 Grand Lake St. Marys
Originally constructed 160 years ago by hand as a feeder reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal, Grand Lake St. Marys in Mercer and Auglaize counties was recognized for many years as the largest manmade reservoir in the world. Map
Today, the 13,500-acre reservoir is Ohio’s largest inland lake that measures 9 miles long and nearly 3 miles wide and includes 60 miles of shoreline. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park ? one of the state’s oldest state parks --- is northwest Ohio’s gateway to recreational boating, fishing, swimming, camping and other outdoor activities.
The lake features five public boat launch ramps in addition to several private ramps. These include the Mercelina Park, Boat Club, Campground, Marina, West Bank, Its-IT and Windy Point boat ramps.
Boats with unlimited horsepower may operate on Grand Lake St Marys, though a 10 mph speed limit is in effect from sunset to sunrise. Popular with owners of pontoon boats, the large lake also offers good opportunities for water skiing, fishing, sailing and power cruising. The average depth of the lake is 9 feet.
More than 100 seasonal docking sites, marine fuel, boat rentals and a boat dealership provide services to boaters on Grand Lake St. Marys.
Sport fishing is highly popular among boaters. Grand Lake St. Marys serves as one of Ohio’s most popular crappie fishing lakes and also offers good fishing opportunities for bass, bluegills, catfish and yellow perch.
Waterfowl hunting is a popular fall and winter activity with Grand Lake St. Marys offering 90 seasonal duck hunting blinds available through a special application and lottery selection process.
Grand Lake St. Marys is located along Ohio Route 703 between Celina in eastern Mercer County and St. Marys in western Auglaize County. The lake and state park are approximately 35 miles southwest of Lima, 115 miles southwest of Toledo, 80 miles north of Dayton and 105 miles northwest of Columbus.
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