Athens is awash with opportunities for water sports and recreation: Dow Lake at Strouds Run State Park, Lake Snowden, Lake Hope State Park, and Burr Oak Lake all make for the perfect kayaking or canoeing trip. The calm lake waters are ideal for beginners, while seasoned water enthusiasts enjoy taking in the sites of the beautiful hills and jutting cliffs.
Strouds Run offers campers a family camp area with sites for tents or trailers with a 150-person capacity. Several mounds and ancient fortifications were found in this area by early settlers telling us that the Adena Indians once lived here.
If you’ve ever been interested in kayaking the wild rivers of Appalachia and Southeastern Ohio, then these tours will leave you happy and amazed.
The Riverside Campground includes over 80 spacious sites along the Hocking River. In addition, the Riverside Campground has two picnic pavilions, perfect for grilling and family gatherings, and a full service shower house.
Open during the summer months, the Athens City Pool is the perfect place to spend time with kids and cool off in the hot summer sun.
The Nelsonville Water Park is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.
Owned by Mimi Morrison, a local guide and native of the area, Touch the Earth Adventures will help you discover unique places and create special memories.
Burr Oak State Park features over twenty-five miles of scenic hiking trails, picnic tables, grills, 500 feet of sandy beach, and a shelter house for the public use.
Lake Snowden is a full-service camp ground located only a few miles outside of Athens. The scenery provides a great environment for all of your outdoor camping pursuits.
Earth-Water-Rock Outdoor Adventures offers guided rock climbing and rappelling trips, canoe and kayak wildlife tours, and custom mountain biking and pedal and paddle trips.
Lake Hope State park is truly a nature lover’s dream; in the forest-draped hills, the observant visitor can discover the abundant natural resources of this wild and scenic park.
At Tar Hollow State Park, explore the twisting park through 2.5 miles of mountain biking.