Boating
- 664-acre Burr Oak Lake allows boating as follows:
- Boats with motors of 10 HP or less are permitted to operate as usual
- Boats with motors exceeding a horsepower rating of 10HP are permitted to operate at idle speed or at a speed that does not create a wake
- Watercraft utlizing a motor designated as a jet drive motor are not permitted
- 4 launch ramps provide access to the lake
Fishing
- The lake is well known for its catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish
- Download the lake map
- Valid Ohio fishing license is required
Swimming
- 500-foot public swimming beach offers enjoyment for swimmers and sunbathers
- Bathhouse, showers, and changing booths
- Volleyball courts
- Swimming is permitted during daylight hours only
- Swim at your own risk & be sure to keep an eye on the kids
- Pets are NOT permitted on swimming beaches
- Check for water quality advisories
- The beach is a Carry In Carry Out area • No trash cans are provided • Please bring trash bags with you
Trails
- 7 Hiking Trails
- Lakeview • 3.5 Miles • Moderate/Difficult
- Ravine • 1.5 Miles • Easy/Moderate
- Chipmunk • 0.40 Miles • Easy
- Red Fox • 0.7 Miles • Easy
- Buckeye Loop • 3 Miles • Moderate
- Campground Trail • 1 Mile • Easy
- Tanager Trail • 1/2 Mile • Moderate
- 3 Bridle Trails
- Bridle/Backpacking • 7 Miles • Moderate
- Red Trail • 7.5 Miles • Moderate
- Blue Trail • 3.9 Miles • Moderate
- Backpack Trail winds around the lake shore and offers primitive campsites and drinking water at several locations along the route
- Portion of the Buckeye Trail passes through the park and nearby Wayne National Forest
- Download the trail map
Winter Recreation (conditions permitting)
- Sledding
- Ice skating
- Ice fishing
- Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park and in the adjacent Wayne National Forest and wildlife areas
- Valid Ohio hunting license is required
Area Attractions
- A portion of Wayne National Forest borders the park near the dam. The U.S. Forest Service operates a 19-unit family camp at Burr Oak Cove, off State Route 13
- Wildcat Hollow Backpack Trail, located on Morgan County Road 58, is also operated by the U.S. Forest Service and can be accessed by the park's backpack trail to extend the route
- Sunday Creek Wildlife Area, consisting of fifteen separate areas, borders the park
- Two other state wildlife areas are located nearby--Trimble, six miles west and Wolf Creek, six miles east
- Strouds Run State Park, on U.S. 50 east of Athens, provides facilities for fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking and boating
- State Route 78 between Glouster and McConnelsville earns its nickname "Rim of the World" as one of the most scenic drives in the state
- For additional information on area attractions, visit
- Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau website or call 800-878-9767
- Ohio Tourism Division website or call 800-BUCKEYE (800-282-5393)
Nature of the Area
Burr Oak State Park epitomizes the wilderness character of southeast Ohio • Miles of forested ridges and hollows comprise these foothills of the Appalachian Mountains • The woodlands support a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, box turtles and the elusive wild turkey • The lake's shore is inhabited by the industrious beaver and various waterfowl species
The forest is comprised of numerous hardwoods but is dominated by stately oaks and hickories • In autumn, the forest displays spectacular fall colors as leaves turn to deep reds, brilliant yellows and burnt oranges • Woodland wildflowers are equally as impressive in the spring when violets, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, rare orchids, bloodroot and hepatica are in bloom
Burr Oak State Park epitomizes the wilderness character of southeast Ohio • Miles of forested ridges and hollows comprise these foothills of the Appalachian Mountains • The woodlands support a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, box turtles and the elusive wild turkey • The lake's shore is inhabited by the industrious beaver and various waterfowl species
The forest is comprised of numerous hardwoods but is dominated by stately oaks and hickories • In autumn, the forest displays spectacular fall colors as leaves turn to deep reds, brilliant yellows and burnt oranges • Woodland wildflowers are equally as impressive in the spring when violets, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, rare orchids, bloodroot and hepatica are in bloom
History of the Area
Situated in the valley of Sunday Creek, the Burr Oak area was inhabited by Indians and, later, by settlers who found an abundance of game animals and the resources necessary for survival in the Ohio wilderness
Coal, one of Ohio's most important mineral resources, was mined here for many years • As mining operations expanded, mining towns grew and prospered • Few of these mining towns were as notorious as the village of Santoy
Many colorful tales were told of life in Santoy • In the true spirit of frontier life, so the story goes, a gunfight was once held over a $20 debt • The street was cleared as the two participants met for a showdown • The ensuing battle left both men lying in the street--one dead and the other critically wounded • The "Old West" came to life in Ohio when the coal company payroll was robbed by bandits who made a horse-mounted getaway through the town
Countless other tales live on, but Santoy could not • A fire in 1924 destroyed the coal tipple and several businesses • The loss was so devastating that just three years later the second mine shaft shut down • In November 1931, the nineteen remaining voters decided to abandon the town • Today, only the church, the town's first building, still stands as a reminder of days gone by
In 1950 Burr Oak Lake was created by the construction of the Tom Jenkins Dam across the east branch of Sunday Creek • Two years later, Burr Oak was dedicated as a state park
Situated in the valley of Sunday Creek, the Burr Oak area was inhabited by Indians and, later, by settlers who found an abundance of game animals and the resources necessary for survival in the Ohio wilderness
Coal, one of Ohio's most important mineral resources, was mined here for many years • As mining operations expanded, mining towns grew and prospered • Few of these mining towns were as notorious as the village of Santoy
Many colorful tales were told of life in Santoy • In the true spirit of frontier life, so the story goes, a gunfight was once held over a $20 debt • The street was cleared as the two participants met for a showdown • The ensuing battle left both men lying in the street--one dead and the other critically wounded • The "Old West" came to life in Ohio when the coal company payroll was robbed by bandits who made a horse-mounted getaway through the town
Countless other tales live on, but Santoy could not • A fire in 1924 destroyed the coal tipple and several businesses • The loss was so devastating that just three years later the second mine shaft shut down • In November 1931, the nineteen remaining voters decided to abandon the town • Today, only the church, the town's first building, still stands as a reminder of days gone by
In 1950 Burr Oak Lake was created by the construction of the Tom Jenkins Dam across the east branch of Sunday Creek • Two years later, Burr Oak was dedicated as a state park
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