Dillon State Park

5265 Dillon Hills Drive
Nashport, OH 43830-9568

The wooded hills and scenic valleys of the Dillon area offer a picturesque setting for outdoor adventure. Whether boating the quiet coves and inlets of the lake or hiking the forest trails, Ohio's rural hill country provides an outstanding recreational experience at Dillon State Park.

Scenic View of Lake

Cottages

29 family cottages nestled in the woods overlooking the north lakeshore
Each cottage has air conditioning, cable television, gas heat, two bedrooms, one bath, living room with sofa bed, all-electric kitchen, dining area and screened porch
Linens, towels and kitchen utensils are furnished
One cottage is fully accessible
Pets are permitted in select cottages, please call 866-644-6727 for more information

Camping

183 electric sites
12 non-electric sites
Showers, flush toilets and a dump station
Commissary with grocery items and laundromat is located near the check-in station
One youth group camp is available

Boating

Boating with unlimited horsepower is permitted on Dillon Lake
Two boat ramps are provided for access to the lake
70 docks are available for rent on a seasonal basis

Swimming

An excellent 1,360-foot swimming beach is located near the park office
Wading pool
Game area is adjacent to the beach offering volleyball and a playground area as well as lighted courts for tennis and basketball
Check for water quality advisories

Fishing and Hunting

Largemouth bass, muskie, bluegill, crappie and catfish are plentiful
Hunting with shotgun or longbow is only permitted in season and in designated areas
Duck hunting is also permitted
A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required

Sportsmen's Area

This modern facility includes lighted trap and skeet fields with high, low, and combination houses, a 100-yard rifle range and 25-yard pistol range with firing line shelter and tables.
Restrooms and meeting space are located indoors
For more information please call 740-452-3529

Trails

Visitors who enjoy nature study will find that Dillon's trails are pathways to discovery
15 miles of wooded bridle trails, maps are available at the park office
The Ruffed Grouse Nature Trail is approximately 3/4-mile long and introduces the hiker to the varied habitats of the area
This trail is a branch of the 6-mile long Licking Bend Trail which skirts the lakeshore. Three other fascinating trails--Blackberry Ridge Trail (1 mile), King Ridge Loop (1.1 miles) and Hickory Grove Loop ( 1.5 miles) are located very near the camping and cottage area.
There are about 16 miles of Mountain Bike trails. See the Mountain Biking map .

Picnicking

7 picnic areas complete with tables and grills are located at pleasant and scenic spots throughout the park
2 shelters that can be reserved, or if not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis, are located at the overlook area and beach . Please call the park office at 740-453-4377 ext 100 for more information or to reserve one of these shelters
Jim Dunn shelter house is strictly first come, first served
Boater's picnic area with well water and vault-type latrines is located on the lake

Area Attractions

Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve is located ten miles northwest of Dillon State Park on Licking County Road 273.
Muskingum River State Park , featuring a hand-operated lock system, is headquartered in nearby Zanesville.
Further south, off S.R. 60, lies Blue Rock State Park and State Forest . All are just a short drive from the Dillon area.
Around Zanesville, there are a number of attractions that reflect the cultural history of the Dillon region. A ride on the Lorena Sternwheeler docked at the Zane Landing Park is a floating trip into the past.
The National Road/Zane Grey Museum in Norwich offers a nostalgic look at life on the early Ohio frontier.
Muskingum County is a leader in the production of pottery items, and several potteries offer tours of their facilities.
For more information about the area, contact Zanesville/Muskingum Visitors Bureau at 1-800-743-2303 or the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-BUCKEYE.

Nature of the Area

Dillon State Park in Muskingum County is situated in an area of the state that possesses diverse and interesting natural featuresresulting from the unique properties of the Black Hand Sandstone. Sand, eroded hundreds of millions of years ago from mountains farther east, accumulated in a vast delta in the sea covering the region. This hard bedrock erodes to form sheer cliffs and supports a lush, hardwood forest.

The rolling, reverting farmland of the Dillon area provides visitors the opportunity to see some of Ohio's most magnificent wildlife. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and wild turkey can be seen by quiet observers. During migration, numerous species of waterfowl visit Dillon's waters and sightings of bald eagles have also been reported.

History of the Area

Much of the history of the Dillon region can be attributed to the effects of transportation through the park. The Licking River provided transportation for Native Americans on their way to Flint Ridge where outcroppings of flint were found. In the Blackhand Gorge, carved by the Licking River, a sandstone cliff bore a soot blackened engraving of a human hand. This mysterious petroglyph is thought to have served as a guide marker for Indians searching for Flint Ridge. Specimens of Flint Ridge flint have been found as far east as the Atlantic seaboard, as far south as Louisiana and as far west as Kansas City.

Other methods of transportation affected the Dillon region. The Old National Road, just south of the park, was partly responsible for the establishment and growth of nearby Zanesville. The Ohio-Erie Canal followed the route of the Licking River for several miles and boosted trade and commerce to surrounding towns. An inter-urban railroad that connected Zanesville and Newark with Columbus passed through Blackhand Gorge. Steamboat traffic was busy through Zanesville on the Muskingum River.

In 1803, Moses Dillon purchased the land bordering the Licking River where the park is located. This industrious, early American built and operated a local iron foundry, founded the village of Dillon Falls and dammed the Licking River to provide water power for the community. Moses Dillon is probably most noted for his contributions toward the design and construction of the world-famous "Y" bridge in Zanesville.

Dillon Reservoir was constructed for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was completed in 1961. The park was dedicated in August 1968.