1901 Buck Creek Lane
Springfield, OH 45502

1-866-644-6727 for cottage
and camping reservations

Park Office	(937) 322-5284
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	(937) 325-2411
District 2 Watercraft Office	(937) 323-1582

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers C.J. Brown Dam and Reservoir

Park Map | Campground Map | Local Park Site

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Buck Creek is in the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine zone • Do not remove firewood from the park

Buck Creek State Park lies in a fertile agricultural area, rich in Ohio's history. The park's recreational facilities center around the 2,120-acre lake, offering endless water-related opportunities. Visitors enjoy the many wetlands, broad meadows and wildlife at this diverse park.

Cottages

• 26 family cottages situated in a wooded area with several offering a view of the lake.
• Each has two bedrooms
• Bath with a shower
• Living room with a trundle bed
• Complete kitchen
• Dining area
• Screened porch
• Gas log fireplace
• Air conditioning.
• One cottage is fully accessible.

Camping

• 89 electric sites
• 22 non-electric sites
• Campground facilities include showers, flush toilets and dump station
• Campers with pets may camp on designated sites
• Boat camping is permitted in designated areas
• Bike rentals are offered at the camp office, and the campground offers many activities to campers, including a camper's beach

Boating

• Boating with unlimited horsepower is permitted on the 2,120-acre lake.
• A four-lane launch ramp provides access to the lake.
• A marina provides fuel, snack bar, bait shop and seasonal dock rental.

Hunting and Fishing

• Fishermen enjoy fine catches of walleye, bass and pan fish.
• A fishing pier is open to the public and is wheelchair accessible.
• Hunting is permitted in designated areas.
• A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required.

Swimming

• Sunbathers and swimmers enjoy the 2,400-foot sand beach
• Vending machines are available
• Check for water quality advisories

Picnicking

• 9 Picnic areas provide tables and grills in scenic locations.
• Two picnic shelters may be reserved online or by calling (866)-644-6727 and One can be reserved by calling the Army Core of Engineers Office (937)-325-2411

• 9.5 miles of hiking trails offer opportunities for nature study, bird watching and other wildlife observation.
• Buckhorn Trail- Hiking- 7.5 Miles, Moderate
• Lakeview Trail- Hiking- 2 Miles, Moderate
• Bridle trail/snowmobiling- 7.5-miles weather permitting, Moderate

Expanded Information

• Buck Creek State Park is leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District at C.J. Brown Dam and Reservoir provides plenty of information to make your visit more enjoyable.

More To Do

• Volleyball and basketball courts, tetherball and horseshoe pits.
• Shuffleboard and playground equipment
• 18-hole disc golf course

Nature of the Area

The natural features of Buck Creek State Park can be attributed to the effects of glaciers which receded from Ohio over 12,000 years ago. Low hills called moraines can be seen in the area where glaciers halted for extended periods of time and left deposits of gravel and sand. Old river valleys were filled by these deposits where numerous springs now well up through the sand and gravel. The nearby city of Springfield is named for the many springs seeping up from the broad meadows. The springs account for the many bogs and fens in Clark and Champaign counties of which Cedar Bog is probably the best known.

These wet areas harbor an assortment of rare and unusual plants including round-leaved sundew and horned bladderwort. The spotted turtle, a state endangered animal, is found in the area. The northernmost region of the park is an excellent area to observe waterfowl. The shallow waters provide a stopover for thousands of migrating ducks. Relatively rare songbirds of open meadows are also present including dickcissels, bobolinks and Henslow sparrows.

History of the Area

Buck Creek was home to Indians and pioneers. The land at the time of early settlement was mostly forested by large trees with minimal undergrowth. Occasionally, the forests were interrupted by prairie openings.

In 1780, George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary war hero, led a band of nearly 1,000 Kentuckians in a raid against Ohio Indians. The Shawnee Indians abandoned their camp which they called Old Chillicothe (near Xenia) and fled to Piqua, the Shawnee capital, located west of the present site of Springfield. Clark pursued the fleeing Indians, and the Shawnee were defeated at the Battle of Piqua. Most of the Indians, however, had dispersed into the woodlands. One Indian hiding in the woods was the young Tecumseh, who vowed to avenge the attack. Following the battle, Clark's men retreated to their homes in Kentucky and the Indians moved north. A new Piqua was erected on the banks of the Miami River. This battle put a temporary end to Indian warfare.

With the decline of Indian threat, settlers moved into the area. In 1799, legendary frontiersman Simon Kenton settled in the region with six other Kentucky families. The group lived near the confluence of Buck Creek and Mad River. After two years, the settlers moved to different areas. Kenton established a home along Buck Creek about four miles north of present Springfield. Settlement brought change to the area as trees were cut to construct buildings. Acres were cleared and farm crops were planted. The settlers found the land extremely fertile.

The community of Springfield was founded in 1801 and has served since then as the county seat of Clark County. In 1838, the National Road (U.S. 40) reached Springfield and this opened new markets for manufacturing and agriculture. Over the years, Springfield's character changed from rural to industrial. By 1880, the community led the nation in the manufacturing of agricultural implements.

In September 1966, work was started by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to impound Buck Creek as a flood control project. In 1974, the Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir were dedicated and an agreement gave the Ohio Department of Natural Resources the operation of much of the area. Buck Creek State Park was officially opened in June 1975.

Area Attractions

• Nearby Kiser Lake, John Bryan and Madison Lake offer camping and other recreational opportunities.Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve, a unique area of unusual flora and fauna, is operated by the Ohio Historical Society. Located between Urbana and Springfield, the area is open April-September for tours on Saturday and Sunday
• Several other state nature preserves int he area are accessible by written permit only. Contact the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves to visit Liberty Fen, Prairie Road Fen, Siegenthaler Esker or Kiser Lake Wetlands.
• The Crabill House, operated by the Clark County Historical Society, is the restored home of one of the area's early settlers, David Crabill. The brick home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages a visitor center and recreational site near the dam. The center provides displays, programs and dam operation tours. Hiking, picnicking and fishing are available.

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