Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 676 | | | Water, acres | -10 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 6 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 100 | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boating Limits | -2 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 1 | | Camping | Primative, # | 45 | | | Electric Sites, # | 84 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Rent-A-Camp Sites, # | 2 | | | Youth Group Camp, capacity | 50 | | | Rent-A-Yurt, # | 2 | | Winter | Cross-Country Skiing | yes | | | Ice Skating | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Glacial Grooves State Memorial
South Bass Island State Park
East Harbor State Park
East Harbor State Park Marina
Catawba Island State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | The family campground contains 45 non-electric and 84 electric sites, showers, flush toilets, and a dump station. A volleyball court and playground offer more to do. The camp office loans games and sports equipment to registered campers. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites. A youth group camp is available by reservation for organized groups. Six miles of hiking trails lead to scenic vistas, historic sites and two nature preserves, North Pond Nature Preserve, and the North Shore Nature Preserve, offering excellent locations for watching wildlife. Picnic areas, a picnic shelter, launch ramps, fishing access areas and a 100-foot swimming beach are also available. Limited hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park. Check with the park office for details. Kelleys Island can be reached by ferry from Sandusky or Marblehead Peninsula. Two premium Yurts, complete with efficiency kitchen, bath with shower and furnished living area, along with two Rent-A-Camp units are available during the summer season. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Limestone cliffs, historic wineries, crystal caverns and a shimmering Great Lake greet visitors to the Lake Erie Islands state parks. These five state parks offer unique island retreats with an atmosphere both festive and casual. Fishing, boating and swimming can be enjoyed at each park.
Several parks comprise the Lake Erie Island group. The islands were formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio. Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock; their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes.
Lake Erie, the smallest of the Great Lakes, is shallow--allowing for violent storms with high waves. The lake is divided into three basins. The western basin has an average depth of 25 to 30 feet; the central basin averages 61 feet; and the eastern basin shows an average depth of 120 feet.
Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake. Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species.
The islands are composed of limestone bedrock. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves such as those found at Kelleys Island are rare but awesome. Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone are found here. The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake. The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area. Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago.
Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake. Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country. Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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30 years of camping
My family has met here every summer for the last 30 years. Some from Ohio, some from Maryland. We always have a great time. Lots to do. Golf carts, winery, minature golf, shopping, a few bars, island hopping, swimming, fishing, jet skis, and more. The lake is beautiful.
Written by Kelli
14-Jul-2008
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| Area Activities |
| Family Outting | |  | Camp Patmos - Kelleys Island, OH
Week long youth camps. Located on the shores of Kelleys Island. Guests will learn to sail, wakeboard, waterski while enjoying the beauty of the Lake Erie island.
Web Site: http://www.camppatmos.com |
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| History of the Area: |
| Prior to the War of 1812, the Lake Erie Island region had been occupied by Ottawa and Huron (Wyandot) Indian tribes at different times throughout the years. A testimony to their existence on the islands is carved in Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island. Pictographic writings over 500 years old are etched in this massive limestone boulder.The Ottawa and Huron were eventually moved out by European settlers. The War of 1812 ended the last Indian threat to the European settlement of Ohio. One decisive naval battle of that war was fought in Put-In-Bay, off the shores of South Bass Island. Oliver Hazard Perry with an inferior fleet defeated the British making famous his saying, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie and led to the ultimate defeat of the British in that war.
The islands remained sparsely settled until 1854 when J.D. Rivers purchased five of the islands. At first he turned Put-In-Bay into a sheep ranch, having at one time a herd of 2,000, but eventually he converted the island into a fruit farm. Despite the extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio due to the stabilizing effect of the lake.
It soon became apparent to islanders that the cultivation of grapes was very profitable. The grape culture has had a dramatic influence on the islands, sometimes called the "Wine Islands." By 1887, more than one-third of the grape product and nearly one-half of the wine product of the entire state was credited to this area. Wines from these islands were once pronounced by the best judges as being comparable to the best productions of France. Several island wineries still exist today.
In addition to raising fruits, the islands supported other profitable industries. Logging of red cedar, quarrying for limestone and the propagation of fish provided additional means of support.
