Kiser Lake State Park is a public recreation area in Champaign County, Ohio, located four miles (6.4 km) northwest of St. Paris and 34 miles (55 km) north of Dayton. The 531-acre (215 ha) state park includes 396-acre (160 ha) Kiser Lake, for which it was named, and the 51-acre (21 ha) Kiser Lake Wetlands State Nature Preserve.

History

A dam was first built in this location in 1840 to power a mill, but it was later abandoned and the dam and lake fell into disrepair. In 1932, John W. Kiser donated the land to the State of Ohio to rebuild the lake for recreational purposes. In 1939, construction started on the new dam, and a year later the lake was filled.

Activities

In addition to being a popular fishing location, ODNR maintains one boat ramp, four smaller launch areas, a marina to rent kayaks and canoes, a 300-foot (91 m) beach and swimming area, seasonal refreshment stand, picnic areas, shelter houses, campsites, cabins, six hiking trials, and ten miles (16 km) of bridle trails. Scuba diving and sailing are also popular activities since no motorized boats are allowed on the lake.