Lake Loramie State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Lake Loramie State Park — A historic canal-era reservoir in Shelby County, Ohio — originally built 1844–1845 as a feeder for the Miami-Erie Canal — featuring a 600-ft sandy swimming beach, 8+ miles of hiking trails (Blackberry Island, Lakeview, Miami-Erie Trail/Buckeye Trail), a large campground with full-hookup + electric + non-electric sites + ADA cabins, 6 boat ramps (no-wake lake), 4 fishing piers (2 ADA), crappie + bluegill + largemouth bass + channel catfish, an 18-hole disc golf course, kayak/canoe/bike rentals, 15 picnic areas, playground, and a new Welcome Center (opened September 2025) with canal-era exhibits.
Lake Loramie State Park blends canal-era history with modern lakeside recreation in western Ohio. Built in the 1840s as a water supply reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal, the lake has evolved into a beloved state park offering a 600-foot swimming beach, excellent fishing, and miles of trails that trace the region’s rich transportation history. The brand-new Welcome Center, opened in September 2025, brings the Ice Age-through-canal era story to life.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Shelby County, OH — western Ohio |
| Lake Origin | 1844–1845 — Miami-Erie Canal feeder reservoir |
| Beach | 600-ft sandy swimming beach + picnic area + playground |
| Boating | No-wake lake (speed zone at west end) — 6 ramps |
| Welcome Center | Opened Sept 2025 — Ice Age through canal-era exhibits |
Camping
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Hookup | Water + electric + sewer sites |
| Electric | Electric-only sites available |
| Non-Electric | Primitive tent sites |
| Cabins | ADA-compliant cabins |
| Amenities | Showers, flush toilets, dump station, playground, bike/kayak/canoe rentals |
Activities
| Activity | Details |
|---|---|
| Swimming | 600-ft sandy beach — daylight hours |
| Fishing | Crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass — 4 piers (2 ADA) |
| Boating | No-wake — 6 ramps, adaptive launches for paddle craft + pontoons |
| Kayaking/Canoeing | Rentals available at campground |
| Hiking | 8+ mi — Blackberry Island (1 mi), Lakeview (2 mi), Miami-Erie/Buckeye Trail (1 mi), Little Turtle Trace (1 mi), Upper Loramie (2 mi) |
| Disc Golf | 18-hole course |
| Winter Sports | Ice fishing, sledding, snowmobiling (conditions permitting) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water ski or tube on the lake?
No — Lake Loramie is primarily a no-wake zone. Water skiing and tubing are prohibited. There is a small designated speed zone at the west end of the lake, but the vast majority of the water is no-wake, making it ideal for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.
What’s the history of the lake?
Lake Loramie was constructed in 1844–1845 as a storage reservoir to supply water to the Miami-Erie Canal, which connected Cincinnati (Ohio River) to Lake Erie. When railroads made the canal obsolete, the lake transitioned to recreation and became a state park in 1949.
