Deer Creek State Park

20635 State Park Road 20
Mt. Sterling, OH  43143

GPS: N 39° 38' 5.68", W 83° 14' 48.63"

Hike All the State Parks!Deer Creek State Park is one of Ohio State Parks' lodging resorts. With a 350-acre, 18-hole public golf course near the lodge, an unlimited horsepower lake and 9 miles of hiking trails, this park offers a little bit of everything nestled in the surrounding meadows and woodlands.

 

Park Office   740-869-3124

Campground (seasonal)   740-869-3508

Golf Course   740-869-3088

Lake Conditions   740-869-2243

Camping/Getaway Rental Reservations  866-644-6727

 

 

  • 110 guest rooms, many with a panoramic view of the lake.
  • Lodge features include indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, whirlpool and exercise room.
  • A restaurant, lounge and meeting rooms provide additional accommodations
  • Tennis courts are available for lodge and cottage guest use

Cottages 

  • 25 cottages each with two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living room with a sofa bed, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch
  • The cottages sleep up to six people
  • The historic Harding Cabin offers a unique lakeside setting and sleeps 7-9

Camping   

  • 227 electric sites
  • Features include showers, flush toilets and a dump station
  • Pets are permitted on all sites, except Rent-A-Camp & Camper Cabin sites • 2 pet maximum per site
  • Campground attractions include a tetherball, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, 2 playgrounds and miniature golf
  • Bicycles can be rented from the camp office for a fee
  • Group camp is also available by reservation
  • Equestrian camp provides primitive overnight facilities for riders
  • Primitive group camp offers an area for youth groups

Getaway Rentals 

  • Pets are not permitted in Getaway Rentals or the surrounding site
  • 2 Camper cabins available April through October (exact dates vary)
    • Each unit sleeps up to 6 people
    • Features include electric outlets, A/C, heater, refrigerator, microwave, cook stove, porch with charcoal grill
    • Linens, dishes and cooking utensils are not provided
    • Daily housekeeping is not available
  • 1 Rent-A-Camp unit available May through October (exact dates vary)
    • Each unit consists of a large tent on a wooden platform with dining fly
    • Sleeps up to 4 people with sleeping pads
    • Equipment provided include a exterior electric outlet, camp light, cook stove, cooler, picnic table and fire ring
    • Linens, dishes and cooking utensils are not provided
    • Daily housekeeping is not available

Boating

  • Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the 1,277-acre Deer Creek reservoir
  • 2 launch ramps provide access to the lake
  • A fully equipped marina offers fuel, boat rental and seasonal dock rentals

Fishing

  • Deer Creek Lake is famous for its early spring saugeye fishing below the dam
  • Excellent catches of catfish, largemouth bass and crappie also entice the angler

 

Swimming

  • 1,700-foot public swimming beach
  • Picnic tables and grills are available
  • Boaters may take advantage of a boat-swim area

 

Picnicking

  • 7 picnic areas are situated in scenic locations around the park
  • 2 picnic shelters are available on a first come-first serve basis

Trails

  • 7 hiking only trails
    • Adena Ridge Trail • 3/4 Mile • Easy
    • Waterloo Trail • 1/4 Mile • Easy
    • Van Horn Trail • 2 Miles • Easy-Moderate
    • Meadow Trail • 1 Mile • Moderate
    • Rolling Hills Trail • 2.5 Miles • Moderate
    • Marsh Walk Trail • 1 Mile • Moderate
    • Ridge Trail • 1.5 Miles • Moderate
  • Mountain Biking Trail • 1 Mile • Easy
  • Bridle Trail that also allows hiking • 17 miles • Moderate

Golf

  • A 350-acre, 18-hole public golf course near the lodge is a challenge for golfers with its 10 ponds and 52 sand traps
  • Get more information about the course

Hunting

  • The lake provides excellent waterfowl hunting
  • 14 hunting blinds are issued each season on a lottery basis
  • Hunting is permitted in the state wildlife area adjacent to the park for pheasant, rabbit, squirrel and deer
  • Valid Ohio hunting license is required

Winter Recreation (conditions permitting)

  • Snowmobiling is permitted on the 17-mile bridle trail
  • Sledding
  • Ice fishing
  • Ice skating

More To Do

  • Volleyball and basketball courts, playgrounds, and a baseball field offered in select day-use areas
  • Lake access for dogs offers a place for your pets to frolic and swim
  • Nature center offers nature programs during the summer months

Nearby Attractions:

  • East of Deer Creek near Circleville is A.W. Marion State Park which offers fishing, camping and picnicking
  • Stage's Pond, a state nature preserve, is located five miles north of Circleville. This 178-acre glacial, kettle lake is a waterfowl refuge and a prime observation area for birdlife
  • Deer Creek Wildlife Area which is adjacent to the park is operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and managed for upland game
  • In nearby Chillicothe, visitors can witness the living drama of Tecumseh at the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre
  • Adena State Memorial, the restored home of Thomas Worthington is one of The Ohio Historical Society's premier sites.• It includes Worthington's newly-restored 1807 mansion and a 13,000 square foot Museum/Visitor Center.