Ohio State Parks
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Guilford Lake State Park

Guilford Lake (NE)

Address/Directions

6835 East Lake Road
Lisbon, OH 44432

Park Office

330-222-1712

Reservations for Camping & Shelters

Call or reserve online:
Reserve Campsites
Reserve Shelters

Maps

Park Map
Campground Map

GPS Coordinates:

40.799776, -80.878258

Information

396-acre Guilford Lake State Park is a quiet fishing lake located in northeastern Ohio on the west fork of the Little Beaver Creek. The gentle rolling terrain of the area offers a serene escape for park visitors year round.

Nature of the Area

Guilford Lake is situated in the glaciated plateau region of Ohio. This portion of the Appalachian foothills was overridden by the glaciers that invaded Ohio more than 12,000 years ago. Eventually, the glacial advances were blocked by the harder and higher sandstone ridges of southeastern Ohio. The bedrock materials of this area were formed 300 million years ago from deposits laid down in streams and swamps.

Natural lakes are a feature of the glaciated landscape, although most in Ohio are very small and have now aged into bogs or marshes. These bodies of water were formed by huge chunks of ice which broke off from the retreating glacier and melted in depressions forming kettle lakes.

The area surrounding Guilford Lake, before being impounded as a reservoir, was extremely swampy indicating it may have been a remnant of a natural glacial lake. The park attracts migrating waterfowl in the fall and spring and also provides good habitat for a variety of songbirds such as the red-winged blackbird, song sparrow and eastern meadowlark. Other wildlife common to the area are red fox, raccoon, skunk and white-tailed deer.

History of the Area

The capture of the infamous Confederate general, John Hunt Morgan, near the vicinity of Guilford Lake, ended his gallant raid through the state of Ohio in 1863. Morgan and his 2,000 raiders crossed the entire width of the state from west to east before his eventual capture.

Guilford Lake was constructed as a canal feeder reservoir for the Sandy and Beaver Canal in 1834. An ambitious project undertaken by a private company, the canal was to be 73-miles long and would require two tunnels, thirty dams, ninety locks, three reservoirs and one 400-foot-long aqueduct before it was completed. The park is named after E.H. Gill who was chief engineer of the canal company for several years. He established a road through swampy areas of the present park which became known as Gill’s Ford.

When the canal era came to a close, the adjacent landowners breached the embankment in two places and proceeded to use the lake bottom for farmland. In 1927, the land was purchased by the state with the intent of rebuilding the reservoir. The new dam was completed in 1932 by the Division of Conservation. The lake was eventually turned over to the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation for administration and developmentGuilford Lake and Ohio’s other canal feeder lakes were the first areas to be dedicated as Ohio state parks in 1949.

Camping

Reserve Campsites online

  • 41 electric sites
  • Play area, fishing dock, drinking water, showers, flush toilets, dump station, picnic tables and fire-rings are provided
  • Separate beach for registered campers
  • Playground equipment and basketaball court
  • Camp office also has games and sporting equipment to loan to registered campers
  • Pets are permitted on all sites
  • Canoes & paddleboats are available for rent
  • Download the Campground map



Trails

  • 1/2 mile hiking trail skirts the scenic lakeshore

Boating

  • Boats with motors up to 10 horsepower are permitted on the 396-acre lake
  • 3 Launching ramps and seasonal dock rentals are available
  • Boat rentals are available from a privately-owned marina on the south side of the lake
  • Canoes & paddleboats can be rented in the campground
  • Check for water quality advisories
  • Boating laws and information

Fishing

  • Good catches of bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish can be taken at Guilford Lake
  • An accessible fishing pier is available on the south side of the lake
  • Valid Ohio fishing license is required

Picnicking

Reserve Shelters online

  • 8 picnic areas with tables and grills are located at various points around the lake • Download the Park Map for details
  • Teegarden Shelterhouse is available for reservation online or by calling 866-644-6727
    • 60′ x 40′ paved floor with 10 picnic tables
    • Maximium capacity is 80 people
    • ADA accessible
    • NO electric outlets
    • Fireplace inside
    • 2 large charcoal grills outside
    • 30 parking spaces
    • Restroom & swingset located nearby
    • Beach & playground approximately 400 yards away
    • $40 per day, sunrise until sunset

Swimming

  • 600-foot public swimming beach is located on the northwest side of the lake
  • Facilities include a bathhouse with changing booths and showers
  • Volleyball and horseshoe pits
  • Swimming is permitted during daylight hours only
  • Swim at your own risk & be sure to keep an eye on the kids
  • Pets are NOT permitted on swimming beaches
  • Check for water quality advisories

Hunting

  • Only waterfowl hunting is permitted in the state park during the designated season
  • Hunting is permitted in the nearby Zepernick Lake State Wildlife Area, east of the park on State Route 172
  • Valid Ohio hunting license is required

Winter Recreation (conditions permitting)

  • Ice skating
  • Ice fishing

Area Attractions

  • 2 public golf courses (9-hole and 18-hole) are located near the park
  • 8 miles south of Lisbon on State Route 518, a Confederate monument commemorates the surrender of General John Hunt Morgan to Union forces on July 26, 1863
  • Beaver Creek State Park is located southeast of Guilford Lake off State Route 7 • Canoeing, picnicking, camping and hiking opportunities are available • Special points of interest include the restored Gaston’s Mill and Pioneer Village • Remnants of the Sandy and Beaver Canal can be viewed, including a restored lock near the mill
  • Zepernick Lake State Wildlife Area, east of the park on State Route 172, offers 518 acres for public hunting and fishing
  • Yellow Creek State Forest, off State Route 39, offers hunting and hiking opportunities
  • The Professional Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, 23 miles west of the park off I-77 at Exit 24
  • For more information on area attractions, visit