Pike Lake State Park (Ohio)
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Pike Lake State Park is located in the midst of the wooded hills of southern Ohio near Bainbridge, Ohio, and has a small lake with surrounding state forest. It is one of the 73 Ohio state parks.
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[edit] History of the area
Pike County is located in an area that has many earthworks constructed by Ohio's prehistoric people. These first citizens of Ohio lived in the Scioto River valley and its tributaries, appearing here sometime around 800 B.C.E. The Mound builders eventually gave rise to the woodland Indian cultures--the first white settlers encountered. One tribe, the Shawnee, made this area their home and hunting grounds. They were fiercely protective of their land.
Nearby Chillicothe, the first capital of Ohio, spurred early settlement in the area. Some of the early, historic buildings still stand. Just south of the park is "Eagers Inn" built in 1797. The inn was constructed on a trace that ran from Limestone, Kentucky to Chillicothe. Limestone (now called Maysville) was an important crossing on the Ohio River. Many settlers from Kentucky followed this passage on their way to the frontier.
During the American Civil War, only one advance was ever made by the Confederate Army into Ohio. General John H. Morgan crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, then rode with his cavalry into Ohio north of Cincinnati. Morgan's raiders traversed the southern portion of the state, passing near present-day Pike Lake State Park. Eventually, he and many of his men were captured in southwestern Columbiana County near Salineville. Less than five months later, General John Morgan and six of his men escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary and returned to the Confederacy.
Also during this historic period, the family who farmed this valley found a wounded soldier collapsed in their field. The unconscious union soldier never revived. His name, unit or hometown were never known. Today, a solitary headstone below the dam at the base of a large oak tree marks the grave of this casualty from a tragic war.
The present park first began to take shape during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days of the 1930s. One of the Ohio camps was established near the future site of Pike Lake at Morgantown. Corpsmembers dug the lake by hand, built two or three fire towers in the area, constructed the roads to make them accessible and planted hundreds of pine trees. Pike Lake was originally a state forest park, but with the formation of the Division of Parks and Recreation in 1949, it became an official state park that year.
[edit] Facilities
[edit] Camping
The campground at Pike Lake features 80 sites with electricity. Pit latrines, dump station, tables, fire rings and camp commissary are provided. Campers with pets are permitted on designated sites. A group camp that can accommodate sixty people is available by reservation.
[edit] Cottages
The park features 12 standard cottages and 12 family cottages. Family cottages sleep six people, are heated and air-conditioned for year-round use, have two bedrooms, bath with shower, living room with hide-a-bed and gas log fireplace, kitchen/dining area and screened porch. Standard cottages are air-conditioned and available during the summer months only. Each standard cottage sleeps up to four people and has a kitchen/dining area, bath and living/sleeping area.
Dishes, kitchen utensils and linens are furnished in both types of cottages. A group lodge offers kitchen facilities, two baths, and sleeping accommodations for 16 people.
[edit] Fishing and hunting
The small 13-acre lake in the park offers good catches of largemouth bass, channel catfish, bullheads, bluegill and crappie. Hunting is permitted in the adjacent state forest. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is required.
[edit] Swimming
A sand beach is provided for swimmers. There are also several changing areas, showers and vending machines.
[edit] Boating
Non-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors only (up to 4-1/2 horsepower) are permitted on the lake. Rowboats, canoes and pedal boats are available for rent.
[edit] Picnicking
Several picnic areas are located in scenic locations around the park. Grills and tables are provided. A reservable picnic shelter accommodates 50.
The campground offers basketball and horseshoe courts, in addition to playground equipment for youngsters. The park office loans games and sporting equipment to campers. Additional playgrounds, basketball courts, horseshoes and disc golf are available in day-use areas of the park.
[edit] Trails
Six miles of hiking trails provide strenuous and/or casual walks to scenic locations. The adjacent state forest has several miles of bridle trails. Horses are not provided by the park or forest.
[edit] Nature of the area
The Pike Lake region is located in the unglaciated portion of the Appalachian plateau in Ohio. As the Appalachian Mountains were uplifted, this plateau was created west of the new mountain range. The plateau marks the boundary between the hilly eastern section of Ohio and the flatter western portions. Just thirty miles west of Pike Lake, the terrain changes dramatically from forested hills to rolling farmland.
The landscape of Pike Lake is characterized by dense forests of oak, hickory, tulip, ash and other hardwoods. Several outcroppings of the sandstone bedrock have been exposed in the park.
The dense forest and remote location of Pike Lake create excellent habitat for Ohio's forest game animals. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, rabbit and the elusive wild turkey are abundant. Other mammals in the park include skunk, opossum, raccoon and red fox. Reptiles include the box turtle, black snake, five-lined skink and the endangered timber rattlesnake.
The forest is known for its variety of ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi. The wildflowers are diverse, creating spectacular displays--spring through autumn.
