Catawba Island State Park, Ohio

Catawba Island is a small park of about ten acres on the west side of Catawba Island. There is a boat ramp and a fishing pier. At the adjacent gravel beach, swimming is permitted. The amenities are spartan. There is a reservable picnic shelter on the fishing pier, plus other picnic tables, and an incredible view of the lake, particularly with the larger boats.

This is the fishing pier at Catawba Island. A gravel beach is to the right and the boat ramp is to the left. This state park is located at 41.34.3 N latitude and 82.51.5 W longitude. The temperature was 73 F at 1 pm on May 25th, 2014.

This is the boat ramp and dock at Catawba Island. ODNR rangers put in here as well; note the ODNR shed toward the center left. In the background, vehicles queue up to set their boats into the water. To the right of this image is the Catawba Island Club harbor.

The gravel beach at Catawba Island is perhaps 100 feet from end to end. Swimming is permitted but there are no lifeguards. Ducks and gulls were as much in attendance as were fishermen and women, for much the same reason. Walleye were seen from the shore. The gravel was not difficult to walk on while wearing shoes.

This reservable shelter holds some half-dozen picnic tables and is a great place for lunch. The shelter is located right on the fishing pier and offers a nice view of the boats going into the water. This is the only place close to the water to get out from under the sun. Just across the road from the shelter is the parking lot for vehicles without trailers. Just past that lot is the one for vehicles with trailers.

This is the Catawba Island Club marina. Sailboats and yachts came and went all morning and into the early afternoon. The township of Catawba Island, located in Ottawa County, was founded in 1861 and currently has 3,100 people. Nearby Mouse Island, which is privately owned, is also part of the township. Catawba Island is not actually an island but a peninsula.

This play area is right across the road from the picnic shelter. The amenities here were locked over Memorial Day weekend, and thus were portable amenities provided. In the background is East Moore's Dock Road, which becomes North Surfside Drive. This leafy area is considerably cooler than the pier or the gravel beach.

This sailboat is headed back to the Catawba Island Club marina. Several old warbirds flew overhead this day, and several cannon were fired for the Memorial Day commemoration. Taps was also heard. If the many tables and benches pictured here were otherwise occupied, several grassy areas also offered beautiful views of the lake.