Van Buren State Park (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Van Buren State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Van Buren Lake
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 Van Buren State Park
Location in Ohio
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| Location | Hancock County, Ohio, United States |
| Area | 296 acres (120 ha) |
| Elevation | 751 feet (229 m) |
| Designation | Ohio state park |
| Established | 1950 |
| Named for | Martin Van Buren |
| Administrator | Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Van Buren State Park |
Van Buren State Park is a fun outdoor area in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It covers about 296 acres (120 hectares) and has a beautiful lake called Van Buren Lake, which is 53 acres (21 hectares) big. The park is in a small forest surrounded by thousands of acres of farms. These farms grow crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans. You can visit Van Buren State Park for outdoor fun all year long!
Contents
Park History
Long ago, the land where Van Buren State Park is now was home to the Shawnee people. They lived in this part of Ohio before they had to move west. This area was one of their last strongholds in Ohio.
The idea for Van Buren State Park started in 1939. A dam was built over Rocky Ford Creek, which created Van Buren Lake. This lake was first part of a private area for wildlife. In 1950, the lake and the land around it were given to the state of Ohio. The park was named after Martin Van Buren, who was the 8th U.S. President. Van Buren State Park officially opened to the public in 1950.
Nature and Wildlife
Van Buren State Park is in a very rich farming area in Northwest Ohio. This region is mostly flat, with a few small hills left over from the last ice age. Underneath the topsoil, there is a layer of dolomitic limestone.
Most of the land here was once covered in forests. Now, a small part of that forest remains at Van Buren State Park. You can find trees like beech and sugar maple here.
Animals of Van Buren Park
Many animals live in the park's woodlands. You might see white-tailed deer, red fox, red squirrels, skunks, and opossums.
Birdwatchers can spot birds like the cowbird, woodcock, eastern bluebird, short-eared owl, and eastern meadowlark. The park is also home to garter snakes and tiny spring peepers.
Plants and Wildflowers
In the spring and summer, you can see many beautiful Wildflowers growing in the park. Some of these include chicory, spring beauty, Dutchman's breeches, daisy fleabane, and thimbleweed.
Things to Do
Van Buren State Park offers many fun activities for visitors of all ages.
Camping and Trails
The park has three different areas for camping.
- The family campground is on the east side of the park. It has 29 campsites, with 10 of them having electricity.
- There's also an equestrian campground for people who bring horses. It has 31 campsites, and three of them have electricity. These sites have special features for horses, like tie rails.
- A large, simple camping area for youth groups is in the southeast part of the park. It can hold up to 200 campers.
You can explore the park on its many trails.
- There are about 6 miles (9.7 km) of hiking trails along the southern shore of Van Buren Lake. These trails are great for walking, jogging, and watching birds and other wildlife.
- Another 12 miles (19 km) of trails are open for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. These trails go through ravines and woodlands.
- A special 3-mile (5 km) trail in the woods on the lake's southern shore is just for mountain bikes.
Boating, Fishing, and Bowhunting
Van Buren Lake is a great place for boating and fishing.
- You can use electric-powered boats, rowboats, and canoes on the lake. There's a launch area on the north side of the lake.
- The lake is home to many kinds of fish, including largemouth bass, carp, bluegill, channel catfish, bullhead, and crappie.
- If you enjoy hunting, the park allows bowhunting only.
- Remember, all hunters and anglers (people who fish) need a license from the state of Ohio.
