 Photo Courtesy Bob Irwin
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Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 3961 | | | Water, acres | 7850 | | | Nearby Wildlife Area, acres | 5370 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 18 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 600 | | | Bridle Trails, miles | 10 | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | -2 | | | Seasonal Dock Rental | 251 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 5 | | | Fuel For Sale | yes | | Camping | Primative, # | 17 | | | Electric Sites, # | 217 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | Winter | Cross-Country Skiing | yes | | | Snowmobiling | yes | | | Ice Boating | yes | | | Ice Skating | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes |
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 Photo Courtesy Bob Irwin
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Nearby Parks:
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Santa Rosa Lake State Park
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Deer Mountain National Recreation Trail
Barkcamp State Park
Buckeye Lake State Park
Deer Creek State Park
Caesar Creek State Park
Lake Milton State Park
Harrison Lake State Park
Marblehead Lighthouse State Park
Mary Jane Thurston State Park
Mohican State Park
Pike Lake State Park
Salt Fork State Park
Scioto Trail State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Water recreation, hiking, camping and picnicking attract visitors to Mosquito Lake, one of the largest lakes in Ohio. Mature woodlands and vast marshes provide safe haven for wildlife and will delight nature enthusiasts. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Before Ohio was settled, the banks of Mosquito Creek were hidden by a vast forest that covered most of the state. Little remains of the ancient forest that stood for nearly 10,000 years. In the Mosquito Lake area, regrowth has occurred and the nice stands of beech-maple woodlands can be enjoyed. In pioneer times, the beech-maple belt was very extensive and stretched from Mansfield to Pennsylvania. The reason is that this area has more cloudy days, cooler summer temperatures and more winter snow cover as compared to the rest of Ohio.
The park's woodlands support colonies of spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman's breeches, purple cresses and other spring wildflowers. Goldenrod and asters will bloom in the fall in the park's open areas. Many wildlife species find the park's varied habitats suitable. Red fox, woodchuck, muskrat, beaver, fox squirrel, raccoon, rabbit and white-tailed deer are common. Recently, river otters were reintroduced in nearby favorable locations. Several otter families have been sighted.
Many birds live in or migrate through the area including robins, warblers, swallows and sparrows. The yellow-bellied sapsucker and hairy woodpecker are uncommon in other parts of Ohio but abundant in this part of the state. Numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of the park's many wetlands during spring and fall migrations. Canada geese, herons, tundra swans, great egrets and a variety of ducks can be observed. Large predatory birds including several species of hawks and the magnificent bald and golden eagles have been spotted here. |
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| Camping: |
| Phase II of the campground electrification will begin in mid-August. The campground will remain open, however site availability may be limited at times.
The campground at Mosquito Lake has 234 non-electric sites. The majority of the sites are situated in a mature forest while others provide lakeshore access and vistas. There is a boat launching area for the campers with shoreline tie-ups. Facilities include a shower building with flush toilets, and pit latrines are located throughout the camp. Children's playground, horseshoe pits and volleyball are also available. |
| Camping Accessories: |
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| Trails: |
| Several hiking trails allow visitors to explore the woodlands and scenic shoreline of the park. Ten miles of bridle trails give horsemen access to the park's interior. Snowmobilers have access to 14 miles of shoreline and 15 miles of wooded trails. |
| Trail Accessories: |
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| Picnicking: |
| Several picnic areas are located in the scenic areas of the park. Tables and grills are provided. |
| Boating: |
| Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the 7,850-acre lake. Four launch ramps provide access to the lake. Fuel, boat rentals and seasonal dock rentals are available. |
| Boating Accessories: |
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| Swimming: |
| A 600-foot beach provides recreation for swimmers and sun bathers. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing is popular throughout the year with plentiful catches of walleye, bass, northern pike and crappie. Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park and the nearby Grand River Wildlife Area. Controlled hunts, by drawing, are conducted in the Mosquito Wildlife Refuge in North Bloomfield, at the north end of the lake. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is required. |
| History of the Area: |
| Mosquito Lake State Park lies in Bazetta and Mecca townships in the center of Trumbull County. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company offered for sale a 17,247-acre tract of land named Bazetta Township. This large tract of land was divided into 100 parcels and offered for sale to the early pioneers. The first settlers arrived in the township in 1805. The area was wilderness, and their first tasks were to clear the land, plant crops, build a log house and a stockade for their animals. Deer, turkey, rabbit and squirrel were plentiful. So were bears and wolves. By 1812, most Indians had left the area.
Samuel Bacon moved to Bazetta Township in 1816. The Bacon family operated a sawmill from 1816 to 1850. Samueal Bacon erected some of the first frame buildings, developing stores in the community. Thus, the area now named Cortland was locally called Baconsburg.
The village of Cortland became a reality in 1874 when the first railroad was built with a depot in Cortland. By 1882, the population of the village rose to 614 people. There were three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills and other enterprises.
Agriculture was the first and foremost industry in the area. Most other industries were farm related: feed and flour mill, cheese, dairy and canning factories, mercantiles and lumberyards.
In 1930's, plans were drawn up to dam the Mosquito Creek under the Federal Flood Control Act to alleviate floods on the Mahoning, Beaver and Ohio rivers. The dam would also provide domestic water supply for the city of Warren and pollution abatement as a result of the industrialized steel production along the Mahoning River. Completed in April 1944, the dam's capacity held 34 billion gallons of water covering 7,850 acres of land. In 1946. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage the recreation on the lake. |
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| Area Attractions: |
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains five recreational areas along the dam site providing an nature trail and fitness course. A wheelchair accessible fishing dock is located in the Lakeside Picnic Area.
Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area, at the north end of the lake, is managed under a lease agreement by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Grand River Wildlife Area is located west of the park along State Route 88.
Punderson, Pymatuning and West Branch state parks are located within a one-hour drive of Mosquito Lake. These parks contain numerous facilities including overnight accommodations and day-use amenities. |
| Directions: |
| 1439 State Route 305, Cortland, Ohio 44410-9303 |
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| Area Activities |
| Tourism | | Hocking Hills Internet Guide - hockinghills.com - Offical Guide to Southeastern Ohio's Scenic Wonderland, the Hocking Hills. The 9 State Parks and State Forests. How to get there, things to do, interesting local merchants, what to see, places to stay. Reserve your cabin or campsite online! |
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