Contact Information
16170 Wolf Run Road
Caldwell, OH 43724
740-732-5035
The Wolf Run area has been dramatically changed since the settlement of man. The original forests soon fell to the ax and were replaced with farms and villages. Fortunately, much of the forest has regrown and now covers 70 percent of the region. This second growth forest is mixed mesophytic, meaning that dominance is shared by a large number of tree species. White and red oak, tulip tree, sugar maple, beech, wild black cherry and white ash are frequent members of this forest type. Mixed mesophytic forests are renowned for their plant diversity including ferns, clubmosses, mosses, algae, fungi and lichens. These forests are in some ways the most ecologically exciting in the state. Deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, weasels, bats, black rat snakes, box turtles, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and great horned owls are among the many animals that make this area their home.Land acquisition for the park began in 1963. Construction of the dam and spillway for the lake was complete in 1966 as part of the West Fork Duck Creek Watershed Project. The 1,338-acre facility including the 220-acre lake was officially dedicated as a state park in 1968. The park received its name from the Wolf family, the first to settle in the area.
Wolf Run State Park offers a family campground with 138 non-electric sites located on the south shore of the lake. Showers and laundry facilities are provided. A walk-in group area with fire rings is available for use by organized youth groups on a reservation basis. A 20-site primitive fly-in camping area is located on the north side of the lake. The area is within walking distance of the 4,700-foot runway at the Noble County Airport. Picnic tables, fire rings and latrines are provided.
Wolf Run Lake is well known for large catches of bass, bluegill, crappie, trout and catfish. Boats with motors of up to 10 horsepower are permitted on the lake. A launching ramp and tie-ups are available on the south side of the lake, easily accessible from State Route 215. A public swimming beach is located on the south side of the lake and provides restrooms and changing booths. The beach is open during daylight hours only. Scuba diving is also permitted in the lake, except within the beach area. Proper equipment and marking of the diving area are required. Diving alone is prohibited.
A 3-mile section of the Buckeye Trail passes along the west side of the lake. A half-mile loop trail begins at the nature center providing opportunities for nature study and wildlife observation.
Picnic areas are scattered amid the more scenic areas of the park.
Hunting is permitted in special areas only. A hunting map can be obtained at the park office. A valid Ohio hunting and / or fishing license is required.
Wolf Run State Park encompasses 1,338 acres of land and 220 acres of water. The day use facilities including scuba diving, fishing, hiking, picnicking, group picnicking, hunting, lake swimming, limited boating, sledding, and cross-country skiing. Overnight facilities include non-electric campground, fly-in campsites, pet camping, and youth group camping.
This state has four distinct seasons and a brilliant fall foliage display in it southern woods during mid October. Winter lasts from December through February with average temperatures near 25 degrees F. Low temperatures dip to single digits, but do not often drop below zero. Northern regions of the state receive average snowfall amounts of 55 inches, while the central and southern regions of the state receive lesser amounts with averages near 30 inches. This difference is caused by lake-affect moisture patterns.
Spring temperatures begin to warm the landscapes of Ohio by mid March and are in full swing by April. Temperatures range from 40 through 70 degrees F through the spring months. This season often brings the most rainfall, before the drying heat of summer. Summer can be extremely hot and humid in the interior of Ohio. Temperatures reach above 90 degrees F frequently through July and August. Cooler fall temperatures don't reach the region until mid to late September. This is a pleasant time to visit as the air is crisp with low humidity levels. Ohio's annual precipitation usually reaches slightly above 50 inches.
