Dow Lake was created in the 1960s by damming Strouds Run creek, which flows into the Hocking River.
The park is largely surrounded by the 2,250-acre Athens City-owned Strouds Run State Park and Natural Area, creating a contiguous protected zone.
The park's trail system connects to the much larger Athens Trail Network, allowing for long-distance hiking and mountain biking.
Unlike many state parks, Strouds Run permits the use of electric motors only on Dow Lake, preserving a quiet environment for paddlers.
The park contains remnants of old-growth forest sections that escaped logging during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Strouds Run State Park is a 2,600-acre wilderness area located in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. The centerpiece of the park is the 161-acre Dow Lake, which is managed for both recreational boating and fishing. The park provides an extensive network of over 15 miles of trails used for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The landscape features steep ridges, narrow valleys, and dense second-growth hardwood forests typical of the region. Visitors can access a public beach area on the north shore of Dow Lake for swimming during the summer season. The park permits primitive camping and provides designated picnic areas equipped with grills. It serves as a hub for local wildlife observation, including populations of white-tailed deer and various bird species. The area is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which maintains the boat launch facilities and trailheads.
The elevated ridge trail overlooking the dam provides the best panoramic view of Dow Lake.
Bring waterproof footwear if visiting after rainfall, as the trail systems feature significant elevation changes that retain mud.
Check the Ohio DNR website for current water quality alerts before planning a swim, as the lake is occasionally subject to harmful algal blooms.
Carry a physical map or download offline GPS files, as cellular service is intermittent throughout the deeper sections of the park.
Do not attempt to swim in areas outside the designated beach boundary, as submerged hazards exist in the deeper, non-swimming zones of the lake.
The public beach area is typically open only during the summer months; boating facilities remain open year-round, weather permitting.
Leash laws are strictly enforced for pets; mountain bikers must yield to hikers and equestrian users on multi-use trails.
