Harrison Lake State Park

About Harrison Lake State Park

Harrison Lake State Park in the area was once part of a vast wetland and is popular for swimming, fishing, camping and canoeing.

The park still has some of the unique natural features associated with the wetland, such as a mysterious area covered with tall trees and saturated with black soil. It is also called Harrison Lake State Park or Harrison Lake National Wildlife Refuge and is home to a range of wildflower, bird, reptile and amphibian species.

Numerous songbirds inhabit the meadows and forests of the park, and various reptile and amphibian species find a suitable habitat in this park. Here you can find a variety of reptiles, such as the painted turtle, the red-legged frog and many other amphibian and bird species. In the shallows at the western end of the lake, a large number of birds, most of them birds of prey, can be observed.

We often see a large number of birds of prey, thirteen of which are strung along the shores of the lake and in the shallows at the western end of Harris Lake State Park.

Lake Erie was originally much larger than it is today, stretching from western New York to Fort Wayne, Indiana. When Lake Erie returned to its present size, the areas that were once water were transformed into marshlands. At that time, the Harrison Lake region was bordered by the waters of Cleveland Lake, Michigan Lake and Huron Lake, all of which were in the waters of the lake.

The Ottawa Indians settled on this well-drained land, and it became known as the Great Black Swamp. For many years, the swamp was a major obstacle to the colonization of the West. Most settlers avoided the area and had to travel across Lake Erie through the swamps to southern Michigan.

The swamp was the last area to be settled in Ohio, and it is still one of the most densely populated areas in the state with more than 1,000 residents.

Until its expulsion in 1842, it was a reservation for Indians, and many of the settlers who settled there in the 1850s were only engaged in developing soil drainage techniques.

Although Northwest Ohio is one of the richest agricultural regions in the country, it is also one of the least populated regions in our state.

In 1836, the United States Congress and the Ohio Legislature finally settled the question of the boundary between the states of Ohio and Michigan and their respective territories. That year, both states claimed an 11-mile-wide strip of land stretching from the mouth of the Maumee River near Toledo to the Ohio-Indiana border. The current boundaries between Ohio and Michigan were agreed in 18 36, and Harrison Lake State Park became a Michigan State Park after Congress backed Michigan's claim in those years, on May 31, 1839.

In 1941, a dam was completed at Mill Creek and Harrison Lake was built, and the lake and its surroundings were used for hunting and fishing until it was established as a state park in 1950, when development for additional recreational uses began. The campsites on HarrisonLake have 193 campsites, 126 of which have electricity, and a total of 1,500 square meters of camping space. Each camp has a maximum capacity of 2,000 people per day and an average of 4,200 people per day.

The three Rent-A campsites, which consist of a covered picnic table, a picnic area and a campfire, can be rented during the summer months by reservation. Group camps with a capacity of up to 50 people are offered on an organized basis for youth groups.

A beautiful beach offers relaxation for swimmers and sun worshippers, and a launch pad allows access to the lake. Only boats with electric motor boats are allowed to enter and leave the lake, but launch ramps allow access from outside the lake.

Harrison Lake can be converted into a recreational fishing lake for perch, trout and other small fish as well as other fish species. A valid fishing license for Ohio is required and you must be a member of the Harrison Lake State Park Fishing Club (required) or the Ohio State Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Several quiet picnic areas are located in picturesque areas of the park, and two accommodations can be reserved for a deposit and are available on the "first come, first served" principle.

The 15 hectare complex includes a craft village where talented craftsmen show off their skills and a museum displaying antique tools and agricultural tools. In a restored barn on the premises, there is a restaurant serving rustic cuisine and an outdoor amphitheatre. The lake is surrounded by a picturesque riverside forest, which offers an opportunity to explore it. In the form of a series of historic buildings, including a barn, a farmhouse and an old barn yard, there are colorful memories of life in early Ohio.

Wildlife photographers, bird watchers and flower lovers will enjoy the natural diversity that makes Golls Forest so unique. The reserve is one of the few remaining examples of this species in the state of Ohio. Ancient oaks abound, towering over the native shrubs and wildflowers that can be found here.

The museum at 229 Monroe Street in Wauseon is operated by the Fulton County Historical Society and is open free on Sundays afternoons. The museum, which showcases the history of Ulton County, is also open to the public free of charge on Sundays from 12: 00 to 16: 00 and on weekends from 10: 00 to 15: 00. The park offers additional recreational activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking. On the grounds there is also a museum, an outdoor amphitheatre, a picnic area and a wreath-making area.

Take Route 23 North to 15 and then Route North to North 15, then South to the north end of the park on the west side of Harrison Lake Road.

Take Route 75 and Route 30 to Route 127 and then Route 125 to the north end of the park on the west side of Harrison Lake Road. Take Route 127 North to Bryan and West to Unity, then Route 127 to North of Bryan, West of Unity and South of West Unity.