Cowan State Park

About Cowan State Park

Swimming, fishing, sailing and canoeing are popular in Cowan Lake State Park, home to the largest freshwater lake in New York State.

Windy paths through the jungle complement the natural features of this scenic park with picturesque views of Cowan Lake, the Hudson River and the New York City skyline.

By studying the rock layers of Ohio, we know that the state was covered by an ancient ocean, swamp or swamp. The sediments deposited in these ancient waters solidified into rocks and eventually rose to dry land. Animals and plants were embedded in this sediment, and today fossils show the different life forms that existed in Ohio in the past. You can find evidence that Ohio history is written in the rocks, as well as fossils of animals, plants, reptiles and amphibians.

Cowan Lake is located on a rocky outcrop that was created during the construction process of the Appalachians. The erosion arch in the Cowan region has uncovered fossil - rich limestone, and there are excavated arches and the remains of an ancient lake.

Near the Cowan Lake there is a beautiful beech and maple forest, and the forest is home to beautiful wild flowers, including blueberries, peaches, apricots, cherries, pears, rhododendrons, orchids and much more.

The fields and bushes of the park are inhabited by many bird species, such as hummingbirds, owls and other songbirds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, elk, elk, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and many other species. For more information about Cowan State Park and its wildlife, click here.

American lotus, or luminous water lily, is abundant in flat areas around the lake. The leaves of this plant reach a diameter of two meters and bear large yellow flowers. It is unusual to find such a large lotus colony in an inland lake, but it is common throughout the state.

The Cowan Lake region was once a stronghold of the Miami and Shawnee Indians, and settlement began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The first settler in the area, William Smalley, began clearing land for the river in 1797, which was later dammed at Cowans Lake. The threat from the Indians subsided in the fall of 1799, and colonization began in earnest with the arrival of settlers from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Smalley was captured by the Indians as a young child and lived with them until he was 20.

Fortunately, he escaped with his life, but later fought in General Wayne's army and was captured again.

The dam at Cowan Creek was completed in 1950 and named after the area's first surveyor, John Cowan. In 1968, the dam was rebuilt and Cowen Lake inaugurated as a state park. In the wooded area around the lake there are 27 single-family houses, all heated and air-conditioned. Each holiday home is heated, air conditioned and has its own kitchen, bathroom and living area, as well as an outdoor swimming pool.

Two of the high-end cottages have gas fireplaces, but they are not in operation between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The cottage with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and one bathroom offers access to the lake and pool as well as the kitchen, bathroom and living area.

Of the 237 campsites that have electricity for tents and trailers, 17 are not electric, but all four sites are accessible for disabled people.

Each campsite is equipped with a commissariat - a snack tent, a picnic table and a water cooling system. Pet tents are also available on designated pitches, in the campsite car park and on the grounds of the park.

There is a public beach on the south shore of the lake and a bathhouse, shower and snack bar are available in the parking lot at the northern end of Cowan State Park, which is adjacent to the campsite.

Sailing is very popular on the lake and there are also launch pads and fuel docks. Boats with a maximum power of ten horsepower are allowed on Cowan Lake and the South Shore Marina Concession offers a variety of boat rentals, as well as a boat ramp, boat parking and a jetty.

In many treetops and shady places overlooking the lake there are picnic areas with tables and barbecues. Shelters and dance pavilions can be reserved, as well as a picnic area with picnic tables, picnic chairs and picnic benches.

More than four kilometres of hiking trails start from huts and tents and lead to picturesque places throughout the park. The Emerald Woods Trail winds through mature beech forest, Lotus Cove self-guided trails offer views of the American lotus colony along the way, and the Emerald Lake Trail trails in the forest. For details, please contact the Cowan State Park parking lot office at (905) 888-476-5555 or email parking @ cowan.com.

Caesar Creek State Park is located on the east side of the Stonelick River and borders the city of St. John's, Ontario, and its boundaries with the city of Hamilton. St Colonelick State Park is located in the heart of Cowan Provincial Park, just south of downtown Ottawa. It offers swimming, boating, fishing and camping, as well as a variety of hiking and biking trails.

Other attractions include the Stonelick River Trail, St. Colonelick Lake, the Cowan River and a variety of hiking and cycling trails.