Burr Oak State Park Beach
Glouster, Ohio · on Burr Oak Reservoir · Burr Oak State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Memorial Day to Labor Day (the period the park's official BeachGuard water-quality monitoring covers).
About Burr Oak State Park Beach
Burr Oak State Park Beach is an official, designated public swimming hole on the north shore of Burr Oak Lake (Burr Oak Reservoir), a 664-acre reservoir created in 1950 by the Army Corps of Engineers' Tom Jenkins Dam, within Ohio's Burr Oak State Park near Glouster. The 500-foot sand beach, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with restrooms, outdoor showers, and sand volleyball courts, gives the park a proper lake to swim in.
The park sits in forested ridges and hollows in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio, in the valley of Sunday Creek, with a shoreline home to bald eagles, great blue herons, and waterfowl, and hardwood forest (oaks and hickories) known for fall color.
Swimming at Burr Oak State Park Beach
Swimming is in an impounded reservoir (Burr Oak Lake) at a designated, roped sand beach area on the lake's north side, suited to families and casual lake swimming rather than whitewater or spring-fed clear water; there is no stated lifeguard, and the park advises visitors to exercise caution while swimming.
The hike in
The beach itself is drive-up/roadside within the park, not reached by trail. Separately, the park maintains about 28 miles of hiking trails (including a segment of the statewide Buckeye Trail, which also carries the North Country National Scenic Trail here) plus an 18-mile lakeside backpack loop with primitive campsites, but none of these are required to reach the swimming beach.
No trip report describing a specific walk-in distance from the beach parking area to the water was found; treat as a short, direct walk from the lot given it is an official developed beach, not a backcountry access point.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
It's a designated, roped sand beach on a calm reservoir (good for families), but the official park page states there is no lifeguard and instructs visitors to 'exercise caution while swimming,' so young children should be supervised closely.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and outdoor showers at the beach per ODNR's official page; a secondary source (stateparks.com) additionally describes a bathhouse, changing booths, and a snack bar at the beach, though the current official page does not repeat the bathhouse/snack bar detail so that part may be outdated.
Hours
Park grounds open 6am-11pm daily (per ODNR's official Burr Oak State Park page, carried from prior verification).
On the water
Restrictions: A 10-horsepower limit applies to all boats on Burr Oak Lake (per stateparks.com and the park's own activities page), effectively keeping it a slow, low-wake lake; five boat launch ramps provide access.
The park's own activities summary explicitly lists 'motorized vessel or paddling canoe/kayak' as vessel options; no separate paddleboard-specific mention was found, so it is not listed as confirmed.
Rentals nearby
Boat rentals, fuel sales, and seasonal dock/slip rentals (approximately 553 dock spaces) on Burr Oak Lake
On Burr Oak Lake within Burr Oak State Park, near the lodge/beach area
Backstory
Burr Oak Lake was formed in 1950 by the Tom Jenkins Dam, a flood-control project built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the park was dedicated two years later in 1952. The area was previously home to the coal-mining town of Santoy, now a ghost town with only its church remaining.
Burr Oak State Park Beach: FAQ
Is Burr Oak State Park Beach kid friendly?
It's a designated, roped sand beach on a calm reservoir (good for families), but the official park page states there is no lifeguard and instructs visitors to 'exercise caution while swimming,' so young children should be supervised closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Burr Oak State Park Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Burr Oak State Park Beach?
No source found that explicitly describes the beach parking lot, its capacity, or cost; the park address (10220 Burr Oak Lodge Road, Glouster, OH 45732) is given for GPS/Mapquest directions but no beach-specific parking detail was available in the pages I could access.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Burr Oak State Park Beach?
The park's own activities summary explicitly lists 'motorized vessel or paddling canoe/kayak' as vessel options; no separate paddleboard-specific mention was found, so it is not listed as confirmed.
When is the best time to visit Burr Oak State Park Beach?
Memorial Day to Labor Day (the period the park's official BeachGuard water-quality monitoring covers).
What are the rules at Burr Oak State Park Beach?
Swimming permitted only in the designated beach area; exercise caution while swimming; pets are not permitted on the swimming beach; the beach is carry-in/carry-out with no trash cans provided; the Ohio Dept. of Health's BeachGuard program posts water-quality alerts for the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
What water body is Burr Oak State Park Beach on?
Burr Oak State Park Beach is on Burr Oak Reservoir, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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