Portage Lakes State Park Hiking Trails Pictures and Movie
Portage Lakes State Park has many lakes that offer visitors a variety of outdoor recreational
experiences. Boating, swimming and fishing are popular. The wetlands of the park attract
waterfowl and shorebirds providing visitors enjoyment whether hunting or observing
wildlife.
 Portage Lakes State Park has five miles of hiking trials lead visitors to the woodlands and marshes of the park.  This park contained some of its lakes for thousands of years. Although early Ohio offered the Indians and settlers vast water resources through Lake Erie and its major river systems, there were very few natural lakes or ponds in the state. Those that existed, including several of the Portage State Lake Park Lakes, were the direct result of glacial activity. These bodies of water were formed by huge chunks of ice which broke off the retreating glacier and melted in depressions forming kettle lakes. Many of the natural lakes in Ohio have aged into bogs or marshes.
 The Park boosts of unique plants associated with these boggy areas. Tamarack trees, more common in northern boreal forests, are scattered through the park with patches of skunk cabbage and cranberry also present. Nice stands of beech-maple forest provide refuge for skunk, raccoon, white-tailed deer and many other animals at Portage Lakes State Park. The wetlands of the park attract thousands of geese and waterfowl during spring and fall migration periods. Mallards, wood ducks and Canada geese nest in the wetlands each year. In addition, woodcock, heron, hawks, owls, red fox, beaver and muskrat are often sighted at Portage Lakes State Park.
 Portage Lakes State Park is named after the old Indian portage path which connected the Cuyahoga River flowing north to Lake Erie and the Tuscarawas River which through the Muskingum, flows south to the Ohio River. This proved advantageous for the Indians and early settlers as navigation from Lake Erie to the Ohio was possible with only one eight-mile portage overland. Portage Lakes State Park lies at one of the highest points of the state and on a major watershed divide in Ohio. Some water from the lakes reaches Lake Erie and some flows to the Ohio River.
 This park area had become an important trading post for settlers and Indians. It was a recognized landmark during the War of 1812, serving as a rendezvous point of American troops. The old Indian portage path was part of the ancient boundary between the Six Nations and the Western Indians.
  |
   The hikingohioparks.com LINKSEdge of the Appalachia Preserve (ASHLAND COUNTY PARKS) Mohican State Park (CUYAHOGA COUNTY PARKS) Bedford Reservation Brecksville Reservation Euclid Creek Reservation North Chagrin Reservation Rocky River Reservation South Chagrin Reservation (GEAUGA COUNTY PARKS) Big Creek Park Headwaters Park Holden Arboretum Swine Creek Reservation The West Woods Thompson Ledges (GUERNSEY COUNTY PARKS) Salt Fork State Park (HOCKING COUNTY PARKS) Hocking Hills State Park-Cantwell Cliffs- Ash Cave-Hocking State Forest-Cedar Falls-Conkle's Hollow-Rock House-Lake Logan Old Man's Cave Pictures Movie (LAKE COUNTY PARKS) Chapin Forest Reservation Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve Hidden Valley Park Hogback Ridge Park Indian Point Park Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve Penitentiary Glen Reservation (LORAIN COUNTY PARKS) Elyria's Cascade and Elywoods Parks Mill Hollow Vermilion River Reservation (MAHONING COUNTY PARKS) Mill Creek Park (MEDIA COUNTY PARKS) Alderfer-Oenslager Wildlife Sanctuary Allardale Park Chippewa Inlet Trail Buckeye Woods Schleman Nature Preserve (MORGAN COUNTY PARKS) Burr Oak State Park - Scenic Route 78 - Rim of the World (NOBLE COUNTY PARKS) Seneca Lake (PORTAGE COUNTY PARKS) Nelson Ledges State Park West Branch State Park (ROSS COUNTY PARKS) Scioto Trail State Forest Park Great Seal State Park (STARK COUNTY PARKS) Quail Hollow State Park Sippo Lake Park Walborn Reservoir The Wilderness Center (SUMMIT COUNTY PARKS) MAPS Air Show Akron Fulton Airport Adell Durbin Park and Arboretum Great Blue Heron Nesting Cascade Valley Metropark: Chuckery Trail Cuyahoga Valley National Park Canal Lock Trail Cuyahoga Valley National Park Virginia Kendall Park F.A. Seiberling Naturealm Hampton Hills Metropark Portage Lakes State Park The Gorge Metropark The Gorge Glens Trail (WAYNE COUNTY PARKS) Johnson Woods Park Secrest Arboretum Wooster Memorial Park Pennsylvania Hiking Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Pine Creek Gorge Ohiopyle State Park Kentucky Hiking Red River Gorge Natural Bridge State Park  |