For over a century, South Bass Island has been famous as a summer resort. Ruins of the Victory Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1919, are still evident. Tourism thrives today making the islands one of the most popular vacation spots in the state. The five areas comprising Lake Erie Island state parks were added to the state park system in the early 1950s. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| Campgrounds | | | Camp Patmos - Kelleys Island, OH
Week long youth camps. Located on the shores of Kelleys Island. Guests will learn to sail, wakeboard, waterski while enjoying the beauty of the Lake Erie island.
Web Site: http://www.camppatmos.com |
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| | Conference Center | | | Camp Patmos - Kelleys Island, OH
Week long youth camps. Located on the shores of Kelleys Island. Guests will learn to sail, wakeboard, waterski while enjoying the beauty of the Lake Erie island.
Web Site: http://www.camppatmos.com |
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...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.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Postings from Ohio Birds: 24 - 29 August 2001 - Ohio Birds and Natural History | Birders Online | Organizations Range Maps | Christmas Bird Counts Photodocumentation Library | Where to Find Birds | More Ohio Birding Websites. Ohio BIRDER ... | | Kelleys Island - Feathers and Foliage Festival - Last Bird Census. Home. Search. Nature Events. Past Nature Events. Kelleys Island. Natural Areas. Island Birding. Photo Tours. Audubon Club. Local Species. L E Water Snake. Shipwreck N P. What's... | | Kelleys Island Ohio - Places - Home. About KI. Events. Lodging. Member Directory. Places. . . FunFinder Request. Contact Us. Getting Here. Activities. Lodging. Dining Shopping. Island Information. Island Map. Island Services.... | | U.S. Parks and Protected Areas - LAKE ERIE WATERSHED. NEW YORK. Evangola State Park. Lake Erie State Park. PENNSYLVANIA. Presque Isle State Park. OHIO. Catawba Island State Park. Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge. Chagrin... | | Local Lake Erie, western basin local camping. - Complete source for walleye, smallmouth, largemouth and any other Lake Erie western basin fishing. Including lodging, camping, beaches, charter boats, state parks and dining. | | Lakeshore Landing - Kelleys Island, Ohio - Bed Breakfast Inns ONLINE - Travel * Lodging * - Enjoy a restful stay at Lakeshore Landing Bed Breakfast or explore all island's things to see and do. Year after year visitors come back to Kelleys Island. The newly modernized Kelleys Island... | | Music on Lake Erie - Please sign our Guest Book before you leave. NEW - Resources Page started! Music on Lake Erie September 11-19, 1999 - Join us for a day, weekend or week ... For several years we have held an... | | The Family Travel Network - E-mail this page to a friend. Lake Erie Islands A great beach is a great beach, even when the water isn't the ocean. Such is the case with the Lake Erie Islands off the coast of northern Ohio.... | | 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. ... | | ERIE County, OHIO, Pictures - Kelley's Island. One of the Lake Erie Islands. Take a ferryboat a few miles offshore the Ohio mainland and you'll discover another world -- a world where relaxation and good times rule. Kelleys... | | GETTING KIDS HOOKED ON FISHING ON LAKE ERIE: OH, Article Posted: May 08, 2001 - GETTING KIDS HOOKED ON FISHING ON LAKE ERIE: OH. Article Posted: May 08, 2001. Brought to you by FishLakeErie.com. [ Return to Lake Erie Articles and News ] GETTING KIDS HOOKED ON FISHING ON... | | Untitled Document - Kelleys Island, more rural and less touristy than Put-in-Bay, has an old- fashioned family appeal. Folks can rediscover the simple pleasures of bicycling down country roads, swimming off the... | | Sandusky Erie County Ohio Parks & Beaches - Experience the wonder of nature's gifts as you bury your toes in the sand , discover a secret garden, and hike wooded or shoreline paths. Enjoy a relaxed day at little, or no ,cost. Most parks... | | Kelleys Island Activities - Last Bird Census. Home. Search. Nature Events. Past Nature Events. Kelleys Island. Natural Areas. Island Birding. Photo Tours. Audubon Club. Local Species. L E Water Snake. Shipwreck N P. What's... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Several other state parks are near the Lake Erie Islands. Crane Creek State Park, west of Port Clinton, is one of the state's foremost birding areas and is notable for its spring and fall bird migrations. East Harbor State Park on Marblehead Peninsula sports the largest campground in the Ohio state park system. Swimming, picnicking, boating and fishing are popular at East Harbor. Marblehead Lighthouse, built in 1821, is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation of the Great Lakes and Ohio's 73rd state park. It is located off S.R. 163 on the east side of the Village of Marblehead.
