Kiser Lake State Park

About Kiser Lake State Park

Gentle wooded hills and diverse wetlands contribute to a picturesque lake known for its picturesque views of the Great Lakes and the Pacific. The rolling hills of Kisker Lake State Park, a 1.5-mile lake, make it a popular destination for kayaking, canoeing, hiking and fishing.

The area around Kiser Lake State Park was born as a gift from the Ice Age, and two glacier-induced natural phenomena have helped shape the region in its current form. The gently rolling, wooded hills are caused by moraine formation, a phenomenon in which the ice edges stop forming linear ridges along the ice front. One of these moraines, called Farmersville, surrounds the lake on three sides and creates humpback elevations in the area.

The moraine deposits contain several tons of heavy boulders, some of which have been transported as far as Canada. These boulders, called "bobles," are a familiar sight in the Kiser area and are part of the natural history of the park.

Kamefeld at the southeastern end of the lake is the largest moraine deposit in Kiser Lake State Park and the only one in the park. Kame is a sand and gravel mountain formed by meltwater flowing through glacier ice. The water settled in holes on the edge of the ice, leaving humpback hills.

The area is full of many fascinating plants, including pitcher plants, sundew, tamarack and spruce. The area was formed when ice blocks broke off from the glacier and were covered with sand and gravel. In summer, the ice melted, creating a depression surrounded by water surrounded by glacial deposits. All wetlands in Kiser are designated as bog or wetland habitats, but Kamefeld is the only one in the park.

The region around Kiser Lake in Champaign County was home to Tecumseh, the greatest Shawnee warrior, and he lived and hunted near Buck Creek in what is now Urbana. There is also evidence that legendary border crosser Simon Kenton was once held captive by the Shawnees.

Kentons loved the sunbathers because they had chosen such a beautiful area to live in, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1802 Kenton settled in Urbana for a few years, but returned later and the area is well remembered. The remains lie beneath Kiser Lake State Park in Champaign County, south of the Ohio-Illinois border.

In 1932, the Kiser family offered Ohio State $500,000 to create a state park in their honor. The idea was to create a "Mosquito Valley" with springs, and in 1932 it was with the help of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the US Army.

In 1939, a dam was built and the new lake was named Kiser, which became Kizer Lake State Park.

The lake is nearly 2.5 miles long and has a shoreline of 5.3 miles, and it is the largest lake in the state of Ohio with an average depth of 4.2 feet.

On the south side of the lake there are group camps for youth and adult organisations on a reservation basis. Family campsites with 115 non-electric pitches are open all year round and can be rented by reservation in the summer months. Or two rent-a-camp units, consisting of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a single bed tent, can also be rented in the winter months for $1,000 per week or $2,500 per month for a family of four. Campsites for adults with at least 10 people and families with up to 15 people are available for just $5 per day or $10 per night.

Diving is allowed in the beach area, but divers must be accompanied by at least one person and there is a snack bar on each beach. The 600-foot beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and from June 1 to September 30.

All appropriate equipment and markings for the dive site are required, as well as a proper diving mask, life jacket and appropriate diving equipment.

Although boat engines are not allowed on the lake, sailing is still very popular and launch pads and public moorings are available in the park's parking lot and a number of other locations.

There are four picnic areas with tables and barbecues in the park, and boats can be rented from two boat rentals in the parks. Kisker Lake State Park Lodge also offers accommodation with a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, as well as barbecue facilities.

Four hiking trails are located in the park and offer 4.5 km of hiking trails for your pleasure. The Red Oak Trail is located on the east side of the lake, just north of Kisker Lake State Park Lodge. At the group campsite the hiking trails Kiefernweg, Possum and Hohlweg are accessible, but open fire is not allowed in this area.

The North Bay Trail follows the lakeside for 1.5 miles and the Kiser Lake Trail for 2.2 miles. The Kizer Lake Wetlands Reserve, located within the park, consists of 2,500 hectares of wetlands and 1,000 hectares on the east side of the lake. In this area is a 300-acre swamp known as Mosquito Lake Bog, created by the last glacier to invade Ohio. Access is only possible with written permission from Kisker Lake State Park, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources nature reserve.

The Simon Kenton Historic Corridor, located between Piqua and Mechanicsburg, is popular with tourists. Sights include the Kiser Lake Trail, South Bay Trail and North Bay Trail as well as the Lakefront Trail.

The Air Force Museum can be visited in nearby Dayton, and the natural wonders of the corridor are the Cedar Moors and Ohio Caverns.