|
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
2,285 |
| |
Water, acres |
1,560 |
| |
Nearby Wildlife Area |
yes |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
| |
Hunting |
yes |
| |
Hiking Trails, miles |
10 |
| |
Bridle Trails, miles |
15 |
| |
Picnicking |
yes |
| |
Picnic Shelters, # |
2 |
| |
Swimming Beach, feet |
1,360 |
| |
Beach Concession |
no |
| |
Basketball |
yes |
| |
Volleyball |
yes |
| |
Shuffleboard |
yes |
| |
Tennis |
yes |
| |
Nature Center |
yes |
| |
Summer Nature Programs |
yes |
| Boating |
Boat Rental |
yes |
| |
Boating Limits |
UNL |
| |
Fuel For Sale |
no |
| |
Seasonal Dock Rental, # |
123 |
| |
Launch Ramps, # |
2 |
| Winter |
Ice Skating Pond |
yes |
| |
Sledding |
yes |
| Resort |
Family Cottages, # |
29 |
| Camping |
Non-electric Campsites |
12 |
| |
Campsites with Elec., # |
183 |
| |
Pets Permitted |
yes |
| |
Showers |
yes |
| |
Flush Toilets |
yes |
| |
Dumpstation |
yes |
| |
Camp Commissary |
yes |
| |
Laundromat |
yes |
Cottages  
- 29 family cottages nestled in the woods overlooking the north lakeshore
- Each cottage has air conditioning, cable television, gas heat, two bedrooms, one bath, living room, all-electric kitchen, dining area and screened porch
- Linens, towels and kitchen utensils are furnished
- One cottage is fully accessible
- Pets are permitted in select cottages, please call 866-644-6727 for more information
Camping 
- 183 electric sites
- 12 non-electric sites
- Showers, flush toilets and a dump station
- Commissary with grocery items and laundromat is located near the check-in station
- One youth group camp is available
Boating
- Boating with unlimited horsepower is permitted on Dillon Lake
- Two boat ramps are provided for access to the lake
- 70 docks are available for rent on a seasonal basis
 Swimming
- An excellent 1,360-foot swimming beach is located near the park office
- Wading pool
- Game area is adjacent to the beach offering volleyball and a playground area as well as lighted courts for tennis and basketball
- Check for water quality advisories
Fishing
- Largemouth bass, muskie, bluegill, crappie and catfish are plentiful
- A valid Ohio fishing license is required
Sportsmen's Area
- This modern facility, located in the Dillon Wildlife area, includes lighted trap and skeet fields with high, low, and combination houses, a 100-yard rifle range and 25-yard pistol range with firing line shelter and tables
- Restrooms and meeting space are located indoors
- For more information please call 740-452-3529
Trails
- 15 miles of wooded bridle trails, maps are available at the park office
- 2 hiking trails
- Ruffed Grouse Nature Trail • 3/4 mile • Moderate
- Dillon's Paved Trail • 1/2 Mile • Easy • Handicap Accessible
- 4 multi-use trails
- Licking Bend • 6 Miles • Moderate
- Blackberry Ridge • 1 Mile • Moderate
- King Ridge Loop • 1.1 Miles • Moderate
- Hickory Grove Loop • 1.5 Miles • Moderate
- Approximately 12 miles of Mountain Bike trails wind throughout the park
Picnicking 
- 7 picnic areas complete with tables and grills are located at pleasant and scenic spots throughout the park
- 2 shelters that can be reserved online or by calling (866)-644-6727 • if not reserved, both shelters are available on first come first served basis
- Jim Dunn shelter house is strictly first come, first served
Disc Golf
 Woodchuck Ridge DGC at Dillon State Park is one of the newest disc golf courses in the state- Located just behind the campstore, it was designed for beginners, keeping park guests in mind
- It is a 9-hole course, with par set at 34
- Just up the wooden steps behind the campstore is the first tee marker, then the course loops near camp area “B”, with the 9th hole located back at the campstore
- Maps, score sheets, and rental discs are available at the campstore
- The course is free to play, unless rental discs are needed, which is a minimal fee
Archery Range
 Located at the bottom of the Sled Hill and can be reached from the large parking lot at the Sled Hill- 10, 20, 30, and 40 yard targets as well as a 30 yard broad head target
- Backstops are made from recycled plastic from Coconis Furniture
- Built in September 2009 by Brenton Reed, an Eagle Scout from Frazeysburg, Ohio
Hunting
- Hunting with shotgun or longbow is not permitted in the park, but is permitted in the surrounding Wildlife area during valid seasons and in designated areas
- Duck hunting is also permitted
- A valid Ohio hunting fishing license is required
Winter Recreation (conditions permitting)
- Sledding
- Ice skating pond
Area Attractions
Nature of the Area
Dillon State Park in Muskingum County is situated in an area of the state that possesses diverse and interesting natural features resulting from the unique properties of the Black Hand Sandstone. Sand, eroded hundreds of millions of years ago from mountains farther east, accumulated in a vast delta in the sea covering the region. This hard bedrock erodes to form sheer cliffs and supports a lush, hardwood forest.
 The rolling, reverting farmland of the Dillon area provides visitors the opportunity to see some of Ohio's most magnificent wildlife. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and wild turkey can be seen by quiet observers. During migration, numerous species of waterfowl visit Dillon's waters and sightings of bald eagles have also been reported.
History of the Area
Much of the history of the Dillon region can be attributed to the effects of transportation through the park. The Licking River provided transportation for Native Americans on their way to Flint Ridge where outcroppings of flint were found. In the Blackhand Gorge, carved by the Licking River, a sandstone cliff bore a soot blackened engraving of a human hand. This mysterious petroglyph is thought to have served as a guide marker for Indians searching for Flint Ridge. Specimens of Flint Ridge flint have been found as far east as the Atlantic seaboard, as far south as Louisiana and as far west as Kansas City.
Other methods of transportation affected the Dillon region. The Old National Road, just south of the park, was partly responsible for the establishment and growth of nearby Zanesville. The Ohio-Erie Canal followed the route of the Licking River for several miles and boosted trade and commerce to surrounding towns. An inter-urban railroad that connected Zanesville and Newark with Columbus passed through Blackhand Gorge. Steamboat traffic was busy through Zanesville on the Muskingum River.
In 1803, Moses Dillon purchased the land bordering the Licking River where the park is located. This industrious, early American built and operated a local iron foundry, founded the village of Dillon Falls and dammed the Licking River to provide water power for the community. Moses Dillon is probably most noted for his contributions toward the design and construction of the world-famous "Y" bridge in Zanesville.
Dillon Reservoir was constructed for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was completed in 1961. The park was dedicated in August 1968.
|