Pleasant Hill Lake

Reservations, Fees & Passes

Campground Fee:
$60 per night - Premium full hook-up
$50 per night - Full hook-up
$43 per night - Electric
*rates may vary

Day Use Fee:
There is an $8.00 per site non-refundable reservation fee
$120 per day -  group shelter
The Picnic Shelter reservation fee does not include the park entrance fee that is paid upon arrival at the entrance by all guests and is in effect Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Pleasant Hill Dam is within the Walhonding section of the Muskingum Area. It was authorized by Section 4 of the Flood Control Act (FCA) of 1938, as amended by Section 4 of the FCA of 1939. Primary project purposes are flood damage reduction, recreation, and fish and wildlife. The dam was completed in May 1937 and serves a drainage area of 197 square miles. Land includes 64 fee acres and 4,236 easement acres. Corps of Engineers recreational facilities include a day use area. The dam is a rolled earth-fill with impervious core, 113 ft tall, 775 ft. long, 30 ft. wide at the top and 550 ft. wide at the base. The spillway is a morning glory type shaft that discharges into a 19 ft. diameter tunnel through the right abutment. A secondary uncontrolled saddle spillway is 1-1/2 miles north of the dam. The intake structure contains two 3.5 x 7 ft. gates sluices discharging into a 14 ft 3 in tunnel which in turn discharges into the 19 ft. tunnel from the morning glory spillway into the stilling basin. To maintain minimum pool and provide automatic discharge, 3 sets of orifices are provided at minimum pool elevation.

Pleasant Hill Dam is right in the middle of two major recreation areas; Mohican State Park and Mohican Memorial Forest below the dam and MWCD's Pleasant Hill Lake Park, created by the dam, above it. The dam and lake are located on the Clear Fork branch of the Mohican River, 6 miles west of Loudonville and 20 miles southeast of Mansfield, Ohio, in Ashland County. Pleasant Hill Dam was constructed for flood reduction, recreation and fish and wildlife management, it was complete in 1936.

Recreation Opportunities

Visitor Center
Pleasant Hill Dam does not have a visitor center.  The project office can offer assistance. 

Boating
The lake provides 800 surface acres of water with unlimited horsepower. There is no boat launch at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Pleasant Hill Dam.  The closest public launch ramp is in MWCD's Pleasant Hill Lake Park near the marina.  Contact them for more details at (419) 938-7884 or visit their web site at Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD).  For those of you who like canoeing, you're just a 20-minute drive from Pleasant Hill Dam to the town of Loudonville and the Mohican River. The Mohican River is considered by some to be one of the finest canoeing rivers in Ohio.

Camping
There is no camping at the Corps of Engineer's Pleasant Hill Dam.  Camping is available in MWCD's Pleasant Hill Lake Park, contact them at (419) 938-7884 or visit MWCD.  
Camping is also available at Mohican State Park campgrounds, for more information call them (419) 994-4290.

Day-use
The Pleasant Hill Dam Day Use Area is located adjacent to the dam.  Picnic tables and a shelter are situated under many shade trees.  The grassy picnic area is enclosed on one side by beautiful rock cliffs. There are universally accessible tables and restroom facilities.  Water fountains, restroom, scenic views and a kiosk with information of interest to visitors to the areas are also located there. The restrooms are open from May to October.  MWCD's, Pleasant Hill Lake Park and Mohican State Park also provide Picnic Sites and Picnic Shelters.  For more information contact MWCD, Pleasant Hill Lake Park Office at (419) 938- 7884 or Mohican State Park (419) 994-5125.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be contacted at (419) 938-5785.

