Lake Logan State Park

Lake Logan State Park covers 718 acres near Logan, Ohio. Of that total, 400 acres are water and 318 acres are land, most of it centered on the lake itself. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the property, and the agency describes the lake as one of the best fishing lakes in the state. It suits visitors looking for water-based recreation — fishing, low-speed boating, and swimming — paired with a short walk rather than a backcountry hiking destination.

The park sits within the unglaciated Appalachian plateau, a landscape that missed the glaciation that reshaped most of Ohio, leaving rugged terrain found nowhere else in the state. Meltwater from those glaciers still carved the deep gorges, caves, and waterfalls that mark the broader region. The forest surrounding Lake Logan is predominately oak and hickory. Together the lake, forest, and terrain make it a straightforward stop for anglers, boaters, and casual walkers rather than a hub for extensive trail networks.

Plan your visit

Trails

2 named routes 1.31 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

0.80 Buckeye Trail
0.21 Bill Miller Trail

Camping & lodging

1 mapped camping locations

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Address: 30443 Lake Logan Road, Logan, OH, 43138
Phone: (740) 385-6842
Official site: ohiodnr.gov
Managed by: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Hours: 6 a.

On the ground

The town of Logan traces back to Thomas Worthington, who founded it in 1816 and named it for the Mingo leader James John Logan, on land where the Wyandot once kept a large village called Oldtown a mile north of Logan. The river's power ran grist and sawmills near the falls above town, and the Hocking Canal's opening in 1838 tied the area into the coal and mineral trade that built up the valley. Today the park's dam and spillway hold back the 400-acre lake that gives the park its name and its main draw.

A 1.25-mile section of the Buckeye Trail crosses the park's northwest end on its way toward Hocking Hills State Forest. Near the lake, the Buckeye Trail and the shorter Bill Miller Trail are among the mapped routes. Most activity, though, centers on the water: boats with motors up to 10 horsepower are permitted under a 10 mph speed limit, with ramps on the southeast shore off Lake Logan Road and a smaller ramp about 1.5 miles northeast, also off Lake Logan Road. A 527-foot public swimming beach lies on the lake's north shore along Lake Logan Road, open year-round and free, though unguarded, while anglers fish for bluegill, crappie, bass, muskie, and catfish under Ohio Fishing Regulations. Six picnic areas ring the lake, most with grills and restrooms, plus a reservable shelter house across from the beach on Lake Logan Road.