Grant Lake: No Beavers in Sight

4 April 2015

Grant Lake (aka Lake Grant), Grant Lake Wildlife Area, Brown County

Grant Lake is a small (181 acres), quiet lake with a maximum depth of 14 feet. There is a 10-hp limit and no facilities. If you lived close by then this lake would be a good alternative to Acton Lake in the summer when the latter is crowded. The lake is located approximately 2 miles south of the town Mount Orab in southwestern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife owns the lake. I was surprised to come across a lottery for beaver trapping for the Grant Lake Wildlife Area; I did not see any evidence of beaver activity the day I was there. Maybe that is why.

Grant is a relatively old lake. Its dam on Sterling Run River was built in 1948. According to a local fisherman, the lake was an excellent bass lake in the 1960s. Then there was some kind of trouble with the dam that led the lake to lose a lot of its game fish and rough (basically fish no one wants) fish took over.  The earthen dam is 32 feet high and 600 feet in length. The dam is located at the southern end of the lake can be viewed from Highway 774. There are no buoys or warnings on the lake near the dam so exercise caution when paddling in that area.

Grant Lake Dam

Grant Lake Spillway

There are two boat launch areas on Grant Lake. The first is located off of Highway 68, about 1 mile south of Mt. Orab. Coming from town, turn right (heading west) on Lake Grant Blvd., the road ends at the boat launch parking area. There is plenty of room to turn a trailer around here and sufficient parking. There is also an earthen fishing pier.

Boat Ramp Highway 68

Fishing Pier Highway 68

To reach the second boat launch area continue on Highway 68 about 2 miles from town. Turn west onto highway 774 and drive 0.5 miles to Highway 142 (aka Lake Grant Road). Turn north on Highway 142 and immediately look for a public parking area on the right side of the road. There is also room to turn a trailer around at this location. Parking might be an issue in the summer as the lot is not very large, but it was not an issue the day I was there. There was additional evidence here of the heavy rains southwestern Ohio had been experiencing. The wood fishing pier was partly under water and was in danger of becoming detached from shore.

Boat Ramp Highway 142

Fishing Pier Highway 142 Boat Launch Area

I chose to put in at this boat ramp. I headed north away from the dam. There were a couple men fishing from the shore but no boats out on the lake. It was a relaxing paddle.

Heading North on Grant Lake

Entrance to Northwest Finger of the Lake

Northwest Finger of Grant Lake

Heading Back to Boat Launch 

The area around the second boat launch site has a few houses that are visible from the lake, but they quickly disappear. Rest of the lake is surrounded by natural scenery.  I spied a Northern Cardinal at the back of someone’s property at the water’s edge. Did you know that in addition to Ohio that the Northern Cardinal is the official state bird of six states? Ohio wasn’t the first to pick the Northern Cardinal; Illinois beat us by five years. Speaking of birds, the baby duck for this lake is a basketball duck that I have named Sparty. Sparty is in honor of the Michigan State Spartans who are scheduled to play later today in the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship. I always cheer for the Big Ten teams, unless they happen to be playing the Buckeyes.

Northern Cardinal and Houses Near Highway 142 Boat Launch

Grant Lake's Baby Duck Sparty

Grant Lake was not a bad paddle. It was just a bit boring. The Northern Cardinal was the only wildlife I saw. Of course, that could always be different on another day. If I lived close to the lake then I would paddle it some more but as I live a couple hours away I don’t plan on a return visit any time soon.