State nature preserves located in the area include Sheldon Marsh, Old Woman Creek, Erie Sand Barrens and DuPont Marsh. Contact the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves for more information.
The Ottawa County Visitors Bureau is an excellent source for travel options and ideas all around the Lake Erie Islands area. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Bayshore Estates Campground
2311 Cleveland Road
Sandusky, OH
419-625-7906
| Camper Village
One Cedar Point Drive
Sandusky, OH
419-626-0830
| Cedarlane RV Park
2926 N. E. Catawba Rd.
Port Clinton, OH
419-797-9907
| Portage Cove Park & Marina Condo
531 S. Findlay St
Port Clinton, OH
440-237-3046
| Traveland's Camp-Sandusky
3518 Tiffen Avenue
Sandusky, OH
419-621-0787
| Family Camping Center
2318 E. Harbor Rd.
Port Clinton, OH
419-734-5580
| Tall Timbers Campground Resort
340 S. Christy Chapel Road
Port Clinton, OH
419-732-3938
| Shade Acres Campground & Cottages
1810 W. Catawba Rd.
Port Clinton, OH
419-797-4681
| Chet's Place
7154 W. Harbor Road
Port Clinton, OH
419-898-1104
| Camp Sandusky
3518 Tiffin Ave
Sandusky, OH
800-606-1375
| Crystal Rock
710 Crystal Rock Rd
Sandusky, OH
419-684-7177
| Portage View Campground
5024 West Harour Road
Port Clinton, OH
419-635-4479
| Hillside Park
2534 West Comet Road
Clinton, OH
330-882-5678
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Fisherman's Wharf
83 Madison St
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-9002
| Sassy Sal Charters
40 Jefferson St
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 732-7755
| Shore Nuf Charters
247 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 732-2958
| Drawbridge Marina
247 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-4422
| Sandy Shore Variety Store Inc
215 Meigs St
Sandusky, OH
(419) 626-1291
| Pipe Creek Marina
2312 River Ave
Sandusky, OH
(419) 621-1111
| C & J's Bait Shop
235 E Shoreline Dr
Sandusky, OH
(419) 609-3601
| Sunnybrook Conference Ctr
1104 Fremont Ave
Sandusky, OH
(419) 625-8353
| Captain Hook Sport Fishing Charters
503 Scheid Rd
Sandusky, OH
Unverified listing
| Brands Dry Dock Marina
315 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-9753
| A-N-J Bait & Tackle
6797 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 635-4436
| Rickard's Bait & Tackle
17 NE Catawba Rd
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-2496
| Herb's Sportsman's Supply
1713 NE Catawba Rd
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 797-2455
| Port Clinton Fisheries Inc
2 Madison St
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 732-3101
| Fishermens Trading Post
255 Se Catawba Rd
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 732-2076
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Kalahari Resort Convention Center
7106 Milan Rd
Sandusky, OH
(419) 626-4386
| West Bay Inn
1230 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 746-2597
| Shores Condominium Resort The
1801 E Perry St
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-2169
| Clarion Inn-Sandusky
1119 Sandusky Mall Blvd
Sandusky, OH
(419) 625-6280
| Kalahari Resort
7000 Kalahari Dr
Sandusky, OH
(419) 433-7200
| Johnny's Resort Incorporated
3942 W Oliver Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-6566
| Scrappin' at Country Corner
3872 Harbor Light Landing Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-1616
| Beach Cliff Lodge
4189 NW Catawba Rd
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 797-4553
| Beachfront Resorts
252 W Lakeshore Dr
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 732-6684
| Char-Nel Shores Resorts
2327 E Sand Rd
Port Clinton, OH
(419) 734-3356
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| Directions: |
| Catawba Island , 4049 E. Moores Dock Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452 |
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