ODNR Ohio State Parks
 
Burr Oak State Park
 
 
Burr Oak State Park

10220 Burr Oak Lodge Road
Glouster, OH 45732
Park Map | Campground Map

Burr Oak Resort & Conference Center
Route 2, Box 159
Glouster, OH 45732-9536

Park Office

740-767-3797
Camping/Getaway Rental Reservations

Reserve Campsites Online    Reserve Getaway Rentals Online   Reserve Picnic Shelter online
866-644-6727

Lodge Front Desk

740-767-2112

Lodge Front Desk Fax

740-767-4878

Lodge/Cottage Reservations

Reserve Lodge Rooms Online     Reserve Cottages online

800-282-7275

Located in southeast Ohio, quiet and remote Burr Oak State Park has a rustic country charm in its scenery of wooded hills and valley farms. As one of Ohio's resort parks, Burr Oak offers a wide array of overnight accommodations with its lodge, cottages and campground. Burr Oak blends modern conveniences with the wilderness spirit of Ohio.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Boating horsepower limits on Burr Oak Lake have changed • Effective 11/7/2008, boats with motors exceeding a horsepower rating of 10HP are permitted at idle speed or at a speed that does not create a wake • Watercraft utlizing a motor designated as a jet drive motor are not permitted • Boats with motors of 10 HP or less can continue to operate as usual  (3/17/2009)
Activity Facilities Quantity
Resources Land, acres 2593
  Water, acres 664
  Nearby Wildlife Area yes
Activities Fishing yes
  Hunting private property near park
  Hiking Trail, miles 10
  Backpack Trail, miles 18
  Picnicking yes
  Picnic Shelters, # 1
  Swimming Beach, feet 500
  Summer Nature Programs yes
Boating Boat Rental yes
  Boating Limits See announcement
  Fuel For Sale yes
  Seasonal Dock Rental 553
  Launch Ramps, # 5
Winter Sledding yes
  Ice Skating yes
  Ice Fishing yes
Resort Family Cottages, # 30
  6 cottages
  Nature Room yes
  Lodge Rooms, # 60
  Restaurant yes
  Golf Course nearby community
  Tennis yes
  Indoor Swimming Pool yes
Camping Electric campsites 16
  Non-electric campsites 78
  Pets Permitted yes
  Showers yes
  Flush Toilets yes
  Dumpstation yes
  Youth Group Camp 500
Getaway Rentals Camper Cabins 2

Lodge  Reserve Resort Lodge Rooms online

  • 60 guest rooms
  • 5 meeting rooms
  • Dining room, full-service lounge and gift shop
  • Facilities for lodge and cottage guests include a swimming beach, tennis courts, playground equipment, boat launch ramp and an indoor swimming pool (for registered lodge and cottage guests only)

Cottages  Reserve Cottages online

  • 30 family cottages with air conditioning and cable tv situated near the lodge in the wooded hills overlooking the lake
  • Each cottage sleeps six people, has a bath with a shower, living room, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch
  • Linens, towels and cooking and eating utensils are furnished
  • All amenities at the lodge are available to cottage guests
  • Pets are permitted in select cottages, call 800-282-7275 for details

Camping   Reserve Campsites online

  • 17 NEW electric sites
  • 78 non-electric sites
  • Showers, flush toilets and a dump station
  • 13 sites are offered at Dock #2 and 8 primitive sites at Dock #3
  • Pets (limit of 2) are permitted on designated sites
  • Horseshoe court, and playground equipment
  • Camp office loans games and sporting equipment to registered campers

Getaway Rentals   Reserve Getaway Rentals online

  • 2 Camper Cabins are available from late spring through early fall

Boating

  • Boats with motors of 10 HP or less are permitted to operate as usual
  • Boats with motors exceeding a horsepower rating of 10HP are permitted to operate at idle speed or at a speed that does not create a wake
  • Watercraft utlizing a motor designated as a jet drive motor are not permitted
  • Carry In Carry Out area4 launch ramps provide access to the lake
  • Docks 1 and 4 are Carry in Carry Out areas • No trash cans are available • Please bring trash bags with you
  • Boat rentals, fuel and seasonal dock rentals are offered at the marina

