Located in northeastern Ohio, Mosquito Lake is one of the largest lakes in Ohio with more than 7,000 acres of surface area. The surrounding parkland covers 2,483 acres of mature woodlands and expansive marshes which provide safe haven for wildlife. Boating and fishing may be two of the top outdoor activities here, but the park also offers hiking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling in winter.
Activities
Archery
An archery range is free and open to players with their own equipment. It is located near the camp check-in building behind the basketball court. Park in the campground visitors parking lot.
Boating
Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on portions of the 7,850-acre lake, while other areas are restricted to 15 mph. Five launch ramps provide access to the lake.
- Main Launch Ramp: Accessed by entering the State Route 305 entrance. Most popular launch area includes 3 launch lanes, 5 courtesy docks, over 200 vehicle/trailer parking spots, boat pump-out station, life jacket loaner station, and flush restrooms. This area is well lit for early morning launching and late-night boating adventures.
- Marina Concession Launch Ramp: Accessed by entering the State Route 305 entrance. Located at the marina concession, it offers 1 launch lane, 1 courtesy dock, over 30 vehicle/trailer parking spots, gas fuel dock, bait sales, food sales, and a pit latrine. Call 330-637-2075 for more information.
- Campground Launch Ramp: For registered campers only. Area includes 1 launch lane, 1 courtesy dock, and 15 vehicle/trailer parking spots. Equipped with a launch light for easy launching in the early morning hours.
- Causeway Launch Ramp: Located on the SE corner of State Route 88 and State Route 46. The park’s second largest launch area consisting of 2 launch lanes, 2 courtesy docks, over 120 vehicle/trailer parking spots, life jacket loaner station, and pit latrine. This area is well lit for early morning launching and late-night boating adventures. This ramp is across the street from Causeway Bait and Tackle.
- Causeway Bait and Tackle Launch Ramp: This launch ramp is located at the NE corner of State Route 88 and State Route 46 ( 2233 Greenville Rd NE, Cortland). Features 1 launch lane, 1 courtesy dock, and 40 vehicle/trailer parking spots. Bait and snack sales. Call 330-637-7076 for more information.
- Wildlife Launch Area: Located on the NW side of the lake off Mahan Denman Road NE, adjacent to the refuge buoy line. This launch area is only suitable for kayak, canoes, or very small boats. This area is shallow and does not have a courtesy dock. Parking lot can accommodate about 10 vehicle/trailers. Operated by ODNR Wildlife, 440-685-4776.
- Trumbull Boat Club Launch Area: Located on the SE side of the lake, at State Route 305 and State Route 5 intersection just past Imagination Station Park and Playground. This area is for small boats only, the area is shallow and does not offer courtesy dock. Area offers 1 launch ramp, pit latrine restrooms, picnic area, nearby playground, and 25 vehicle/trailer parking spots.
- State Route 305 Launch Area: Located on the SE side of the lake, at the State Route 305 and State Route 5 intersection. This area is for small boats only; the area is shallow. Area offers 1 launch ramp, 1 courtesy dock, pit latrine restroom, life jacket loaner station, picnic area, nearby playground, and over 35 vehicle/trailer parking spots. Operated by US Army Corp, 330-637-1961.
Seasonal or transient dock rentals are available through the park office. Visitors can use four life jacket loaner boards located at the park beach, the main launch ramp, the causeway launch ramp and at the Corps ramp on State Route 305.
Fishing boat, pontoon boat, and kayak rentals, fuel and other supplies are available at the Mosquito Marina, 330-637-2075.
Campground
Mosquito Lake State Park Campground offers pet-friendly Full-service, Electric, and Non-electric sites and two Yurts. Campground entrance is 3620 Hogland Blackstub Road, Cortland, 44410. Some of the sites have a lakeshore view while the rest offer a shady spot for campers. The park also offers Group Camp areas. Reservations may be made online or by calling (866) 644-6727. During the winter camping season, facilities are limited. Full-service sites do not have water at the site; fees are reduced accordingly.
Disc Golf
The Squirrel Run Disc Golf Course features 18 holes. It offers both long and short tees and there is no fee to play. Players must bring their own equipment. The course is open every day, all year round.
Download the Disc Golf Course Map
Dog Park/Dog Swim Area
The Cooperation Station Dog Park is a 5-acre off-leash dog park surrounded by a split wood and mesh fence. It features separate areas for small and large dogs as well as a dog swim area. The park has lots of shade and drinking water is provided seasonally.
Help support the dog park by joining the Mosquito Lake Dog Park Friends group. [@mosquitolakedogpark on Facebook]
Fishing
Fishing is popular throughout the year with plentiful catches of walleye, bass, crappie, and northern pike.
- Ohio fishing regulations apply.
- A valid Ohio fishing license is required (16 and older).
Hunting
Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park and the nearby Grand River Wildlife Area. Controlled hunts, by drawing, are conducted on-line.
- Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations
- A valid Ohio hunting license is required.
Nature Play Area
A nature play area is located near the campground area and is accessible from the campground entrance (3620 Hogland Blackstub Rd, Cortland, 44410). The area offers young visitors a safe place to explore. Site features a canvas teepee, rope course across a stream, and a wooden cabin.
Picnicking
Four picnic areas are located in the scenic areas of the park; tables and grills provided. A reservable shelter is also available in the beach area.
