Blue Rock State Park

About Blue Rock State Park

With rugged hills and lush green forests as a backdrop in Blue Rock State Park, you can escape the isolation of nature and enjoy the natural beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

The origin of the rock material in Ohio can be traced back millions of years, when the state was inundated by a shallow inland sea. Material deposited from the sea formed the type of rock found today throughout Ohio. The slate sediments found in the Blue Rock State Park region were formed by mud and water, and the blue-colored slate that gives the park its name.

Before colonization began, most of Ohio was forested, but by the 19th century only twelve percent of the original forest had been preserved.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources now maintains the Blue Rock State Forest that surrounds the park. The forest is dominated by oak and hickory trees and is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, elk, coyotes, foxes and wolves. In the Blue Rock region, the Great Depression, caused by the loss of agricultural land due to the Depression and the rise of industrial agriculture, forced farmers to abandon their land and return to the forests.

Deer, capercaillie, squirrels and wild turkeys are just some of the woodland animals that make up the Blue Rock State Forest and its surroundings. The lush undergrowth is home to a variety of bird species, reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and mammals.

Over the years, White Eyes became friends with the white man, including an adventurous trapper named Duncan, whose chief gave permission to hunt, catch and trade. Duncan became angry when he discovered that game was stolen from his traps, and he began shooting at Indians who interfered with them until he was shot by one of his enemies as he crossed the river at a low point.

His body was found in a pebble wave that is now called Dead Man's Ripple, and the waterfall at this point is called Duncan Falls because it fell right there.

The area was rich in coal, and the use of the Muskingum River for coal transport soon led to a thriving mining industry.

In 1856, the area was rocked by one of the largest collapses in U.S. history when a mine collapsed near the town of Blue Rock, Ohio. Four people who were crushed to death in the mine soon escaped from their captivity.

An immense crowd from the surrounding area and the city gathered to offer help, encouragement and prayers for the men in custody. A dangerous rescue attempt began, combining maximum speed with maximum caution. Rescue efforts continued throughout the day and night with varying degrees of success, but no men were found.

In 1796, Congress awarded Ebenezer Zane a scholarship to build a road from Wheeling to Maysville, Kentucky. The point where the road known as the "Zane Trace" crossed the Muskingum River became the site of Zanesville, which was named after him. North of Blue Rock is the town of ofzane, which was the capital of Ohio State from 1810 to 1812 and played a leading role in the manufacture of clay products.

In 1936, Ohio State purchased the land, including the Blue Rock State Forest, and in 1938 construction of Cutler Lake was completed. In 1939 BlueRock became a national park with the creation of the first state park system in the United States, the State Park System.

There are two separate areas around the lake, one at Cutler Lake and the other at Blue Rock State Park. Pet camping is allowed on the designated pitch, and there are also designated tent sites for dogs, cats, dogs of all sizes and campers.

The three Rent-A-Camp units, which consist of three cabins and a covered picnic table, can be rented during the summer months. Each of the three campers in each cabin has a camper cooker, lantern and radiator, and coin-operated hot showers are available in the campsite's bathing area. In addition to the beach, there are picnic tables and a picnic area on the campsite.

There is also a primitive storage area and a walk - in the tent area on Cutler Lake Road. Group camps are only possible by prior arrangement, so please register at the campsite where you can buy a tent, a stove, tent equipment and other tent equipment for the season.

There is a public beach at the northern end of the lake, and there are public beaches on Cutler Lake Road and Blue Rock State Park Trail.

Swimming is only allowed during the day, but changing rooms, lockers, toilets and snacks are available. A launch pad provides access to the 15-hectare lake, and you can use a rowing boat on Cutler Lake as well as a canoe, kayak, pedal boat or rowing boat.

Table barbecues are under several trees in shady areas of the park, and two have electricity. All three accommodations can be reserved through the park office or online at the Blue Rock State Park website.

Several kilometres of hiking trails start at campsites and picnic areas throughout the park, and other hiking trails are located next to the forest area. Drivers can enjoy their ride along these trails in the shade of the trees, overlooking the Blue Rock River and the nearby river valley.

You must bring your own horse as there are no rental facilities, but you can stay overnight at Blue Rock State Park Lodge, the campground or at one of the many campgrounds.

The Muskingum River is nearby and provides a great opportunity to visit several locks and dams from the 19th century in the park as well as a number of other historic sites. The surrounding park and its surroundings offer hiking, horseback riding and hunting, and there are several hiking trails and trails along the river, such as the Blue Rock River Trail.

Historic Zanesville is located north of the park on State Route 60, and the famous Y Bridge, spanning Muskingum and Licking, is located in the center of this city. The Lorena Steamboat is available for river cruises in Zaneville during the summer months, as well as a number of other riverside attractions.

Just 10 miles away is Blue Rock State Park, one of Ohio State's most popular tourist attractions. It traces the development of the country's first motorway and features a number of historic buildings as well as a host of other historic sites and attractions.