Although I've written about a couple dozen recreation and wildlife areas nearby, and even though we're an extremely popular photo lab, camera dealer, and photo education facility in northwest Ohio, the number one search term people have used to find our website is Lake La Su An (I've also seen it spelled La Sue Ann, LaSuAnn, and La Su Anne in search terms for our site).
Lake La Su An in Williams County, Ohio is an 81 acre lake surrounded by another twelve smaller ponds within hiking distance. A gravel trail circles La Su An and makes for a nice rolling stroll but it takes a couple hours to complete unless you're in a hurry. Most people come here to fish but hunting is allowed as well.
If you're here for fishing, make sure to avoid Tuesdays and Wednesdays since the check station and gates are closed on those days. You must register when arriving and leaving so they can keep count of the fish populations. A 10hp limit is enforced.
I'm just here to paddle around to take pictures although I'll also take the walk once a year.
This was taken from the southeast end of the lake as seen from the gravel trail. During October all leaves will turn brilliant orange, red and yellow.
October 2006, on the penninsula west of the boat ramp.
You'll usually see (or hear) a good variety of birds and animals here, but your best bet for viewing them is in the Spring. By the end of September, most of them have cleared out. The penninsula shown above is absolutely covered with Canada Geese during the Spring and early Summer yet today I didn't see even one. I did see, though, a rogue cormorant hanging out; until today, I'd only seen these birds in large groups.
No egrets here for some reason, but there's always at least one heron hunting around the shore.
La Su An is a quiet place at least on a weekday. Usually there's a fishing party or two but mostly it's quiet except for the natural sounds. No road noise, no airports nearby, and no inhabited properties surrounding the lake. This is a place to relax.
There's a porta-potty by the check station but they take it away for the winter months. No grills here, no swings; this place is just for outdoor sports people and hikers. And turtles.
Location: Exit 13 on the Ohio Turnpike near the Indiana border puts you onto Routh 15. Head north for a few miles to a blinking light at Route 20A then make a left. Travel less than 10 miles to County Road 7. There's a sign for La Su An. Turn Right. When it dead ends, turn left. Lake La Su An will be ahead on the right in less than a mile. You'll see the lake before you get there. Enjoy.
Other trip reports from this year, including one from La Su An, are here.
Trip reports from 2006, also including ones from La Su An, are here.
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