Hammertown Lake
(Jackson City Reservoir)
Hammertown Lake at a Glance
Date established:Lake opened 1953
Acreage (total):about 1450 acres (587 hectares)
Water acreage (Hammertown Lake):190 acres (77 hectares)
Boat ramps:3 (1 suitable for canoes and kayaks only)
Boat rules:Electric motors only
Miles of horse trails:15 miles (24 kilometers)
Hunting:No hunting allowed
Nearby public lands:Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
Jisco Lake
Coalton Wildlife Area
Flint Run - Broken Aro Wildlife Areas
Liberty Wildlife Area
Jackson Lake State Park
Lake Alma State Park
Richland Furnace State Forest
Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area
About 1,450 acres, with a 190-acre lake, just west of Jackson, in Liberty Township, Jackson County. This is the water reservoir for the City of Jackson. It was built in 1953, and, at 51 feet, is the deepest lake in southeast Ohio. The surface elevation is approximately 695 feet above sea level. The lake features two dams. It has three boat ramps; electric motors only. The boat ramp on the east side of the lake, closest to Jackson, is really only suitable for canoes and kayaks. The boat ramp on the north side of the lake is the easiest slope into the lake, but turning around may be difficult here because the boat ramp area doubles as parking. A 15-mile horse trail is blazed in red.

Directions to Hammertown Lake

To reach Hammertown Lake, take OH-32 west from OH-682 37.7 miles to OH-93, and turn right off the ramp. For the main usage area south of the lake, go 0.7 mile to South Street, and turn left. This street becomes OH-139, OH-776, then West Road, Co-82. Turn left after the railroad tracks and follow another 1.9 miles to Hammertown Reservoir Road, on the right, which will take you 1.8 miles into the usage area. For the east-side area, after crossing the railroad tracks, go straight instead of left. For the north side of the lake, go 1.3 miles through Jackson to Bridge Street, County Road 76, where OH-93 takes a right turn. Turn left (Bridge Street becomes State Street) and go 3.4 miles on Co-76 to Hammertown Road, T-349, and turn left. Total driving distance to the main usage area from downtown Athens: about 44 1/2 miles