice Fishing yes Camping Non-electric Campsites 21 Campsites with Elec., # 152 Camper Cabin 1 Pets Permitted yes Showers yes Flush Toilets yes Dumpstation yes Youth Group Camp, capacity 100 Rent-A-Yurt sites, # 2 26246 Harrison Lake Road Fayette, OH 43521 (419) 237-2593 1-866-644-6727 for camping and getaway rental reservations Park Map | Campground Map ANNOUNCEMENTS Goose season will run from November 1 through November 30, 2008 • A second goose season will run December 17, 2008 through January 11, 2009 • Signs will indentify 5 prime hunting areas • Valid hunting license is required and all Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations apply (09/15/2008) In the midst of endless field of corn and soybeans stands Harrison Lake State Park--a green island of scenic woodlands in a rich agricultural region. Harrison Lake is popular for swimming, fishing, camping and canoeing. Camping 173 campsites, 152 of which have electric hook-ups Showers, flush toilets, a dump station Sites designated for campers with pets Playground is located at the campground Games and sports equipment can be borrowed by registered campers at the camp office A group camp area with a 100-person capacity is available for organized youth groups on a reservation basis. Getaway Rentals One camper cabin is available 2 Rent-A-Yurt units offer futon beds, A/C, ceiling fan, mini refrigerator, and outdoor as grill along with a sheltered picnic table Getaway Rentals are available for rent from May 1 through October 31. Boating Non-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors only are permitted on the lake 1 launch ramp provides access to the lake Fishing Good catches of largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, bullhead catfish, northern pike and carp can be taken from Harrison Lake A valid Ohio fishing license is required. Swimming 150 foot swimming beach Picnicking Several quiet picnic areas are located in scenic areas of the park 3 shelter houses are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but can be reserved with a deposit Trails 3.5-mile hiking trail circles the lake and provides the opportunity to explore the scenic lakeshore and woodlands More To Do Bike and boat rentals are available in day use areas of the park Volleyball and basketball courts, and horseshoe pits Background: History of the Area Originally, Lake Erie was much larger than it is today--stretching from western New York to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Harrison Lake region was at that time under the waters of Lake Erie. As Lake Erie receded to its present size, the area formerly under water reverted to swamplands. This swamp (120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide) became known as the Great Black Swamp due to the color of the soil and dark shade beneath the giant trees. For many years, the swamp was a tremendous barrier to western settlement. Most settlers avoided the area, traveling around the swamp via Lake Erie to reach southern Michigan. The Ottawa Indians settled only near the well-drained lands beside the Maumee River and its tributaries. The swamp was the last area to be settled in Ohio. It served as a reservation for Indians until they were forced out in 1842. It was not until the development of soil drainage techniques in the 1850s that large numbers of settlers moved here. Date Established?: 1950 Link to Park: [Web Link] Park Fees: Not listed Additional Entrance Points: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
To log a visit to a waymark in this category, please include the following ...
1. A picture you took at the park.
2. Your favorite activity at the park.
3. How do you like the park.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   08/25/2014 buffalohiker visited it 07/26/2014 Laval K-9 visited it 10/20/2011 Handyman & Fam visited it 05/19/2011 petendot visited it 07/24/2009 sfwife visited it

View all visits/logs