Kiser Lake State Park

Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Cindy

Kiser Lake State Park is popular with people who want to spend the day doing a spot of Fishing and indulge in some paddling. There are several boat ramps located along the lakes 5 miles of Shoreline. This park has an area of 531 acres and in this park, there are rolling hills and diverse wetlands.  

Visit Kiser Lake State Park

The Kiser Lake area in Champaign County was the Home of Tecumseh, the great Shawnee warrior. He is known to have lived and hunted in Buck Creek. Buck Creek is near the site of present-day Urbana.

Legendary frontiersman Simon Kenton was once held captive within this area by the Shawnee. Kenton admired the Shawnee for choosing such a stunning area in which to reside.

The area never left the mind of Simon Kenton, and he returned later on in his life.  Around 1802, Kenton returned and settled in Urbana for a few years. He now rests in Oakdale Cemetery, southeast of Urbana under an impressive monument.

Kiser Lake was the dream of John W. Kiser and other members of his family. Their vision was to create a lake in Mosquito Valley. The Mosquito Valley area was a swampy area that had numerous natural springs. By 1932, the Kiser family offered several acres of Mosquito Creek Valley to the state of Ohio.

In 1939, a dam was constructed and this resulted in a new lake that was named Kiser. In turn, this lake became part of the Kiser Lake State Park. The lake is nearly 2.5 miles in length and has 5.3 miles of shoreline.

Image credit: ©Felix Mittermeier via Canva

Natural Features Of Kiser Lake State Park

The surrounding area of Kiser Lake State Park was molded in the Ice Age period. The natural phenomena that were caused by the glaciers shaped the region that is seen and admired today. The rolling wooded hills were caused by glacial deposits when the ice did not move for long periods of time. When the ice did not move, this created a ridge along the ice front.

One moraine called Farmersville surrounds the lake on three sides and creates a hummocky elevation through the area. Some Moraine deposits contained boulders and some of these huge boulders weighed many tons. Some of these boulders were carried from the North in Canada. These boulders, known as erratics, are within the park.

There is also another geologic feature within Kiser Lake State Park. This is the kame field that is on the southeastern end of the lake. Kames are mounds of sand and gravel. These are formed by meltwater that flows across glacial ice. The water deposits sediment into holes along the ice margin. In turn, this leaves behind hummocky mounds.

The wetlands of Kiser are fen and meadow habitats. The areas were formed when blocks of ice broke away from the glacier. When the ice broke away from the glacier it was covered by sand and gravel.

As time went on and the climate warmed, this ice started to melt and it left a depression that was filled by water. These areas have various species of plants which include spruce, sundew, and tamarack.

Activities At Kiser Lake State Park

Sailing and paddling are popular activities at Kiser Lake State Park. Motorboats are not permitted on the 298-acre lake. There are four small launch areas and there is one boat ramp that provides access.

Visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and canoes at the marina by calling 937-362-3565. Please note that the marina is open on a seasonal basis.  

The park has 10 miles of bridle trail and this trail is of moderate challenge.  

Kiser Lake State Park Campground offers three campsites. The three campsites are Electric, Non-electric, and Tent only campsites. There are also two other options, the Sherman Cabin and Camper Cabin options and a Group Camp. Reservations are required, made online or by calling 866-644-6727.

Here is an interesting visitor-uploaded video showing the campground:

Kiser Lake State Park offers some good catches of largemouth seabass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and wiper. Access is available to five fishing piers on the lake. Please note that Ohio fishing regulations apply and a valid Ohio fishing license is required. The license holder must also be of 16 years of age and over.  

Image credit: ©Johan Bos via Canva

Hiking At Kiser Lake State Park

There are five hiking trails available within the park:

Marina Trail runs at approximately 0.11 miles and is Easy.

North Bay Trail - runs at approximately 1.5 miles and is Moderate.

Pine Tree Trail - is a Moderate 0.5-mile walk. However, this is currently CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Be sure to check in with the Park with regards to the re-opening of this trail.

