Most people think of Ohio as flat cornfields and highway exits, but that is just not true. Hidden among the hills and hollows are lakes that feel more like mountain retreats than Midwest water.
These spots do not advertise themselves with billboards or crowded marinas. Instead, they wait quietly behind winding roads and forest trails, offering peaceful coves, excellent fishing, and shorelines that feel worlds away from the usual tourist crowds.
If you are willing to follow a few extra turns and explore beyond the obvious choices, these 13 lakes will show you a side of Ohio that most visitors never see.
1. Burr Oak Lake
Quiet coves, tree-lined ridges, and a relaxed lodge make Burr Oak Lake a place I keep drifting back to…