1466 State Route 65
McClure, Ohio 43534
419-832-7662

Park Map | Camp Map

866-644-6727 or online
   

Camping  

• 31 non-electric sites • 15 sites are designated for walk-in tent camping
• 4 non-electric premium sites
• Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site
• Latrines and restrooms are located nearby
• A dump station is located near the park office
• Pet camping is permitted at all sites
• Additional walk-in sites are available in the North Turkeyfoot Area • Permits can be obtained at the park office
• Campers can enjoy summer nature programs at the ampitheater
• Horseshoe pits also provide recreation for campers
• Games and sporting equipment are available to registered campers at the camp office
• Playground equipment is available in the campground

Getaway Rentals  

• 2 Camper Cabins located in the campground are available to rent from May 1 - October 31
• Each unit sleeps 4 people
• Features include ceiling fan, refrigerator, microwave, charcoal grill, and fire ring
• Linens, dishes and cooking utensils are not provided
• Daily housekeeping service is not available

Boating

• Launch ramp provides access to the Maumee River
• Marina
• Information on dock rental can be obtained at the park office

Fishing

• The Maumee River's northern pike, walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bullhead, sheepshead and crappie offer good sport
• Children can enjoy fishing in the pond near the marina
• A valid Ohio fishing license is required

Picnicking

• 3 picnic areas with picnic tables, grills, restrooms and water are located along the river shore
• An enclosed day-use lodge was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1936
• This heated building is wheelchair accessible and can be reserved year-round for reunions and meetings for a nominal fee • Contact the park office for details

Trails

• 6 hiking trails
  • Chipmunk Trail • Easy
  • Pheasant Loop Trail • 1 Mile • Easy
  • Woodchuck Trail • Easy
  • Red Fox Trail • 0.6 Miles • Easy
  • Opossum Trail • Easy
  • Whitetail Loop Trail • 3 Miles • Easy
• A one-mile portion of the Buckeye Trail passes through the park following the side cut canal

Hunting

• At North Turkeyfoot, the Maumee River provides excellent waterfowl hunting
• A valid Ohio hunting license is required
• Contact the park office for a more detailed explanation of the open and closed areas

• Ice skating
• Ice fishing
• Sledding
• Cross country skiing
• All activities are weather and conditions permitting

More to Do

• Playground equipment is offered in day-use areas of the park

Area Attractions

• Providence Metropark (Grand Rapids) features the Isaac Ludwig Mill. Built in 1846, this water-powered grist mill has been restored and is now operated seasonally.
• Independence Dam State Park (Defiance) offers hiking, camping and picnicking facilities as well as a restored canal lock.
• Maumee State Forest, located 8 miles from the park, provides recreation opportunities.
• A monument to the Battle of Fallen Timbers is located between Maumee and Waterville on U.S. 24.
• Also of historical interest is the restored Fort Meigs near Perrysburg. The original fort was built by General William Henry Harrison during the War of 1812.

Nature of the Area

Northwestern Ohio was covered by a massive ice sheet during the Ice Age. As the ice melted, the area from Fort Wayne, Indiana to western New York was covered by a large lake named Lake Maumee by geologists • With the retreating of the ice, new eastern outlets opened and eventually present-day Lake Erie was formed

As the water drained from the state, swamps formed in the lowlands • The Great Black Swamp, 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide, included the Maumee Valley • The heavily wooded swamp was a barrier to westward settlement • By 1900, through the use of a major system of dikes and ditches, the area was drained • The dark soils of the old swamp became fertile agricultural lands

Ridges of sand or old beaches can be found from Liberty Center, Ohio northeast to Detroit • Known in Ohio as the Oak Openings, these sand beaches were formed when present-day Lake Erie was larger • Originally, the Oak Openings were surrounded by dense swamp forests • Today, the Oak Openings area includes impressive dunes, bogs, prairies, swamp forests and a variety of unique vegetation

History of the Area

This area was the rich hunting grounds of many Indian tribes • As settlers moved west, hostilities arose. President Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to lead forces into the area • After building Fort Defiance in 1794, at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, Wayne advanced down the Maumee Valley • At the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wayne's troops defeated the Indian warriors commanded by Blue Jacket • This battle put an end to twenty years of conflict between Indian and settler

In later years, the canal building era had a great influence on the region • The Miami and Erie Canal, which traveled north from Cincinnati, merged with the Wabash and Erie Canal south of Defiance in 1845, linking Cincinnati to Lake Erie • The canal stimulated development and trade along its route

In order to better use the slackwater at the head of the Maumee River near the community of Gilead, a second dam was built by the state in 1845 • Previously, a smaller dam had been built across part of the river to power a mill • The citizens were outraged about the new dam which limited water power to the mill and one night destroyed the dam • As a compromise, the Gilead Side Cut Canal was built, connecting Gilead with the Miami and Erie Canal, and a replacement dam was constructed • In 1855, the canal port of Gilead was incorporated as Grand Rapids

In 1928, Mary Jane Thurston, a Grand Rapids schoolteacher bequeathed fourteen acres of land to be used as a park • After several transfers and leases, Mary Jane Thurston State Park was dedicated in 1968 • Adjacent property and additional land upriver, known as North Turkeyfoot Area, were purchased in 1968 and 1969