Burr Oak Lake

Tucked away in the Sunday Creek Valley in Morgan and Athens counties, the 665-acre Burr Oak Lake and state park is situated among forested ridges and hollows that make up the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio. Map

Burr Oak’s tranquility offers boaters and park visitors a degree of serenity that is virtually unmatched elsewhere in Ohio.

This is largely a pontoon boat lake, though small motorized fishing boats are popular and generally abundant during the spring and summer fishing weekends. A 10-horsepower limit is in effect. The lake has a marina which offers boat rentals, fuel, supplies and over 550 seasonal docks. There are three boat launch ramps located on the lake. Another amenity for boaters are the 13 primitive campsites at Dock #2 and 8 primitive campsites at Dock #3.

Burr Oak State Park offers another 100 campsites in addition to a 60-room guest lodge and 30 cottages.

Visitors will want to enhance their boating weekend at Burr Oak perhaps by enjoying the 18-mile backpack trail that follows in a loop around the lake shoreline or a more leisurely walk along the 10 miles of hiking trails.

Bass fishing is popular on the lake and attracts a higher number of boat anglers during a weekend tournament. Other popular game fish include crappie, bluegill and sunfish. Paddlers will find Burr Oak to their liking as well due to the relatively small size of the lake and the low horsepower rating.

Burr Oak State Park also serves as the western anchor point for the 39-mile long Morgan County Scenic Byway that follows along Ohio Route 78 east to the Morgan-Muskingum County line. This route to and from the lake, includes several panoramic views known as the “Rim of the World” and is among the most scenic drives found anywhere in Ohio.

Burr Oak is located 75 miles southeast of Columbus and 130 miles east of Cincinnati.