Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 92 | | | Water, acres | 396 | | | Nearby Wildlife Area, acres | 518 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 0.5 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Picnic Shelters, # | 1 | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 900 | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | 10 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 3 | | Camping | Electric Sites, # | 41 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | Winter | Ice Skating | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
 (click here to zoom and navigate local map)
 (click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
Get directions to this park:
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks: Beaver Creek State Forest Beaver Creek State Park
|
| State Park Overview: |
 | Guilford Lake State Park is a quiet fishing lake located in northeastern Ohio on the west fork of the Little Beaver Creek. The gentle rolling terrain of the area offers a serene escape for park visitors year round. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Guilford Lake is situated in the glaciated plateau region of Ohio. This portion of the Appalachian foothills was overridden by the glaciers that invaded Ohio more than 12,000 years ago. Eventually, the glacial advances were blocked by the harder and higher sandstone ridges of southeastern Ohio. The bedrock materials of this area were formed 300 million years ago from deposits laid down in streams and swamps.
Natural lakes are a feature of the glaciated landscape, although most in Ohio are very small and have now aged into bogs or marshes. These bodies of water were formed by huge chunks of ice which broke off from the retreating glacier and melted in depressions forming kettle lakes. The area surrounding Guilford Lake, before being impounded as a reservoir, was extremely swampy indicating it may have been a remnant of a natural glacial lake. The park attracts migrating waterfowl in the fall and spring and also provides good habitat for a variety of songbirds such as the red-winged blackbird, song sparrow and eastern meadowlark. Other wildlife common to the area are red fox, raccoon, skunk and white-tailed deer. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
 |
|
Very Clean
I took my girls down yesterday to check the park out and I was very impressed. Very, very, clean. I will take my girls back there again and again.
Written by Father of two
11-Aug-2008
| |
|
Extremely Nice
I love t he swimming area, considering prices today, the free swimming, and nice bath houses makes it easy for a great family day doing something. I give a big thumbs up to this park.
Written by Emily
10-Jul-2008
| |
|
IT IS OUR FAVORITE PARK SO FAR!
Very nice, clean, and camper host people are very nice. There are sites right on the water, and u have a dock with each site even if you are on the water or not. You can rent paddle boats ect. rite there. Small concesion stand/ store. Pets are welcome, nice showers, flushable tolites, and they have a dump station.
(name not given)
6-Aug-2008
| |
|
Check it out
If you can tolerate kids and pets, this campground is very nice. Had dinner at Mark?s Landing, a motorcycle friendly bar/restaurant. My brother and I are retired and plan to do some motorcycle camping this summer. Guilford is a good choice.
Written by Mike
21-May-2009
| |
|
Our favorite camp ground
We love the kid friendly play ground and beach/swim area.Camped in June and plan on a return in July. Only negative is nasty water to drink. Showers and restrooms very clean.
Written by Bill Chester WV
1-Jul-2009
| |
|
|
| Camping: |
| There is a camping area with 42 electric sites located in an old pine plantation on the northeast corner of the lake,providing shady and sunny areas. A play area, fishing dock, drinking water, showers, flush toilets, picnic tables and fire-rings are provided. |
| Trails: |
| A half-mile hiking trail skirts the scenic lakeshore and provides opportunities for exercise and wildlife observation. |
| Picnicking: |
| Shaded picnic areas with tables and grills are located at various points around the lake. A shelterhouse is available on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Boating: |
| Boats with motors up to ten horsepower are permitted on the lake. Launching ramps and seasonal dock rentals are available. Boat rentals are available from a privately-owned marina on the south side of the lake. |
| Swimming: |
| A 600-foot public swimming beach is located on the northwest side of the lake. Facilities include a bathhouse with changing booths and showers. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Good catches of bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish can be taken at Guilford Lake. A valid Ohio fishing license is required. |
| History of the Area: |
| The capture of the infamous Confederate general, John Hunt Morgan, near the vicinity of Guilford Lake, ended his gallant raid through the state of Ohio in 1863. Morgan and his 2,000 raiders crossed the entire width of the state from west to east before his eventual capture.
Guilford Lake was constructed as a canal feeder reservoir for the Sandy and Beaver Canal in 1834. An ambitious project undertaken by a private company, the canal was to be 73-miles long and would require two tunnels, thirty dams, ninety locks, three reservoirs and one 400-foot-long aqueduct before it was completed. The park is named after E.H. Gill who was chief engineer of the canal company for several years. He established a road through swampy areas of the present park which became known as Gill's Ford.
When the canal era came to a close, the adjacent landowners breached the embankment in two places and proceeded to use the lake bottom for farmland. In 1927, the land was purchased by the state with the intent of rebuilding the reservoir. The new dam was completed in 1932 by the Division of Conservation. The lake was eventually turned over to the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation for administration and development. Guilford Lake and Ohio's other canal feeder lakes were the first areas to be dedicated as Ohio state parks in 1949. |
 | |
| |
| Area Accommodations |
|  | Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast - Dellroy-Atwood Lake , OH The Inn overlooks beautiful Atwood Lake and its picturesque shoreline.Perfect for any occasion. Nine guestrooms featuring 2-person whirlpool tub, fireplace, balcony and delicious breakfast. Price Range: $185 - $235 Web Site: http://www.atwoodlake.com |
|
|
| |
|  | Advertise your park related business on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
|
| Related Links: |
 | NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL - OHIO: Zoar-Negley - ZOAR - NEGLEY, OH. Tuscarawas, Carroll, Stark and Columbiana Counties. 83.2 mi total 6.3 certified 0.0 connecting 6.3 marked 0.0 bare. The route between the Buckeye Trail and the National Park... |  | NCTA: Links - Links and Contacts. Links and Contacts. Go to North Dakota. Go to Minnesota. Go to Wisconsin. Go to Upper Michigan. Go to Lower Michigan. Go to Ohio. Go to Pennsylvania. Go to New York. ... |  | Guilford Lake - Ohio has 73 state parks that offer a variety of outdoor experiences. ... Enter Search Term: Guilford Lake State Park c/o 6835 East Lake Road Lisbon, OH 44432 (330) 222-1712 Map It! (National Atlas) Park ... |  | Bike America '96 ~ Journal Archives - Journal Archives. Bike America '96 completed its 3500 mile, 50 day trek on June 30th when we arrived at the capitol steps in Washington DC at 2:00 in the afternoon. This is a consolidation of... |  | Bike America Tours - |  | The Ohio Academy of Science-OHIO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY200APPENDIX - ... Lake Marsh Elk Run, Middleton, St. Clair Twps.: Beaver Creek State Park Hanover Twp.: Guilford Lake State Park Madison St. Clair Twps.: West Fork of Little Beaver Creek. Middleton Twp.: North Fork ... |  | Ohio - State Search List: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY. Ohio. ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Two public golf courses (9-hole and 18-hole) are located near the park. Eight miles south of Lisbon on State Route 518, a Confederate monument commemorates the surrender of General John Hunt Morgan to Union forces on July 26, 1863.
Beaver Creek State Park is located southeast of Guilford Lake off State Route 7. Canoeing, picnicking, camping and hiking opportunities are available. Of interest is the restored Gaston's Mill and Pioneer Village. Remnants of the Sandy and Beaver Canal can be viewed, including a restored lock near the mill.
Zepernick Lake State Wildlife Area, east of the park on State Route 172, offers public hunting and fishing. Yellow Creek State Forest, off State Route 39, offers hunting and hiking opportunities.
Th Professional Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, 23 miles west of the park off I-77 at Exit 24. For more information of area attractions, call the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-Buckeye. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Big ARB's Campground 25091 Buffalo Road East Rochester, OH 330-894-2360