Fishing
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits fishing on federal government property which is immediately above and below the dam.  Access is from the Pleasant Hill Dam Day Use Area where there is a lighted parking lot, restrooms, (on a seasonal basis) and an attractive picnic area.   The main trail to the river below the dam starts out with old concrete steps, is very steep, please use caution.  The access to the lake immediately above the dam is also steep but there is a gravel roadway which makes it easier to walk.  MWCD permits fishing in and around the lake, contact them for details by calling (419) 938-7884 or visit the web site at MWCD. Mohican State Park also permits fishing in the Mohican river below the dam, contact them for details at 419-994-4290 or visit their web site at Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Hunting
Public Hunting is available on Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and Mohican State Forest lands.

Marinas
There is one marina located on Pleasant Hill Lake, it is operated by MWCD on a seasonal basis (April - September). For all boating inquiries contact Pleasant Hill Lake Park at (419) 938-7884.

Swimming
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not have a designated swimming area available at Pleasant HIll Dam.  MWCD has designated one swimming area within Pleasant Hill Lake Park, call their office at (419) 938-7884.

Trails
Bicycles and all terrain vehicles are NOT permitted on Corps of Engineers property which is in the immediate area of the dam. Mohican State Park has one 8 mile long trail for bikes that starts in the class campground.  Call them at 419-994-5125 or go to their web page at www.dnr.state.oh.us\parks.  Mohican Memorial Forest has several bike trails, call them at 419-938-6222 for full details.  Pleasant Hill Lake Park, managed by MWCD, also has trails for bicycles. For information contact Pleasant Hill Lake Park at (419) 938-7884 or go to their web site Pleasant Hill Lake Park.

There are 60 miles of hiking and horse trails at Pleasant Hill Lake. Trailhead signs are located at access points with location maps and interpretive signage along the way.

The only trails managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pleasant Hill Dam, are two short sections from the Day Use Area on top of the dam to the more extensive trail system, managed by Mohican State Park. below the dam.  One of those trails is very steep as it is on the face of the dam.  The other one leads into the woods from the area beside the kiosk and includes scenic vistas.  

Pleasant Hill Dam is right in the middle of two major recreation areas; Mohican State Park and Mohican Memorial Forest below the dam and MWCD's Pleasant Hill Lake Park, created by the dam, above it. The dam and lake are located on the Clear Fork branch of the Mohican River, 6 miles west of Loudonville and 20 miles southeast of Mansfield, Ohio, in Ashland County. Pleasant Hill Dam was constructed for flood reduction, recreation and fish and wildlife management, it was complete in 1936.  The dam is made up of rolled earth fill with an impervious, water proof, core of clay. It is 113 feet high, 775 feet long, with a top width of 30 feet, and a base width of 550 feet. A unique feature of this flood control structure is the 'Morning Glory Spillway', one of only two dams built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with this type spillway. For tours of Pleasant Hill Dam, the Intake Structure, and Flood Control Facilities contact the USACE, Pleasant Hill Dam Office at (419) 938-5785. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers provides a lovely Day Use Area adjacent to the dam with public restrooms, picnic tables, grills and a shelter, as well as water fountains and a kiosk with information of interest to visitors to the area.  

Handicapped Access
The picnic shelter and restrooms in the day use area are universally accessible.  The restrooms are open on a seasonal basis (May - October). 

Rules & Regulations

General Policies
A full list of Federal regulations that apply to all US Army Corps of Engineers properties can be found in Title 36 of the United States Code (USC). Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects.

Firearms
Possession of firearms in a federal facility, including locks, dams, power plants, ranger stations, buildings, switchyards, recreation facilities, warehouses, and offices is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes the storage or transporting of a personally owned firearm in controlled access parking areas or Government vehicles, heavy equipment, boats and vessels under the operational control of the District regardless of its location. Exceptions for Federal employees are only allowed for Federal law enforcement officers or where possession of a firearm is specifically authorized by law.

Fireworks
Fireworks, along with explosives, firearms and other weapons are prohibited on Government Property. Detailed information can be found in Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects, Section 327.13.

Contact
Pleasant Hill Lake 
1041 county Road 3006 
Perrysville, OH 44864

pa2@usace.army.mil
419-938-5785