Location: 501 TWSP RD 261A
Richmond, Ohio 43944-9710
740-765-4459
Contact: Guilford Lake State Park
6835 E. Lake Rd., Lisbon, OH 44432
330-222-1712
866-644-6727 for camping reservations

Park Map | Campground Map

Jefferson County Horsemen's Council

Camping

• 60 non-electric sites in the family campground, 35 in the equestrian area and
• Latrines water fountains, picnic tables and fire rings are provided.
• Campers with pets are permitted on designated sites.

Boating

• Non-motorized boats and boats with electric motors up to four horsepower are permitted on Jefferson Lake.

Swimming

• 200 foot public beach offers recreation for swimmers and sunbathers
• Facilities include a bathhouse, showers and toilets
• Check for water quality advisories

Picnicking

• Many picnic tables are located in scenic spots around the lake.
• 2 shelterhouses are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fishing and Hunting

• Jefferson Lake offers great catches of largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill and redear sunfish.
• Hunting is permitted in designated areas.
• A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is required.

Trails

• 18 miles of scenic, sometimes rugged, multiple-use trails meander through the park challenging hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers during any season

More To Do

• Volleyball and basketball courts, as well as horseshoe pits are available at the campground. the camp office also loans games and sporting equipment to registered campers.

Nature of the Area

The sandstone hills of Jefferson County are part of the Appalachian Highlands which envelope the southeastern part of Ohio. In the sandstone bedrock can be found layers of coal which were formed by decaying swamp vegetation millions of years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period.

Covering the hills and valleys of the area is a second growth oak and hickory forest. Growing side-by-side with towering white oaks and shagbark hickories are stately beeches and maples, tulip trees, walnuts, elms and ashes.

The forest is composed of much more than trees, although they constitute its most conspicuous feature. The observant visitor may find a wealth of wildflowers such as wild geranium, hepatica and bloodroot. The leafy canopy rings with a harmonious chorus of bird songs. Wild turkey and ruffed grouse are dispersed in these hills and forests as well. These are just a few of the natural wonders found at Jefferson Lake.

History of the Area

The Jefferson Lake region was once the home of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief whose family was massacred near here on the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow creek. This incident spurred Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.

In more recent times, the area has been home to the steel industry in Ohio. The underlying coal fields and Ohio River access have made it a focal point of this industry.

Jefferson Lake State Park was developed on 962 acres in the valley of the Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Land acquisition began in 1928. The lake and other facilities were constructed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the old Ohio Division of Conservation as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression. The dam was constructed in 1934 and the 17-acre lake was filled in 1946. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation.

Area Attractions