A W Marion State Park

About A W Marion State Park

This small and unique park offers a variety of leisure activities and at the same time a peaceful atmosphere of natural tranquility, offering a wide range of activities for children and adults.

Pickaway County natural wonders can be traced back to an ice age that occurred more than 12,000 years ago. As the glacier advanced through more than two-thirds of Ohio, enormous amounts of rock, soil and farmland were deposited in the area. This planting had a significant impact on the natural vegetation that occurs in A W Marion.

The surface of the park is relatively flat, but the area is diverse, with forests, plains and prairies.

The eastern part stretches as far as Ohio and is home to a variety of plant and animal species such as wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. In the western part of A W Marion State Park there are beehives, as well as a number of other species.

At the beginning of the settlement, oak bushes formed by bushes were common in the region, which were cleared and then cleared for cultivation. Everywhere meadows grew, which were reclaimed by forests during the rainy season.

The nearby floodplains of the Scioto River are decorated with a variety of wild flowers. The wildlife in the area includes ringed pheasants, white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, owls and other birds.

Before A.W. Marion became a state park, the area had an amazing history. Early residents moved here from Pickaway Plains, which is said to be one of Ohio's wealthiest areas.

The Adena culture was the first to settle in the area over 2000 years ago, and they testified to the existence of A.W. Marion State Park as early as the early 19th century.

More recently, the village of Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee Nation was on this plain, and it was within striking distance of Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who marched with his army to the Indians in 1774. The intention was to destroy the villages and end the uprising that had ended days earlier at the Battle of Point Pleasant. At the request of all Indians, a peace settlement was agreed upon, after which no further fighting broke out.

In 1948, construction of a dam at Hargus Creek Lake began, and the park was renamed A.W.

Marion State Park. In the 1950s, the area became part of the newly created Department of Natural Resources of the US Department of Agriculture.

Hargus Lake offers a variety of recreational activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming and boating. On the northwest side of the lake, concessions can be rented, but only electric motors are allowed.

By the late 1980s, the habitat of Hargus Lake had been drained, replenished, and improved, and fishermen can now enjoy the best fishing opportunities in downtown Ohio.

A valid fishing license is required to enter Hargus Lake and the rest of the National Park, as well as to access other national parks in the area.

In autumn, the mature forests provide excellent squirrel hunting in designated areas, and all hunting activities in the National Park and the rest of the Park require a valid hunting license.

Picnic tables and barbecue areas are located in picturesque areas of the park, and concession stands offer limited picnic options. Fire is only allowed in the provided barbecue compartments, but no fires are allowed outside these picnic areas.

The Hargus Lake Trail offers scenic delights over 5 km long and provides access to the entire shores of the lake. The trail is self-guided and leads to fourteen sights and has orientation signs, but is only accessible on foot, by bike or on horseback and only in the morning and evening hours. From the campsite, the Squawroot Nature Trail offers kilometres of scenic terrain for hikers.

Near the park there are countless possibilities that go beyond the boundaries of a single campsite, such as the Hargus Lake Trail, the Squawroot Nature Trail or even a forest path.

Deer Creek State Park is also located in Pickaway County and offers camping, fishing, boating and picnics. Visitors can also get a glimpse of farming life in the 1880s by travelling to the Living Historical Farm Shale Experience. Two state protected areas are located near the park, which are operated by the ODNR (Department of Natural Resources and Reserves). You reach the monument marking Logan Elm, where Chief Logan gave his eloquent speech, and Logan the Elm.

Horses, machinery, wood kilns, preserved horse and machine farms, dairy farms and dairy farms are just some of the activities you can enjoy.

From State Route 159, head south for scenic views of Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Trail. The outdoor drama will run from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Sugar Loaf Mountain.