Senecaville Lake, Ohio, USA

Also known as:  Seneca Lake

Senecaville Lake, also known as Seneca Lake, is the third largest inland lake in Ohio with 3,550 acres. Senecaville Lake is conveniently located in southeastern Ohio, part in Noble County and part in Guernsey County, near the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77. The City of Cambridge is nearby, which is the birthplace of astronaut and Senator John Glenn. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created Senecaville…
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All About Senecaville Lake, OH

Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Ohio - Southeast Ohio -

Senecaville Lake, also known as Seneca Lake, is the third largest inland lake in Ohio with 3,550 acres. Senecaville Lake is conveniently located in southeastern Ohio, part in Noble County and part in Guernsey County, near the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77. The City of Cambridge is nearby, which is the birthplace of astronaut and Senator John Glenn.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created Senecaville Lake for flood control, water conservation, fish and wildlife management, and recreation by impounding the Seneca Fork of Wills Creek with the Senecaville Dam in 1938. Although the lake was opened to fishing in 1940, lake levels did not reach full conservation pool until 1942 due to highway relocation.

Today, Senecaville Lake is a major recreation destination. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) controls lake recreation, including boating, swimming, camping, and picnicking. A public boat launch ramp, located near the Dam, is open all year. Horsepower limit on Senecaville Lake is 399 horsepower (increased from 299 during 2008). There is no lakefront residential development on Senecaville Lake.

Senecaville Lake offers ample sport fishing opportunities. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, leases public fishing and hunting rights from MWCD. Anglers seek catches of channel catfish, flathead catfish, bullheads, white bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, and walleye. There is no fishing below the Dam between February 15 and April 15. The Division of Wildlife operates a 37-acre Senecaville State Fish Hatchery, which is open to the public for tours. The hatchery raises saugeye, walleye, hybrid striped bass, and channel catfish. The hatchery includes 37 ponds, 2 outdoor raceways, and 18 indoor rearing troughs.

Senecaville Lake is the largest of the MWCD’s lakes with 3,550 water acres and 4,060 land acres. The Seneca Lake Park and Campground offers a swimming beach with concession stand, picnic shelters, a log cabin nature center, hiking trails, ampitheater, and playground. Accommodations include vacation cabins and more than 500 campsites. The Seneca Marina is a privately owned, full-service marina with boat sales and rentals, fuel, supplied, and docking. The marina’s restaurant is open year round.

Seneca Lake Park hosts special annual events, including “Fireworks on the Lake” every Fourth of July. In mid-October, when the leaves are at their peak of brilliant color, a pontoon boat ferries visitors to the lake’s Haunted Island. For some off-water fun any time of the year, visit the nearby Hopalong Cassidy Museum, the Cambridge glass factories and museums, and the John and Annie Glenn Historic Site. The Corps of Engineers welcomes tours of the Senecaville Dam, including the intake structure and flood control facilities. After a fun-packed day exploring Senecaville Lake and the surrounding area, relax by the water’s edge as you watch the sun set over the horizon.

Things to Do at Senecaville Lake

These are some activities in the Senecaville Lake, OH area visitors can enjoy:

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Swimming
  • Beach
  • Camping
  • Campground
  • Picnicking
  • Cabin Rentals
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Museum
  • Playground

What Kind of Fish Are in Senecaville Lake?

Senecaville Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

  • Bass
  • Black Bass
  • Bluegill
  • Catfish
  • Channel Catfish
  • Crappie
  • Flathead Catfish
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Perch
  • Saugeye Perch
  • Striped Bass
  • Sunfish
  • Walleye
  • White Bass
  • Yellow Perch
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Find Places to Stay at Senecaville Lake

If you’re considering a Senecaville Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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More Sites to Book a Senecaville Lake Vacation

Our interactive Senecaville Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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Senecaville Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

Water Level Control: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

Surface Area: 3,550 acres

Shoreline Length: 48 miles

Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 832 feet

Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 843 feet

Average Depth: 12 feet

Maximum Depth: 21 feet

Water Volume: 43,500 acre-feet

Completion Year: 1938

Drainage Area: 121 sq. miles


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