My Corner Online
Rend Lake & Campgrounds
On September 2, 2024, which was Labor Day Monday, we traveled all around Rend Lake. We started with Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. There is a resort in the park, but it appeared closed to us, and the grass even overgrown. We went down a lot of the campsite loops and at the end of each was a turn around loop with views of the lake. Now THESE are the camping spots to have, being right next to the lake.
We watched the birds.
We got out for a moment and enjoyed this site right on the river and then as we were leaving, someone pulled into it. I do not know if they were camping or just visiting like us. I suppose the visitors would annoy those camping there.
I really wanted to set up my camping and stay a while!
On another loop we parked along side the loop and walked down to the point in the grass. I think that look was called Lookout Point.
There were also bike trails everywhere, but we did not film them. They were really nice.
On one of the loops we found a beach! There was sand and an ability to get your toes wet.
Next we traveled to the Gun Creek Recreation Area. We had to go through a golf course first before arriving and there was a fun golf tee water tower. Except for the above State Park, all of the recreation areas around the lake are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. They were all really nice and well maintained.
Again, there was a turn around loop at the end of each wing of camping and the best spots for views seemed to be at the end of the wing. We pulled off at some of the loops although there was really no where to park. I am not sure they really want people pulling off like that and disturbing the campers, but I think most of them had left after the holiday weekend while we were there.
Each loop at a lovely place to walk out to and I could have brought my chair and sat there for a while on this beautiful day.
We sat down on the rocks for a while.
Gun Creek is just below Highway 154 which crosses the lake, so we decided to cross to the other side and go down the line of recreation areas on the other side, and then come back to this side of the lake to go home.
Here you can see how Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park and Gun Creek (where the dot is) are in association to Highway 154 that goes across the lake to Sessor. Then we went downward on this map to several other areas.
Highway 154.
We visited North Sandusky Recreation Area. We really liked the picnic areas here.
We ended up staying for a while at this one just relaxing.
It was just like a beach on the ocean with the waves.
South Sandusky Recreation Area had a beach which we could tell would get packed! It was $5 a car load.
We stopped by Dam West Recreation Area, but did not get out of the truck as it is a day-use area, and then crossed over the Rend Lake Dam.
We stopped at the Spillway Recreation Area for a while. Of course, you can see much better from the above video.
What a great view looking down from the dam where you can see the lake turning back into a river.
Next we stopped at the South Marcum Recreation Area. Again, at the end of each loop is a view. I guess I did not take an photos of South Marcum.
Our last stop was the North Marcum Recreation Area which contained a beach and lots of picnic areas.
At this parking lot was a basketball court on the water! How fun is that!
We played with our shadows as it was getting long in the day.
We took time to walk around and enjoy the views. This would have been a great place to watch the sunset, but we had an hour and a half left in the day so decided to use the daylight to drive home. From the bottom end of Rend Lake it is 1 1/2 hours from home, but from the top it is 2 hours from home.
