Grand Lake St Mary's State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Grand Lake St.


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Summary

Mary's State Park is a popular destination located in the state of Ohio. The park offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and swimming. The park covers over 13,000 acres and is home to the largest inland lake in Ohio, which spans over 13,000 acres.

One of the main reasons to visit Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park is its scenic beauty. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the lake, as well as the surrounding forests and wetlands. Additionally, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including eagles, ospreys, and beavers.

There are several points of interest to see within the park, including the historic Miami-Erie Canal, which was once an important transportation route in the region. Visitors can also explore the park's many hiking trails, including the popular Lakeshore Trail, which offers stunning views of the lake.

Interesting facts about Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park include that it was created in the 19th century as a reservoir for the Miami and Erie Canal. Additionally, the park is home to a number of historic buildings and structures, including a canal lock and a lighthouse.

The best time of year to visit Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park depends on visitors' interests. Summer is a popular time to visit, as the weather is warm and the lake is ideal for swimming and boating. However, fall foliage makes for a picturesque hike and winter activities include ice fishing.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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