American Electric Power
ReCreation Lands
| AEP ReCreation Lands at a Glance | |
| Date established: | |
| Acreage (total): | about 60,000 acres (about 25,000 hectares) in Morgan, Muskingum, Noble and Guernsey Counties |
| Lake acreage (around 350 ponds and lakes): | about 1,500 acres (about 600 hectares) |
| Lake restrictions: | Only boats UNDER 10 horsepower allowed |
| Miles of trails: | 69 miles (114 kilometers) |
| Miles of trails open to horses: | 40 miles (64 kilometers) |
| Miles of trails open to bicycles: | 9 miles (14.4 kilometers) |
| Campsites (non-electric): | About 300 |
| Horse Campsites (non-electric): | Non-designated |
| Hunting: | All hunting (except for groundhogs) allowed with access permit |
| Nearby open-space areas: | The Wilds |
| Official website: | www.aep.com/environment/recland |
| Phone number: | 740.962.1205 |
http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/recland
Permits are also available at state or regional AEP offices, from Division of Wildlife offices, or from sporting goods and bait stores in the vicinity of the ReCreation Lands. Some areas may be posted as being off-limits. Please respect these postings. Maps are available at the website.
These lands also host an off-road stretch of the BENCAD Trail almost 20 miles long. Miner’s Memorial Park is off OH-78 just before OH-83 and Windy Hill is off OH-83; these are both day-use areas only. Campgrounds are Sand Hollow and Maple Grove, reached via OH-284; Hook Lake and Sawmill Road, both off OH-83; and Wood Grove and Bicentennial, both on the BENCAD Trail. According to AEP, there are some 350 ponds and lakes, totaling about 1,500 acres of surface water. There is also a horse camp in the horse area.
From the AEP website:
- Hunters need only an Ohio Hunting License and their ReCreation Land Visitor's Permit.
- Hunting is not permitted within 300 feet from the boundaries of the campground areas.
- Hunting is not permitted in the active mining areas, on property which has been leased to others by AEP, or on other AEP property outside the boundaries of ReCreation Land.
- Groundhog hunting is prohibited.
- Target shooting or practice is prohibited within all AEP ReCreation Areas.
- Beaver trapping on AEP lands is controlled and requires a special Beaver Trapping Permit. For additional information concerning beaver trapping, please send your name, address and telephone number to American Electric Power, ReCreation Department, 59 West Main Street, McConnelsville, OH 43756
Usage Areas
- A: Hook Lake Campground: A campground on Ohio State Route 83, very easy to reach, but rather open. Has a shelterhouse and a playground. Closed December-April. Features two ponds.
- C: Sand Hollow Campground: A campground somewhat off the beaten track, accessible from Ohio State Route 284. Has a shelterhouse. Closed December-April. Features a long, narrow lake.
- D: Sawmill Road Campground: One of the more private campgrounds, located on a dead-end road off Ohio State Route 83. Has a shelterhouse and playground. Closed December-April. Features a covered bridge and is along a stream.
- E: Windy Hill Day Use Area: A small roadside area with a scenic overlook. Closed December-April.
- F: Miner's Memorial Park: A roadside park area commemorating mining and miners. Features an old drag-line bucket large as a small house. Closed December-April. Some maps show camping at this site, but this is actually a day-use area only. Sweeping vista.
- G: Maple Grove Campground: A roadside campground, mainly a picnic area, on Ohio State Route 284 just off OH-83. Open year-round.
- H: Wood Grove Campground: A campground reached from Ohio State Route 78. Open year-round. Features a large stream.
- K: Bicentennial Campground: Located on the Lincoln Highway, and serves the BENCAD Trail. Closed December-April. Fronts on a small lake.
- Equine Area: Features 40 miles of horse trails, parking, and primitive camping. There are plans to further improve this area. On Weaver's Haul Road. Closed December-April.
Trails at AEP ReCreation Lands
These lands also host an off-road stretch of the BENCAD Trail almost 20 miles long. It passes through the Woodgrove and Bicentennial camping areas. It also crosses Ohio State Route 78 in the southeast part of the ReCreation Lands.There is a 10-mile mountain bicycle trail.
Horse trails include the Main Trail, Beaver Trail, Hornet Hill Trail, Licking Loop Trail, Tree Top Trail, Gas Line Trail, and T & A Trail. All these trails connect to the main trailhead except for the Gas Line, Beaver and Licking Loop Trails. Total horse trail mileage is about 30 miles.
Directions to AEP ReCreation Lands
To reach the ReCreation Lands, take OH-13 12.9 miles north from US-33 at Athens to OH-78 East, just after Glouster. Turn right, (east) on OH-78 and go 19.8 miles where the highway crosses the Muskingum River, then turns right to combine with OH-60 at McConnelsville. Go 0.6 mile on the combined road, then turn left in McConnelsville to continue on OH-78.For the horse area, go 7.3 miles to Weaver’s Haul Road. Turn left on Weaver’s Haul, and go 1.9 miles to the horse area.
For the dog-training area, go 4.4 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to Carmel Ridge Road, Township Road 952. Turn left and take T-952 about 2 miles to the dog-training area. There are two other dog-training areas, one each in Muskingum and Noble Counties.
For the mountain bike trail, go 9.0 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to OH-83. Turn left on OH-83, go 0.2 mile, and turn left on OH-284. Go 2.2 miles on OH-284 to Bristol Church Road, Township Road 944, and turn left. Go 0.9 mile on T-944 to Cloud Hollow Road, County Road 11. Turn right and go 1/4 mile to the trail.
For the Wood Grove Campground on the BENCAD Trail, go 15.5 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to Wood Grove Road, County Road 27. Turn left on Wood Grove Road and go 0.6 mile to the camping area.
Total distance from downtown Athens
- To the horse trail area: 45 miles.
- To the dog-training area: 43 miles.
- To the bicycle trail: 48.5 miles.
- To the Wood Grove Campground and Buckeye Trail: 52 miles.