There are many different ways to enjoy warm weather and the beauty of Athens this spring for little or no cost, with many of them within less than an hour drive from campus.
One of those is Tar Hallow State Park in Laurelville. The park has 24 miles of trails, picnic areas, swimming and a beach, said Park Officer Jason Carroll. The forest is more than 16,000 acres, with a majority of the area being very woody, but some areas are making it less diverse. The grounds are also home to Pine Lake, which is open for swimming.
For those looking for a good catch, there is Burr Oak State Park in Glouster, which is known for fishing. Fishing is the big attraction at the 664-acre Burr Oak Lake, which is populated with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, according to the park’s website. There is also a backpacking trail which is a 22-mile loop around the lake.
“People come here for the quietness,” Marcia Halasz, an account clerk at Burr Oak State Park, said. “It is away from everything.”
On Monday, Lake Snowden opened for the season. The lake, which is free to the public, is open dawn to dusk. Lake Snowden is a 675-acre park featuring the largest of four lakes that form the Margate Creek Conservancy District. Camping, boating and fishing are just a few of the activities park visitors can enjoy at Lake Snowden.
Hocking Hills is another state park people visit often for the beauty of nature. Late last year, Buzzfeed recognized Hocking Hills as one of the most “stunning under-the-radar destinations to add to your bucket list in 2014.” Sometimes when people first arrive at Hocking Hills, they cannot believe they are still in Ohio because of the beauty, said Karen Raymore, executive director at Hocking Hills Tours and Association.
“The waterfalls are really great right now because the snow is melting,” Raymore said.
There are six parks that are included in Hocking Hills, which expand over seven counties and include some of the best hiking Raymore said.
Hocking Hills offers attractions other than just its noted hiking and waterfalls. Zip lines that cover a full range of adventure to appeal to many different people. Hocking Hills also offers camping and bird watching.
“What can’t you do here?” Raymore said. “We tell people to bring their bucket list because you can do so much.”
At the end of a day, people can look up at a sky full of stars when exploring Hocking Hills. Hocking Hills has the darkest night sky in Ohio, which produces amazing stars, Raymore said.
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