Strouds Run Park Offers Dual Appeal

- The land for what is now Strouds Run State Park was purchased by the state of Ohio between 1948 and 1953 for forest conservation. The park was officially established after the completion of the Dow Lake dam in 1960. - The park's namesake, William Stroud, was a shareholder in the Ohio Company of Associates, which was instrumental in the early settlement of the area. The man-made Dow Lake is named after C.L. Dow, a former Ohio University professor of geography and geology who was a key advocate for the park's creation. - The park encompasses 2,606 acres of land, and the centerpiece, Dow Lake, covers 161 acres with a maximum depth of 33 feet. This area was previously home to the Adena and Shawnee peoples. - One of the park's most notable geological features is Turtlehead Cave, a large recess cave, also known as a rock shelter, formed by the erosion of softer rock beneath a harder sandstone cliff. - Strouds Run offers an extensive network of trails, with some sources stating there are over 21 miles of bridle trails and a combined total of about 25-28 miles of multi-use trails that connect with the adjacent Sells Park. - The park's terrain is part of the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau, characterized by steep hills, narrow valleys, and numerous rock outcrops and shelters composed of sandstone. - In addition to hiking and lake activities, hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park during specific seasons. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish for fishing. - The park borders the 325-acre Strouds Ridge Preserve Project, which is a city of Athens initiative to create a greenbelt and trail system, further expanding the recreational area available to the public.