A.W. Marion State Park contains over 400 acres of woods and water for public use in central Ohio. The park is named after A.W. Marion who was the first director of the Ohio Division of Natural Resources. Located in Pickaway County in Circlevill, this is a great outdoor escape for those living in Columbus Ohio or other cities in the region.
For boaters and fisherman, A.W. Marion State Park offers Hargus Lake, a145 acre impoundment offering fishing, scenic areas to picnic and boating. Hargus Lake is limited to electric motors only. The lake is a great fishing destination with regular fish stockings. Some of the game species offered in Hargus lake include largemouth bass, muskellunge, catfish and bluegill. Hargus Lake offers many great locations for bank fisherman including areas easily accessible for the young and elderly. Bluegill fishing from the banks of the lake is usually very productive. Hargus Lake also offers regular catfish tournaments throughout the year.
There are two defined hiking trails in A.W. Marion State Park. One trail (Guiding) is relatively short, easily less than a mile, but does pass some interesting foliage and other scenery. The second trail (Hargus Lake) encircles the lake on a 5 mile loop. This trail is fairly challenging with a small stream crossing, it is no problem for hikers but might be strenuous for youngsters (or their parents!) and the elderly. For those who don’t like to take defined trails this is a nice park to just stroll around. A.W. Marion State Park has plentiful game to see with deer, squirrel, and to a lesser extent rabbits being frequently viewed.
A.W. Marion State Park is well used for picnicking by visitors due to its picnic areas locations near the lake. For boaters there is an added bonus, there is a picnic area situated on a small island in the lake. The island also provides great structure to fish around.
For those seeking to stay overnight, A.W. Marion State Park offers over 60 camping sites, about half with electricity. There are no shower facilities or flush toilets however. Vault toilets are available for campers and other visitors. There is vending and ice machines and horseshoe pits near the campground. A small concession stand located near the boat ramp also offers drinks, snacks, and some other items. The campground was not very full during my visit, and I would suspect that only on holiday weekends would finding a spot be difficult. For those wanting full hookups an adjacent privately owned campground can meet your needs.
A.W. Marion State Park is located about 20 miles south of Columbus, Ohio. Take Route 23 south of Columbus, then Route 22 East, turn left on Warner Huffer Road to the park. A.W. Marion State Park is a great location for an outdoor escape from Columbus, Athens, Zanesville and many other local cities.
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