One of Ohio’s most popular outdoor recreation areas is a mere two mile drive, run or ride from my driveway. Alum Creek State Park is popular with boaters, campers and fishermen and most everyone else who enjoys life beyond cable TV. The vast 3387 acre reservoir is surrounded by trails and rimmed on one side by a 3000 foot beach. Mountain bike, bridle and running trails all get heavy use.
Alum Creek State Park Map and Visitor Information
My favorites? “The Steps” are a quick but intense work-out on the days I have to squeeze “fitness” into a thirty minute 
window. The adjacent “below dam” park area also gets bonus points for the playground monkey bars that facilitate an equally expedient upper body routine of pull-ups and chin-ups. Our lab Lily enjoys the dog park off of Hollenback Rd on the other side of the reservoir (and we enjoy her enjoyment of the lake and the social frenzy that is a “dog park”). There’s a seven-mile multi-use trail on the southeast side (east of the boat launching area) that winds through woods and meadows and affords tantalizing peeks of the lake’s shoreline -perfect for an afternoon run. And, you can’t beat the grassy walk along Alum Creek Lake’s southern perimeter…
I don’t like to run it; “the Steps” or multi-use trail are much better for cardio activity, in my opinion. The southern trail is flat, and the vista is one of those endless wonderful panoramas that instills awe in the casual viewer but is less inspiring to a runner looking at a basically still screen for minutes in a row. But, it’s a great walking/talking route… I’ve walked it with both my daughter and my niece on separate evenings this past week. Lily tagged along both times, of course.
It always makes for a lovely evening. You can launch rocks to forever off the top of the dam, watch darting swallows, spot fish and great herons in the water, and listen as all the “little things” come up for air and conversation as you walk…
Alum Creek State Park Map and Visitor Information
Alum Creek State Park
Something “outdoors” for everyone!
3387 acre reservoir surrounded by wooded park land.
Mountain bike, bridle and multi-purpose trails, marina with boat rentals, dog park (with swim area), camping, fishing, hunting, swimming…
“Yes” for pets
Park Phone: 740-548-4631
Address: 3615 S. Old State Rd
Delaware Ohio 43015
Directions: See Park website or individual map links for detailed directions
Next Trip: Mammoth Cave National Park, KY and “Time Travel” with Facebook…
Very nice post, I like the photos you add to it!
There is no better place to be when pressed for time and the stresses from daily life keep growing. Being close to where you live makes it just that more special. Dog friendly is an added bonus. Exactly how many steps are there? The early evening vista looks wonderful. I had almost forgotten about these after living in a city like Seoul.
Good picture of the steps.
What a great resource to have so close to home.
I must get over to your side of the States some time. I have three cyber friends around the lakes, so I could get to see you all on the one trip. On our way to Italy each year we do sometimes stop off in Los Angeles but it’s a lot further to get over your way so it has never happened. But one day…
I loved your last post by the way. I know what you mean about it being OK to enjoy things by yourself. A great revelation. And that trip sounded heavenly.
Those steps look deadly! I’d much rather stroll that lovely trail.
Hisham: Thanks! I can’t imagine life without a camera!
Cate: It always feels as though you’ve come upon another world when you crest the top and look out over the lake. I need to get a picture of that view sometime! As for the number of steps: An unknown child gave me his unofficial count last summer as I kept passing him, back and forth. It was one hundred twenty something… I keep meaning to count them myself but never remember when I’m actually running them!
Graham: Thanks. I like that shot, too.
Mark: I try not to take it for granted. Its proximity and the variety of outdoor options it offers makes it a regular spot for me.
Suzanne: That would be a great time! JJ’s site and my own should have sold you on the attributes of the area by now!
That trip tipped my world a little and gave me a much better perspective going forward.
Fly Girl: Ha! Only one flight at a time… The trail is lovely and gets a lot of use by walkers, runners and even cyclists. Our lab Lily gets terrifically excited whenever I drive in that direction!
Looks like great fishing Heather! Thanks for taking us there!
I would like to visit this park, but according to your photos from other posts there are more interesting places