Cowan Lake State Park

"Cowan Lake State Park is a great place to hike, camp, or canoe. August is a wonderful time to enjoy the American lotus waterlily in bloom and the water birds starting to migrate through. Saw several great white egrets today in addition to the resident great blue herons. The marina rents boats if you don't have your own."

"Beautiful area of Ohio. This State Park had it all. Fishing kayaking and a Marine. Nice facilities, showers and restrooms clean. It also has a few play grounds for younger children. The park has a store you can purchase food, burgers pizza and ice cream. It also features daily specials too. Clean grounds, though out the park. Several beach's to swim at. Docks to fish from, along with boat rentals and kayaks to. Beautiful mature trees through out the park. Hiking trails as well. Easy check in when arriving. Primitive camp sites too. Very family friendly and pets are allowed. And very quite at night. Will be returning in August."

"First, the cottages. I have stayed at the cottages here 4 times since 2004 and it is always quiet, clean and pleasant. Campgrounds. I have camped at the campground every year from 2004-2018, always during the fall camp out and trick o treat. We would stay for two weeks (4-5 families) and it was always a blast. Grounds are kept clean. Bath areas kept clean. Finally, my main forte, all of the trails. SPILLWAY TRAIL—is a out and back trail a little over 5 miles (round trip). Well marked accept the entrance is confusing. Mostly dirt with several hills and a couple shallow ravines. EMERALD TRAIL—is an out and back trail on the other (southern) side of the lake. It is well marked and easy to follow. The trail is about 1.25 miles (round trip) DOGWOOD TRAIL—is behind the admin building at the entrance of the park. This is another out and back trail. Well marked. Follows a good portion of Cowan Creek. It is my favorite trail. Ive walked it over a dozen times. Some hills. The trail is about 1.25 miles (round trip) LOTUS COVE TRAIL: is still confusing and marked poorly. Most of it is clear and single wide. OLD FIELD TRAIL: is well marked and easy to follow. However, you have to hike part of Old Field trail to get to lotus cove trail. Or you can park back at the maintenance lot and hike either one. I hiked both these trails on 4/25/23 This of course doesn’t include the greenery growing for other wildflowers yet to bloom like the yellow trout Lily, and most rare WHITE FAWN LILY (foliage only right now) but I will be making frequent trips to see this rare flower bloom. LAKEVIEW TRAIL: Last year when I hiked this trail it was a mess. Very difficult to follow, trails cluttered and narrow. Yesterday I hiked them again and now are very well marked, cleared, and Easy to follow. This is Approximately a one mile loop BEECHNUT TRAIL: Has always been a nice trail. Easy to follow, clear and well marked. Approximately a 1.5 mile trail that is shaped like a pair of lungs. There were huge areas of white trillium, spring beauty, purple, yellow and striped cream violets, cleavers, early meadow rue, false Solomon’s seal, smooth Solomon’s seal, black haw, shepherds purse, area full of wild geranium, hillside full of Atlantic camas(never see before), jacobs ladder, Violet woodsorrel, ramps, garlic mustard, yellow rocket, dwarf larkspur, little leaf butter cup, (ONE) yes, one single jack-in-the-pulpit, chickweed, woodland stonecrop. This of course doesn’t include the greenery growing for many, many other wildflowers yet to bloom like the yellow trout Lily, and rare WHITE FAWN LILY (foliage only right now) All in all, great place for family putting, walking, hiking, pictures, camping, and boating. Even has a couple swimming areas. Nature preserves Parks Hiking Trails"

"This park is so clean and well maintained. The state run components are very well done and the park has a well operated "Friends of Cowan Lake" that has a lot of well done events. The trails are well maintained. They aren't very long, which would be my only critique, but if you're up for a quick hike, there are several perfect trails. There are beautiful lake front views. The facilities are clean. There's a paired set of balls eagles that best there so that's a nice treat to see also."

"Although not a large state park, it is very scenic and has all of the amenities you need. Also it is very well maintained and I would like to come back when the leaves are changing colors and hike some of the trails."