Reservable Shelter
The park offers one reservable shelter, the Beach Pavilion. Located in the beach area and accessible from the State Route 305 entrance, the shelter can accommodate over 100 guests and is equipped with 18 large picnic tables, electrical receptacles, and lighting. The pavilion is 52’X34’ and is close to a playground, accessible swing set for children, pit latrines, 600’ beach, life jacket loaner station, and 18-hole disc golf course. The pavilion parking lot can accommodate more than 200 vehicles.
Storybook Trail
This half-mile trail presents a children’s story in segments.
- Storybook Trail - 0.5 mile - easy
- Find more Ohio State Park Storybook Trails
- Find more Storybook Trails in Ohio
Swimming
A 600-foot beach provides recreation for swimmers and sun bathers. Swimming is permitted in designated areas. Please exercise caution while swimming at the beach. Pets are NOT allowed on swimming beach. A separate dog park with a swim beach designated just for dogs is available.
- BeachGuard — Water quality advisories, Memorial Day to Labor Day, from Ohio Dept. of Health
Trails
The park offers a variety of trails for visitors explore the park’s woodlands and scenic shoreline. Additionally, trails provide great access for horseback riding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling.
- Beaver Trail — 0.6 mile; Multi-use trail for hiking and biking. Located inside campground.
- Horse Trail — 8.4 miles; Multi-use trail for hiking, horseback riding and snowmobiling. Located on the west side of the lake, this trail also provides access to public hunting grounds and fishing areas.
- Squirrel Run Trail — 0.2 mile; Multi-use trail for disc golf and hiking. Located near the beach.
- Turkey Run Trail — 5 miles; Multi-use trail for hiking, biking, snowmobiling. Located on the east side of the lake, also provides access to public hunting grounds and fishing areas.
Winter Recreation
Under the proper winter conditions, park guests can enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and ice boating. No equipment is provided.
- NO motorized vehicles (no snowmobiles, no vehicles) are permitted on the frozen lake or shoreline. Snowmobiling is only permitted on Horse Trail and Turkey Run Trail.
- Sledding is NOT PERMITTED ON THE DAM. A sledding hill in the park is maintained by Trumbull County Metropark in cooperation with the city of Cortland.
- Cross-country skiing is permitted on Turkey Run Trail.
More to Do
- Playground equipment is available in some day-use areas
- Check with the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau for information on area attractions
- US Army Corps - Mosquito Lake, 330-637-1961
History & Natural Features
History
Mosquito Lake State Park lies in Bazetta and Mecca townships in the center of Trumbull County. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company offered for sale a 17,247-acre tract of land named Bazetta Township. This large tract of land was divided into 100 parcels and offered for sale to early pioneers. The first settlers arrived in 1805. The area was wilderness, and their first tasks were to clear the land, plant crops, and build a log house and stockade for their animals. Deer, turkey, rabbit, and squirrel were plentiful. So were bears and wolves. By 1812, most Native Americans had left the area.
Samuel Bacon moved to Bazetta Township in 1816. The Bacon family operated a sawmill there until 1850. Samuel Bacon erected some of the first frame buildings, developing stores in the community. Thus, the area now named Cortland was locally called Baconsburg.
The village of Cortland became a reality in 1874 when the first railroad was built with a depot in Cortland. By 1882, the population of the village rose to 614 people. There were three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills, and other enterprises.
Agriculture was the first and foremost industry in the area. Most other industries were farm related: feed and flour mill, cheese, dairy and canning factories, mercantiles, and lumberyards.
In the 1930s, plans were drawn up to dam the Mosquito Creek under the Federal Flood Control Act to alleviate floods on the Mahoning, Beaver, and Ohio rivers. The dam would also provide domestic water supply for the city of Warren and pollution abatement as a result of the industrialized steel production along the Mahoning River. Completed in April 1944, the dam's capacity held 34 billion gallons of water covering 7,850 acres of land. In 1946, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage the recreation on the lake.
Natural Features
Before Ohio was settled, the banks of Mosquito Creek were hidden by a vast forest that covered most of the state. Little remains of the ancient forest that stood for nearly 10,000 years. In the Mosquito Lake area, regrowth has occurred and the nice stands of beech-maple woodlands can be enjoyed. In pioneer times, the beech-maple belt was extensive and stretched from Mansfield to Pennsylvania, owing to the favorable climate and winter snow cover of the area.
The park's woodlands support colonies of spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman's breeches, purple cresses, and other spring wildflowers. Goldenrod and asters bloom in the fall in the park's open areas. Many wildlife species find the park's varied habitats suitable. Red fox, woodchuck, muskrat, beaver, fox squirrel, raccoon, rabbit, and white-tailed deer are common. River otters were reintroduced nearby; several otter families have been sighted.
Many birds live in or migrate through the area including robins, warblers, swallows, and sparrows. The yellow-bellied sapsucker and hairy woodpecker are uncommon in other parts of Ohio but abundant in this part of the state. Numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of the park's many wetlands during spring and fall migrations. Canada geese, herons, tundra swans, great egrets, and a variety of ducks can be observed. Large predatory birds including several species of hawks and the magnificent bald and golden eagles may be spotted here.
Contact & Hours
Park Hours: 6am to 11pm daily. Visitors are permitted to actively engage in legitimate recreational activities outside these hours. If you have questions, call the park office.
Park Office: (330) 637-2856; 8:30am to 5pm Monday-Friday
Manager: Josie McKenna
Volunteer
Find out how you can get involved with others who share your interests and passions at Mosquito Lake State Park. To learn more, visit:
Friends of Mosquito Lake Dog Park
