Hiking, Boating, Fishing & Beach Fun near Columbus
An introduction to Alum Creek State Park, near Columbus Ohio.
Alum Creek State Park is a perfect example of man and nature coming together to provide a beautiful and fun experience for all to enjoy. The Park is seven miles north of Columbus, off of Interstate-71, and about 100 miles from Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The centerpiece of the Park is Alum Creek Lake, with 3,400 acres of fun. The Lake is long and thin with 46 miles of shoreline and incredible views. At a maximum depth of 60 feet, the lake is perfect for recreational boating and fishing. Largemouth bass, muskellunge, saugeye, and smallmouth bass fishing is excellent.
There is a wide 3,000-foot beach on the lake. There is no admission charge and next to the large parking lot are concessions and changing facilities.
Alum Creek Visitor Center
Be sure to stop at the Visitor Center at the park, where the staff will provide helpful instructions and free maps. They believe their park is the best in Ohio and will take the time to show you. The center is staffed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, who in a unique partnership with the State of Ohio operates the Lake and the State Park. In the center, you will find interactive exhibits for all ages, a movie theater, and restrooms. Informational walks and talks are offered by knowledgeable staff.
State Park Facilities
There are numerous options for your day at the Park. There are several picnic areas, and hikers will find over forty miles of trails throughout the park. Don’t miss the Below Dam Area, with great views of the dam from below and, it can climb the hundred or so steps up the dam, above.
For boating, there is a marina and a new sailboat launch area. Boats are available for daily rent in the Park. For nature lovers, there are osprey nests in the Horsemenis Camp Area and waterfowl elsewhere in the park, as well as a dog park reputed to be one of the best in the country, and bridle trails for horseback riding. There are new mountain bike trails, perfect to view the wildflowers that make the area ablaze with color in the spring and summer. The Park offers fun in the winter, as well, with ice skating, cross country skiing, and sledding. The Visitor Center has detailed information on these activities.
Camping is available in the Park and at other facilities nearby. The Park has 289 campsites that fill quickly in summer. For more lodging choices, you are only a few miles from Columbus, with many motels, as well as thousands of restaurants and other diversions of the big city.
Ohio State Parks offer fun and education for the whole family. Be sure to visit Alum Creek and other great parks like Hocking Hills and Salt Fork Lake.