Fishing

  • The lake is well known for its catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish
  • A valid Ohio fishing license is required

Swimming

  • A public swimming beach offers enjoyment for swimmers and sunbathers
  • Bathhouse, showers, and changing booths
  • Carry In Carry Out areaVolleyball courts
  • The beach is a Carry In Carry Out area • No trash cans are provided • Please bring trash bags with you
  • Check for water quality advisories  

Trails

  • 7 Hiking Trails
    • Lakeview • 3.5 Miles • Moderate/Difficult
    • Ravine • 1.5 Miles • Easy/Moderate
    • Chipmunk • 0.40 Miles • Easy
    • Red Fox • 0.7 Miles • Easy
    • Buckeye Loop • 3 Miles • Moderate
    • Campground Trail • 1 Mile • Easy
    • Tanager Trail • 1/2 Mile • Moderate
  • 3 Bridle Trails
    • Bridle/Backpacking • 7 Miles • Moderate
    • Red Trail • 7.5 Miles • Moderate
    • Blue Trail • 3.9 Miles • Moderate 
  • Backpack Trail winds around the lake shore and offers primitive campsites and drinking water at several locations along the route

Picnicking   Reserve Picnic Shelter online

  • Picnic areas are located in scenic areas of the park and offer tables and grills
  • One picnic shelter with electrical outlets is reservable online or by calling 866-644-6727

Hunting

  • Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park and in the adjacent Wayne National Forest and wildlife areas
  • A valid Ohio hunting license is required

Area Attractions

  • A portion of Wayne National Forest borders the park near the dam. The U.S. Forest Service operates a 19-unit family camp at Burr Oak Cove, off State Route 13
  • Wildcat Hollow Backpack Trail, located on Morgan County Road 58, is also operated by the U.S. Forest Service and can be accessed by the park's backpack trail to extend the route
  • Sunday Creek Wildlife Area, consisting of fifteen separate areas, borders the park
  • Two other state wildlife areas are located nearby--Trimble, six miles west and Wolf Creek, six miles east
  • Strouds Run State Park, on U.S. 50 east of Athens, provides facilities for fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking and boating
  • State Route 78 between Glouster and McConnelsville earns its nickname "Rim of the World" as one of the most scenic drives in the state
  • For additional information on area attractions, visit the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Nature of the Area

Burr Oak State Park epitomizes the wilderness character of southeast Ohio • Miles of forested ridges and hollows comprise these foothills of the Appalachian Mountains • The woodlands support a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, box turtles and the elusive wild turkey • The lake's shore is inhabited by the industrious beaver and various waterfowl species

The forest is comprised of numerous hardwoods but is dominated by stately oaks and hickories • In autumn, the forest displays spectacular fall colors as leaves turn to deep reds, brilliant yellows and burnt oranges • Woodland wildflowers are equally as impressive in the spring when violets, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, rare orchids, bloodroot and hepatica are in bloom

History of the Area

Situated in the valley of Sunday Creek, the Burr Oak area was inhabited by Indians and, later, by settlers who found an abundance of game animals and the resources necessary for survival in the Ohio wilderness

Coal, one of Ohio's most important mineral resources, was mined here for many years • As mining operations expanded, mining towns grew and prospered • Few of these mining towns were as notorious as the village of Santoy

Many colorful tales were told of life in Santoy • In the true spirit of frontier life, so the story goes, a gunfight was once held over a $20 debt • The street was cleared as the two participants met for a showdown • The ensuing battle left both men lying in the street--one dead and the other critically wounded • The "Old West" came to life in Ohio when the coal company payroll was robbed by bandits who made a horse-mounted getaway through the town

Countless other tales live on, but Santoy could not • A fire in 1924 destroyed the coal tipple and several businesses • The loss was so devastating that just three years later the second mine shaft shut down • In November 1931, the nineteen remaining voters decided to abandon the town • Today, only the church, the town's first building, still stands as a reminder of days gone by

In 1950 Burr Oak Lake was created by the construction of the Tom Jenkins Dam across the east branch of Sunday Creek • Two years later, Burr Oak was dedicated as a state park