Category Archives: Hoover Reservoir

Short Walk on a Long Pier

An In-Town Tourist Feature:
…because Adventure begins in the heart and Travel starts at the end of your own driveway.

A 1500 foot pier is an unexpected find in landlocked Central Ohio. The Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk in Galena, Ohio lies on the northeastern edge of Hoover Reservoir and is a popular recreational site for boaters, birders and fishermen.


Canada GooseDepending on the time of day and if the fish are biting, you’ll stroll through the quiet conversations of fishermen intent on hooking a large-mouth bass or channel catfish -or into virtual solitude, pressed only by rhythmic waves, gusting winds and the cheerful chirps and calls of a variety of shore birds.

Matt on Boardwalk

Bald eagles, peregrine falcons and osprey are lake area residents and can be spotted with a steady eye on the sky. The water may be mud brown in color, but pier’s end offers a view expansive enough to awaken oceanic dreams…

Updated from May 1, 2009.

 

Columbus Things To Do

Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk (Galena, Ohio) Visitor Information and Map

1500 foot boardwalk across mudflats and reservoir waters.
Fishing and bird watching!

Directions: Travel northeast on S. Old 3C to downtown Galena, Ohio. Turn right on Front Street. Parking lot is on right.

View Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk in a larger map

13 Comments

In-Town Tourist: Swimming Beach at Hoover Reservoir (video)

Hot and humid in Ohio.  A sultry Sunday afternoon.  One of the so-called dog days of summer. Our dog Lily, a six year old chocolate lab, enjoyed splashing through her day.  Check out the video of our favorite swimming spot (I’ll use HiDef next time).  The second video “If You Give a Hannah a Video Camera” is a good argument for keeping hold of the camera at all times!

Previous articles and photos of HOOVER RESERVOIR in WESTERVILLE, OHIO

ARIZONA adventures      BOSTON/CAPE COD 

PUERTO RICO


Columbus Things To Do

5 Comments

In-Town Tourist: The “Other” Hoover Dam (Westerville, Ohio)

The Hoover Dam that brackets the Arizona/Nevada border may sell more postcards, but Ohio’s Hoover Dam is close enough to be a regular visit for us.  Matt and I rode bikes across the imposing cement structure just last week, and on Friday we took Lily to swim at a secluded beach along its shore.

Like Alum Creek Dam to our north, Hoover brims with outdoor options for the active.  Rollerbladers, cyclists and runners weave between those strolling or walking dogs along the paved pathway atop the dam. Sports fields, picnic and play spaces and a frisbee golf course are among the well-used amenities at the recreation area.

Less utilized is the canoe launch area below the dam and a delightful nature trail that leads to Lily’s swimming spot.  The nature trail entrance is located to the northeast of the walkway at the edge of a parking lot turn-around.  Blackberries abound in late summer (as does poison ivy, so pluck with care!) in a sunny stretch of brush near the trail head.  After a short stroll west through woods, the path swings north again.  We rarely continue the trail from here, however, opting instead to slip through one of the side paths that lead to the water.

A flat shoreline and an abundance of big sticks make this a great swimming spot for dogs.  Most often we have the beach to ourselves but occasionally, to Lily’s delight, she finds a playmate such as Otis (pictured with Lily).  There are always a few logs to climb over (or fall over if you’re me and having a less than graceful day), plenty of flat skip-worthy stones and some lovely views.

More on Lily the Lab

More “In-Town Tourist”:  Hoover Reservoir

More “In-Town Tourist”

Columbus Things To Do

14 Comments

Page 1 of 212

All the Adventures!