Eastwood Lake: Water Focused Metro Park

April 6, 2015

Lake #19    Eastwood Lake, Eastwood Metropark, Montgomery County

My daughter is on spring break this week and is going to join me on my BHAG; unfortunately, Ohio is predicted to have thunderstorms all week. Today, only rain is in the forecast so we are heading to Dayton to check out Eastwood Metropark. The 437-acre park offers a variety of water focused recreational opportunities, including boating on the 185-acre Eastwood Lake.

Eastwood Lake

The lake is the feeding ground for a pair of bald eagles, christened Jim and Cindy, who have nested across the road from the lake at the City of Dayton Mad River Well Field since 2009.

Maybe You Will See Jim and Cindy

The entrance to Eastwood Lake is at 1401 Harshman Road. There are two put-ins for kayaks/canoes. The first is to your right just after entering the park.

Kayak Put-in

First Put-in As You Enter the Park

There are no facilities at this location and trailer parking is not permitted. A short distance down the road, also on your right, is the main boat ramp. 

Eastwood Lake Main Boat Ramp

Here you will find restrooms with running water and ample parking (this is the only location where trailers are permitted to park).

Restroom With Running Water

Given how close the two locations are to one another, I see no reason to use the first put-in. 

Mile long Eastwood Lake was completed in 1972 with the goals of providing water recreation and protecting the Dayton water supply. The lake was a by-product of gravel mining operations by the American Aggregate Corporation. Mad River feeds Eastwood Lake and neighboring Blue Lake and the lagoons. There is a small amount of vegetation around the lake and a few scattered trees. State Route 4 runs along the entire north side of the lake and downtown Dayton is visible from the lake to the west. Overall, it is a more utilitarian lake than a pretty one.

Heading East From Boat Ramp

Heading East Towards Harshman Road

Gray, Choppy Day at Eastwood Lake

My Daughter Anna Keeping Me Company on the Water 

Heading West

Paddling West With Downtown Dayton in the Background

Kayaks and canoes are allowed to use the lake on any day, but other types of watercraft are restricted based on odd/even days. Powerboats, fishing boats, and water skiers are permitted on the lake on even-numbered days of the month. There is a 35-mile per hour speed limit. Sailboats and fishing boats at idle speed are permitted on odd days. I was there on a rainy, even day and the only other boat on the lake was a fishing boat.

Boating Restrictions Based on Days

Unfortunately, I did not get to see the resident eagles while I was kayaking, but I did see a pair of nesting Mallard ducks and a pair of American Coots.

Nesting Mallards

American Coots

I didn’t come up for a name for my neon baby duck while I was out on the water. I try to name the ducks based on something special about the lake I am on and I wasn’t channeling anything special about Eastwood Lake. I ended up naming the baby duck for this lake Hurley; in honor of my favorite character from the television show Lost. I misplaced Hurley while I was putting my gear away and thought I had “lost” him, but he magically reappeared later.

Baby Duck Hurley

Baby Duck Hurley Before He Was 'Lost"

Blue Lake lies just south of Eastwood Lake. It would be a great place to take a small child kayaking for the first time.

Kid Sized Blue Lake

South of Blue Lake is the Mad River and its kayak access and play spot.

Kayak Mad River Trail North Access

Path to Mad River From North Side

Entering the Class II Mad River here provides a 4.5 mile uninterrupted paddle to RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton. There is parking for a couple cars on the north side of Mad River, but the main parking is located on the south side. To access the south side of Mad River and the lagoons, you have to drive back out to the main road, Harshman, turn right and reenter the park at 1385.

River Launch at Mad River

Mad River Looking East From Put-in

Mad River Put-in

I would have loved to paddle the lagoons; unfortunately, the water level was down due to construction taking place. The lagoon is very picturesque and would have been a much nicer paddle than the one I had on Eastwood Lake.

One of the Bridges Crossing the Lagoon

Eastwood MetroPark Lagoon

Kayak/Canoe Put-in at the Lagoon

The park surrounding the lagoon and the river has hiking and biking trails, a playground, and several pretty picnic areas. My advice is to skip Eastwood Lake and spend all your time on Mad River or relaxing on the lagoon.

May all your roads end in water,

Mama Duck Mona