Kayaking Across Ohio: Dow Lake: Don't Know Much About Snakes

3 July 2015

Lake #47 Dow Lake, Strouds Run State Park, Athens County

161-acre Dow Lake is surrounded by 2,606 acres of uninterrupted forest that makes up Strouds Run State Park. The glaciers that flattened out most of Ohio did not make it here; although, their melted waters did causing many deep ravines. The park has a wilderness feel to it even though it is located only two miles east of Athens. Settlers arrived in this area in 1796 as a result of an apportionment by the Ohio Company. This resulted in the founding of the town of Athens and Ohio University, the first college in the Northwest Territory.

Dow Lake in the Rain

The lake’s single boat ramp is located off County Road 20 (Strouds Run Road) on the northwest section of the lake. The park’s camping area (78 non-electric sites), 900-foot swimming beach, and boathouse with boat rentals are all located close by. The dam, completed in 1960, is located on Dow Lake’s southeastern shore and can be accessed off U.S. Highway 50. There are 40 miles of trails that meander through the park, including lengthy bridle and hiking trails that circle the lake. These trails are not noticeable from the water as there is limited shoreline access.

Dow Lake's Boat House

Lonely Kayaks and Canoes

Picnic Shelter Near Swimming Beach

It was another unseasonably cold day with threat of rain; it seems I say that for about every lake. When I complete my BHAG, I am going to go back and count how many of the lakes I kayaked in the rain; I am guessing it will be at least half. There was one family using the swimming beach. The pit latrines here are the closest restrooms to the boat ramp. There was a single fishing boat out on the water.

Dow Lake Swimming Beach

Where Are All the People?

One Family Has the Entire Beach to Themselves

A Pretty Spot for a Picnic Near the Beach

The lake’s depth ranges from a few feet to 25 feet near the dam. The lake has a 10 horsepower limit. The west end of the lake, where the boat ramp is located, is weed choked. The boat ramp is located on a small arm, when I put in I headed to the other western arm of the lake. There was a picnic table by the lake that looked very inviting. Heading up the far western arm I passed a great blue heron and a turtle trying in vain to find some sunshine. The threat of rain became a reality as a light mist began to fall.

Dow Lake Boat Ramp

Heading Up Western Arm From the Boat Ramp

Pretty Picnic Spot Off Strouds Run Road

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

I continued paddling northwest up the arm, following the stream channel, with my paddle buddy husband. After hitting the mud flats, we turned around and headed back to the main body of the lake.

Exploring the Western Arm

Solitude on the Lake

Heading South Out of Arm

Back to the Main Body of the Lake

We paddled south and explored a small cove on the west side of the lake. Then we continued paddling south toward the dam. By this time the mist had turned to true rain. We crossed over to the other side of the lake and explored the large eastern arm. I saw a tree stump near the bank that looked like a good spot for taking baby duck’s photograph. As I was placing him on the stump, I received a bit of a scare. When I looked up, there was a snake curled up on the shore. I do not consider myself overly afraid of snakes but I certainly don’t want to mess with them. I didn’t know what kind of snake it was but I decided to name baby duck after the snake once I did. This was the first snake I had seen kayaking. When I was trying to find what type of snake it was, I couldn’t find it. I was looking at Ohio land snakes because the snake was on land when I saw it. I thought, "Wow, I have seen a rare snake." By accident, I saw a listing of Ohio water snakes and there was the snake. Guess what kind it was, a common water snake. So my "rare land snake" was just a common water one. I had not known that water snakes actually come out of the water. It turns out that water snakes are fond of basking and can often be seen sunning upon logs and rocks, or on low branches overhanging the water. Common water snake did not seem like a fancy enough name for my first kayaking snake encounter so I decided to go with his Latin scientific name, nerodia sipedon sipedon (or nerodia for short).

Heading Southeast Toward Dam

Small Cove to Explore

Heading Into Eastern Arm

Baby Duck Nerodia

Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon aka Common Watersnake

After my snake encounter, I headed out of the arm back toward the main body of the lake. I was starting to paddle toward the dam when the light rain turned to a deluge. I decided that I had seen enough and headed back to the boat ramp. Along the way, I passed the now empty swimming beach. Boy, it seems like I do a lot of paddling in the rain.