Strouds Run State Park - Beach
Athens, Ohio · on Dow Lake
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $15
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Strouds Run State Park - Beach
Strouds Run State Park is a 2,606-acre Ohio Department of Natural Resources park just east of Athens, built around the 161-acre Dow Lake reservoir. The park maintains a designated swimming beach on the lake alongside camping, boating, and an extensive trail network. As a swimming hole, Dow Lake is officially sanctioned, a park-designated lake to swim in rather than an informal or off-the-books spot.
The park sits in the Appalachian foothills of Athens County, with narrow valleys, ridges, sandstone bluffs, and rock shelters surrounding the impounded Dow Lake, which was created when the Dow Lake Dam was completed in 1960 on land that had been the Athens State Forest since the 1940s. The lake and beach are ringed by forested hills, and the park connects to a large network of hiking, mountain-biking, and horseback trails.
Swimming at Strouds Run State Park - Beach
Swimming happens at a designated sandy beach on Dow Lake with a gradually sloping bottom described as suiting everyone from small children wading in to teenagers diving off the swim area; the lake itself is a no-wake, low-motor (10 hp max) impoundment, so the water near the beach is calm. There is no lifeguard on duty, so swimmers supervise themselves, and the park periodically issues advisories when algae/cyanobacteria blooms are detected.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park entrance is at 11661 State Park Rd, Athens, OH 45701, reached from downtown Athens via US-33 west to State Route 682, about a 10-minute drive from Ohio University.
Parking: Dedicated parking is provided at the beach, including accessible/ADA parking spaces; multiple sources note the lot fills quickly on summer weekends, so early arrival is recommended.
The hike in
The swimming beach is a drive-up destination: a beach parking lot connects to the water via a short paved, ADA-accessible pathway and beach matting (a walk of a few minutes, not a hike). Separate recreational trails (Hickory Trail, Lakeview Trail, the hiking-only Blackhaw Accessible Trail, and the Thunderbunny Trail) loop around Dow Lake and through the park for visitors who want to hike, but none of them need to be walked to reach the swim area.
No hike is required to swim; hiking trails are an optional separate activity at the park.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Gradually sloping sandy beach suits wading toddlers up through teens, but there is no lifeguard on duty, so an adult must actively supervise; the park also periodically posts algae/cyanobacteria advisories that can make swimming inadvisable.
Parking
Free
Dedicated beach parking lot with accessible/ADA spaces; day-use entry to Ohio state parks (including the beach) is free. One lower-quality aggregator claimed a $5/day non-resident parking permit, but this was not corroborated by any other source, so it is not treated as confirmed. The lot is reported to fill quickly on summer weekends.
Restrooms
Yes
ADA-accessible restrooms are located at the beach itself, alongside a paved accessible pathway and beach matting down to the water and an adaptive playground nearby.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
No numeric clarity data or diver/swimmer visibility reports were found. One visitor description calls Dow Lake's water 'emerald' and mirror-calm, consistent with a calm, low-motor reservoir, but the park also issues periodic algae/cyanobacteria bloom advisories in warmer months that can affect both clarity and swim safety, so conditions likely vary by season.
On the water
Restrictions: Dow Lake is limited to a 10-horsepower, no-wake motor policy; the swim beach itself has a separate non-motorized boat launch, so motorized traffic stays well clear of swimmers.
Visitors may bring their own non-motorized craft (kayak/canoe/paddleboard) to use on the lake, and the park's on-site concessionaire also rents watercraft (see rentals).
Rentals nearby
Pontoons (4-, 5-, 6-, 8-, 9-, and 10-person models, 16'-28'), kayaks, canoes, pedal boats (including swan-shaped pedal boats), and paddleboards
Prices: Roughly $15-$110/hour depending on the type of boat, per The Post Athens; the operator also runs a punch-card promo where a 6th rental hour is free after 5 paid hours
Boathouse on Dow Lake at the Strouds Run State Park beach, 10735 State Park Rd, Athens, OH 45701 · Memorial Day through Labor Day: open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m., weather permitting; spring and fall: weekends only
Backstory
The land was the Athens State Forest in the 1940s-50s before Strouds Run became a state park in 1953; Dow Lake itself is an artificial reservoir formed when the Dow Lake Dam was completed in 1960. The park is named for William Stroud, a shareholder in the Ohio Company of Associates. Dow Lake is also used by Ohio University's aquatic sports programs.
Strouds Run State Park - Beach: FAQ
Does Strouds Run State Park - Beach charge a fee?
Day-use entry to the park and the beach is free (Ohio state parks do not charge general admission). Camping and boat/kayak/paddleboard/pontoon rentals are fee-based, with rentals ranging roughly $15-$110/hour depending on watercraft.
Is Strouds Run State Park - Beach kid friendly?
Gradually sloping sandy beach suits wading toddlers up through teens, but there is no lifeguard on duty, so an adult must actively supervise; the park also periodically posts algae/cyanobacteria advisories that can make swimming inadvisable.
Do I need to hike to reach Strouds Run State Park - Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Strouds Run State Park - Beach?
Dedicated beach parking lot with accessible/ADA spaces; day-use entry to Ohio state parks (including the beach) is free. One lower-quality aggregator claimed a $5/day non-resident parking permit, but this was not corroborated by any other source, so it is not treated as confirmed. The lot is reported to fill quickly on summer weekends.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Strouds Run State Park - Beach?
Visitors may bring their own non-motorized craft (kayak/canoe/paddleboard) to use on the lake, and the park's on-site concessionaire also rents watercraft (see rentals).
When is the best time to visit Strouds Run State Park - Beach?
Summer (June through August) has the warmest water and heaviest beach use, with afternoons cited as the best window; spring and fall are favored for hiking and foliage rather than swimming.
What are the rules at Strouds Run State Park - Beach?
No lifeguard is on duty, so swimmers are responsible for their own safety; pets must be leashed and kept out of the swimming area; alcohol is prohibited; anglers age 16+ need a valid Ohio fishing license; boats on Dow Lake are limited to a 10-horsepower no-wake policy.
What water body is Strouds Run State Park - Beach on?
Strouds Run State Park - Beach is on Dow Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
More swimming holes near Athens
★ Top verifiedLake Snowden
Lee Township, Ohioreservoir
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Burr Oak State Park Beach
Glouster, Ohioreservoir
🛶🚤
Fairfield Beach / South Shore
Thornville, Ohiolake
🛶🚤
★ Top verifiedDillon State Park
Nashport, Ohioreservoir
⛺🚤🛶
★ Top verifiedLake Vesuvius Beach
Pedro, Ohiolake
⛺🛶🚤
Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach
Bainbridge, Ohiolake
⛺🛶🏄🚤