Rabbit Run Trail - is a Moderate 0.6-mile walk.

Red Oak Trail - is a Moderate 0.7 trail that interconnects with the boardwalk trail mentioned below, creating a 1.3-mile loop.

The adjacent Kiser Lake Wetlands Nature Preserve has a boardwalk trail. This is approximately 0.6 miles and is a “Moderate” hike. 

The Preserve itself opens half an hour before sunrise and closes half an hour before sunset - be sure to check local tourist information for more details. It is also worth a mention that pets are not permitted in the Preserve. You can find out more information about that here.

Hunting, Swimming, and Other Seasonal Activities At Kiser Lake State Park

The hunting of migratory game birds is permitted within Kiser Lake State Park when in season.  Deer hunting is permitted by lottery only. Please note that Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply. A valid Ohio hunting license is also required.

A 300-foot swimming beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Refreshments are available to purchase from the marina (open Spring until October). Visitors can swim in daylight hours within the designated areas. BeachGuard — Water quality advisories, Memorial Day to Labor Day, from Ohio Dept. of Health.

Under the correct winter conditions, park guests can enjoy sledding, ice fishing, and ice boating.  There are other recreational facilities within the park. These facilities include a volleyball court and a playground at the campground. There is also a Basketball court at the beach.

The park also offers areas where visitors can relax with a picnic. Guests who choose to stay overnight may camp under the stars in the campground or they may choose to leave their equipment at home and rent a camper cabin instead. Several picnic areas with tables and grills are located in the park.

Image credit: ©Sergey Nivens via Canva

Fishing at Kiser Lake State Park:

Other notable points of interest around Kiser Lake State Park

Along the "Simon Kenton Historic Corridor" which is located between Piqua & Mechanicsburg, there are a few popular tourist locations including:

• The Piqua Historical Area
• A.B. Graham Memorial Center
• Simon Kenton's gravesite

There are also natural wonders on the way, including Ohio Caverns and Cedar Bog. You can also visit the Air Force Museum in nearby Dayton.

What Are Others Saying About Kiser Lake State Park?

“This Ohio State Park is delightful and not far from Columbus, Springfield and Dayton. There is a very nice campground with lakefront campsites. Great for fishing. Very clean. Nice bait shop. Kiser Lake is a no-motor lake so it's great for canoeing, kayaking and sailing. Lots of picnic sites. This Ohio State Park is a real gem”. KR (Logan, OH).

"The camping is fine, and the campsites are large, and well spaced. If you want a quiet getaway for a few days it is fine. The lake itself does not allow any motors of any kind, so you are limited to a kayak, canoe, or sailboat. The night sky here is brilliant....".  TJ (Tipp City, OH).

“We visited Kiser Lake for the first time when some friends invited us out to the lake. We didn’t actually spend the night, but our friends have many times.  Definitely a place we may go back to! There are even little cottages you can rent, a store where you can rent canoes or kayaks, plus food and supplies….” PB (Grove City, OH).

"I can't stop thinking about this park a year and a half after I went there. My husband and I took a trip to Dayton and came here before leaving because we always look for a beach to swim wherever we go. The water was perfect, it was a hot August day so I know that had something to do with it, but besides that, the water was also clean." LH (Umatilla FL).

Where Is Kiser Lake State Park Located?

• Address: 4889 N State Route 235 Conover, Miami County, OH 45317
• Phone: 937-843-2717 | Website

Let's Visit Kiser Lake State Park

Kiser Lake State Park is popular with people who want to spend the day doing a spot of Fishing and indulge in some paddling. There are several boat ramps located along the lakes 5 miles of Shoreline. This park has an area of 531 acres with rolling hills and diverse wetlands.

Have you visited Kiser Lake State Park? What did you do while you were there? If you enjoy State Parks as much as we do, some of our favorites include: Great Seal State Park, Scioto Trail State Park, Forked Run State Park, and Lake Alma State Park