Veto Lake
Wildlife
Veto Lake Wildlife Area at a Glance
Date established:
Acreage (total):433 acres (175 hectares)
Water acreage:160 acres (65 hectares)
Boat restrictions:10 horsepower or less
Trails:No trails
Hunting:Fishing allowed only
Nearby public natural areas: Boord State Nature Preserve
Tefft Memorial Preserve
Ferndale Park
Skunk Run Preserve
Athens-Belpre Rail-Trail
Official state website:http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/vetolake#tabr4
Veto Lake Wildlife Area is located in Washington County, just east of Ohio State Route 339 at Veto. According to the Division of Wildlife, it has 160 surface acres of water and six miles of shoreline. A GIS analysis finds a current 148 acres of water in the lake, which has two dams at the outlet end. The entire property is 433 acres, with the largest block of contiguous non-inundated land at the north end. There is also a non-contiguous area of 74.5 acres just to the west of the main area (which is 358.5 acres by itself). The area features parking, a boat ramp, a picnic pavilion, pit toilets, and an archery range. Curiously, this wildlife area is almost invisible on the Division of Wildlife website.

While the Division of Wildlife owns the shorelines of the lake itself, the northwest and southwest areas above the shorelines are completely subdivided into housing lots. The eastern side of the lake is bordered by Lake Road. There are no developed trails around the lake.
To reach Veto Lake from Athens, there are two possible routes.
  1. Go east on OH-32 30 miles east from US-33 to OH-339 (which is also US-50 most of the way). Turn left/go north 4.25 miles to Veto Road, Washington County Road 3. Go east 0.8 mile on Co-3 to the turnoff to the left for the boat ramp. For the archery range, continue east another 0.25 mile to Lake Road, Township 268, and turn left. Go 0.5 mile to the archery range. Lake Road continues up the entire east side of the lake, passing picnic and access areas, and going over one of the two dams.
  2. Go east on OH-550 29 miles from US-33 to OH-339. turn right/go south 4.0 miles to Veto Road, Washington County Road 3. Go east 0.8 mile on Co-3 to the turnoff to the left for the boat ramp. For the archery range, continue east another 0.25 mile to Lake Road, Township 268, and turn left. Go 0.5 mile to the archery range. Lake Road continues up the entire east side of the lake, passing picnic and access areas, and going over one of the two dams.