Visiting Alum Creek State Park Near Columbus, Ohio

Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Camping, and Boating Just Minutes from Columbus, Ohio

Alum Creek State Park encompasses almost 10,000 acres of land and water just minutes from Columbus, Ohio. Alum Creek is a great day trip or vacation spot for those living in Columbus or other areas of Ohio. Offering unlimited horsepower boating (on the southern end of the lake), a swimming and sunbathing beach, and quiet solitary fishing coves, Alum Creek State Park offers something for everyone in the family. Alum Creek State Park even has an interesting and historic story. This area was key in the northward movements of escaped slaves on the run to Canada. It is estimated that 40,000 slaves passed through this era in the pre Civil War era. The area was also the site of numerous Indian tribes before that.

Alum Creek State Park offers nearly 300 hundred camping sites. The campground offers lake side sites, sites under mature trees, and many other choices. Near various sites are hiking trails, places to fish, and areas to swim. Most of the camping sites are fairly well secluded from each other with shrubbery and other foliage growing between sites.

Alum Creek State Park offers numerous hiking trails covering about 40 miles through the hills and forests. Many trails run along the side of the lake for added scenery. Many of the trails are open to horses and there are even camping locations that accommodate horses in the park.

There are many places along the lake for fisherman to fish from the bank or from boats. There are many small streams running into the lake offering coves and other areas to target game fish. The shaded areas along the banks also provide great fish habitat as well as structure from fallen logs. Bass, bluegill, crappie, and walleye are the predominant game fish species in the lake.

The 3,000 foot long beach is a haven for swimmers and sunbathers in the summer at Alum Creek State Park. Even with its large size the beach can fill up on weekends and holidays. The Corps of Engineers maintains two shelters along the beach as well as numerous picnic areas with grills and water provided by the state. There is also a concession stand providing drinks and snacks to the visitors to the Alum Creek State Park.