| Chaparral Family Campground 10136 Middletown Rd. Salem, OH 330-337-9381

| Cozy Ridge Campground 4145 Fresno Rd. N. W. Carrollton, OH 330-735-2553

| Paradise Lake Park 6940 Rochester Road East Rochester, OH 330-525-7726

| Terrace Lakes Camping 6157 St. Rt. 7 New Waterford, OH 330-227-9606

| Enon Beach 2401 Enon Road Springfield, OH 937-882-6431

| Good's Woods Campground 199 Apollo Road, NE Carrollton, OH 330-738-6792

| Lock 30 Woodlands RV Campground Resort 45529 Middle Beaver Road Lisbon, OH 87RVLOCK30

| McDermott's Lakefront Campground 8999 German Church Rd North Benton, OH 330-801-1195

| Stoneridge Terrace Campground 33807 Winona Rd Salem, OH 330-222-1201

| Winona Lake 5675 W. Breese Lima, OH 419-999-6571

| Al-Twin Valley Campground 2330 Apollo Road SE Carrollton, OH 330-739-2811

| ABC Country Camping & Cabins 4105 Fresno Road Carrollton, OH 330-735-3220

| |
| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | B & B Baits 1717 E Elm St Lima, OH (419) 221-3812

| B & w Stoves & Tackle 449 N Main St Lima, OH (419) 228-7193

| Forest Lake 2365 W 1st St Springfield, OH (937) 323-4266

| C & J Bait & Tackle 2462 Mechanicsburg Rd Springfield, OH (937) 390-9879

| Beaver Lake 1550 Pumphouse Rd Springfield, OH (937) 324-1891

| Bidwell Bait & Tackle 14489 State Route 554 Springfield, OH (740) 388-8122

| Gibson's Carry Out & Drive 1815 Columbus Ave Springfield, OH (937) 322-6181

| Ron's Bait & Tackle 6180 Avalon Rd NW Malvern, OH (330) 863-9400

| Red's Sports 14125 Market St North Lima, OH (330) 549-5672

| Red's Sports 14125 Market St Columbiana, OH (330) 549-5672

| D D Bait Tackle 7055 Autumn Rd SW Carrollton, OH (330) 627-4600

| Pheasant View Farm 11625 Beloit Snodes Rd Beloit, OH (330) 584-6828

| Marlboro Hardware & Bldrs Supply 9271 Edison St NE Alliance, OH (330) 935-0179

| |
| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Holiday Inn 1920 Roschman Ave Lima, OH (419) 222-0004

| Courtyard By Marriott Hotel 100 S Fountain Ave Springfield, OH (937) 322-3600

| Sebring Camp 895 McKinley Ave Sebring, OH (330) 938-9444

| Harrison Hills Camp Resort Gem Rd Carrollton, OH (330) 627-2371

| Cottage Vacation Rental Alliance, OH (330) 821-2753

| Oak's Golf Club 2425 S Kemp Rd Lima, OH (419) 999-2586

| |
|
| Directions: |
| From Cleveland, Ohio: Take 71 South or 77 South to 480 EastTake 480 East to 14 South to 45 South at SalemTake 45 South to 9 South to 172 East.
From Columbus, Ohio:Take 71 North to 30 East to East CantonTake 172 East.
From Cincinnati, Ohio: Take 71 North to Columbus. Stay on 71 until you reach I-270.Take I-270 East to I-70 East. Take I-70 East to 77 North to 22 West, to 7 North. Follow 7 North to 11 North. Take 11 North to 172 West.
From Toledo, Ohio: Take 480 East to 14 South to 45 South at SalemTake 45 South to 9 South to 172 EastFrom Lisbon, Ohio:Take 172 West to park |
 |
| |
| |
|