Cowan Lake State Park offers a quiet escape with scenic inlets and a wooded shoreline in southwest Ohio. The 700-acre lake allows boats up to 10 horsepower, which suits both boaters and anglers, and bald eagles are often seen overhead. Visitors enjoy swimming, fishing, sailing, kayaking, archery, disc golf, hiking and picnicking at the park's shelters. Note that a dam rehabilitation project runs from 2026 to 2028, with water levels being lowered 13.5 feet beginning in November ahead of construction, so boat ramps will become inaccessible and the park advises checking conditions before visiting. Water levels are targeted to return by summer 2028.