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Pymatuning State Park
PO Box 1000
Andover, Ohio 44003-1000
| Park Office -- 6100 Pymatuning Lake Road |
440-293-6030 |
| Camp Office -- 7514 Pymatuning Lake Road |
440-293-6684 |
1-866-644-6727 for cottage, camping,
and getaway rental reservations
Park Map | Campground Map
| The Eagles have landed! To protect a nesting pair of Bald Eagles, the entire north end of the campground (sites 238 - 373) will be closed until the end of June. We appreciate your understanding. |
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| In a setting that highlights the mystery of an old swamp forest and the excitement of a water recreation area, Pymatuning State Park invites outdoor lovers of all ages to enjoy a relaxing lakeside vacation experience.
In addition to being one of the finest walleye and muskellunge lakes in the country, Pymatuning offers excellent camping, swimming and boating opportunities as well.
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| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
3512 |
 |
Water, acres |
1407 |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
2 miles |
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
Picnic Shelters |
3 |
|
Swimming Beach, feet |
350 |
|
Beach Concession |
yes |
|
Nature Center |
yes |
|
Summer Nature Programs |
yes |
| Boating |
Boat Rental |
yes |
|
Boating Limits |
10hp |
|
Launch Ramps |
5 |
|
Docks |
360 |
| Winter |
Ice Skating |
yes |
|
Ice Fishing |
yes |
|
Ice Boating |
yes |
|
Cross-Country Skiing |
yes |
| Facilities |
Family Cottages |
26 |
|
Standard Cottages |
32 |
|
Premium Cottage |
1 |
|
Cottage Beach, feet |
150 |
| |
Cottages 37 and 62
(Cottages 3 & 33
beginning May 2008) |
 |
| Camping |
Non-Electric Campsites |
21 |
|
Campsites with Elec. |
331 |
|
Seasonal Campsites |
18 |
|
Full Service Campsites |
18 |
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Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
Campground Beach |
yes |
|
Showers |
yes |
|
Flush Toilets |
yes |
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
Camp Commissary |
yes |
|
Rent-A-Yurt |
3 |
Cottages
- 26 family cottages which sleep six are heated for year-round use.
- 32 standard cottages are available May 1 - November 1, each of which sleep four.
- Dogs are permitted in select pet-friendly cottages
- The premium cottage also includes dishwasher, wood deck with gas grill, central air and a 3-person spa.
- Family cottages include gas fireplaces and microwave ovens.
- All cottages are furnished with cable tv, outside grill, fire ring, linens, towels, and cooking/eating utensils.
- Reservations may be made up to one year in advance.
- Small beach is available for cottage guests
- Pets are permitted in select cottages, please call 866-644-6727 for more information
Getaway Rentals
Camping
- 331 sites have 20 or 30 amp electric hookups
- 21 sites are non-electric
- See the map
- Heated shower houses
- Flush toilets
- Laundry facilities
- Camp commissary
- Certain sites may be rented for the entire season
- Small beach for campers is located near the center of the campground.
- Nature center
- Basketball and volleyball courts
- Playgrounds
Boating
- Five boat-launch ramps are situated around this 14,000 acre lake for convenient access.
- Ten horsepower motor limit is in effect.
- Many boat rental concessions are located around the lake.
Fishing and Hunting
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Pymatuning is known for its fine walleye fishing and has the reputation of being one of the best fishing lakes in the state.
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Anglers will also find good catches of crappie, black bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
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Either an Ohio or Pennsylvania fishing license is required for boat fishing while bank fishing requires a license from the applicable state.
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Hunting is permitted in designated areas only.
Hiking
Swimming
- An excellent swimming beach is located just south of the causeway.
- Facilities include a bathhouse, showers, vending machines, and a volleyball court.
Picnicking
- Picnic areas with tables and grills are located in many secluded and scenic areas along the lakeshore.
- Three picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis or can be reserved at the park office.
Winter Recreation
- Ice skating
- Ice boating
- Ice fishing
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowmobiling is permitted on the Pennsylvania side of the lake
Area Attractions
- The Grand River, a state wild and scenic river managed by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, is found north of the park off State Route 322 and State Route 6
- Within easy driving distance just across the Pennsylvania border, the Pennsylvania Fish Commission operates a fish hatchery and visitors' center near the town of Linesville
- Not far from the hatchery is a waterfowl museum with displays featuring native waterfowl and a viewing area that allows visitors to observe the nests of the bald eagles residing there
- Pennnsylvania's Pymatuning State Park also invites visitors to enjoy its facilities on the eastern shore of the reservoir
- Do not forget to stop at the Pymatuning Spillway, famous as the place where "the ducks walk on the fish!". Each year, thousands of visitors stop to feed bread to the ducks and carp which crowd together in such numbers that the ducks stand on the carp to catch a tasty morsel.
Nature of the Area
Northeastern Ohio's "snow belt" region is the setting for spacious Pymatuning State Park. Located on the western shore of Pymatuning Reservoir, the park provides a wide variety of facilities for those who enjoy outdoor recreation.
The countryside around Pymatuning State Park was shaped by the action of the glaciers that covered the area more than 14,000 years ago. As the last ice melted away, a rolling terrain dotted with dozens of kettle lakes was revealed. Gradually, a great swamp forest developed, punctuated by bogs and wetlands and supporting stands of towering white pines. The rich wetland habitat was home to a great number of wild animals including bears and wolves. It was this abundance of resources that attracted Indians to the area; the word Pymatuning is taken from an Indian term translated as "the crooked-mouthed man's dwelling place."
The remaining ponds and marshes are a good food source for many types of animals, including the magnificent bald eagle. Several pairs of eagles nest on the Pennsylvania side of the reservoir, and a patient observer may spot one of these rare birds of prey in flight. In addition to eagles, the reservoir serves as a resting spot for numerous migrating waterfowl.
History of the Area
Settlement of the area by white immigrants from the east was slow to occur. The vast Pymatuning swamp and nearly impenetrable forest made travel difficult. The earliest Europeans to reside here were trappers in search of valuable beaver pelts. Later, the lush forest attracted lumbermen who especially prized the strong, straight trunks of the white pines that were used to construct masts for sailing ships. As more and more settlers came into northern Ohio, much of the wilderness character of the Pymatuning region was lost. Remnants of the original swamp still remain today, coaxing the modern day naturalist to explore this unique habitat.
In 1933, the dam which impounded Pymatuning Reservoir was constructed to regulate the flow of the Shenango and Beaver rivers. Land on the western shore of the reservoir was acquired by the state of Ohio in 1935, and in 1950 the Division of Parks and Recreation began developing Pymatuning State Park.
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