Sippo Lake Park was purchased in 1977 with a Community Development Block Grant because of its central location between two of Stark County’s major cities. It provides visitors with a variety of amenities, programs, and 202 acres of deciduous forest, wetlands, old fields, and mixed shrub areas. Featuring a variety of habitats for wildlife viewing, this quiet urban oasis is home to a large number of bird species, including blue herons and other waterfowl. The songs of spring peepers, frogs, and toads also enliven evening sunsets along the shoreline of the 100-acre lake. The bluegill, crappie, carp, catfish, yellow perch, and bass that make Sippo Lake their home often jump right out of the water in the lake’s early morning mist.

Sippo Lake – Perry Drive Entrance
From I-77, take Exit 106 (13th Street). Go west. 13th Street will become 12th Street. Continue west, turn left at Perry Drive, and right onto Tyner Street.
From OH-21, take Lake Avenue east. At Wales Road, turn right. At Hankins Street, turn left, continuing east. Turn right at Perry Drive and right onto Tyner Street.

Sippo Lake – 12th Street Northwest Entrance
From I-77, take Exit 106 (13th Street). Go west. 13th Street will become 12th Street. Continue west, pass Perry Drive and you will see the Exploration Gateway sign on your left.
From OH-21, take Lake Avenue east. At Wales Road, turn right. At Hankins Street, turn left, continue east on 12th Street, and turn right at the Exploration Gateway sign.

Open all year during daylight hours.

The main parking lot and marina are off of Perry Drive.

Winter
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-throated Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Spring
Wood Duck, Eastern Bluebird, Killdeer.
Summer
Green Heron, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, House Wren, Yellow Warbler.
Fall
Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, migrating waterfowl.

The Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park is a center of nature, culture, and life-long learning established in June 2007 as a partnership between the Stark County Park District and the Stark County District Library. The facility includes three banquet and meeting rooms, a video conference center, the Perry Sippo Branch Library featuring a 58,000-item collection with specialized nature and Canalway history resources, an outdoor terrace and indoor fireplace, drive-through book drop, 400-gallon aquarium, wireless internet access, and public computers.

The Stark County Park District and Stark County District Library-Perry Sippo Branch share more than a building. Staff members work together daily to demonstrate a commitment to education, the environment, community outreach, and stewardship of financial resources that make this partnership unique.

The Sommer Wildlife Conservation Center and the Public Safety/Operations departments are located at the Genoa Avenue entrance (798 and 800 Genoa Avenue Northwest, Massillon, 44646).

Sippo Lake Park was purchased in 1977 with a Community Development Block Grant because of its central location between two of Stark County’s major cities. It provides visitors with a variety of amenities, programs, and 202 acres of deciduous forest, wetlands, old fields, and mixed shrub areas. Featuring a variety of habitats for wildlife viewing, this quiet urban oasis is home to a large number of bird species, including blue herons and other waterfowl. The songs of spring peepers, frogs, and toads also enliven evening sunsets along the shoreline of the 100-acre lake.

Sippo Lake Trails
Conservation and Lonesome Pine Trails – 0.7 miles
Park at the Genoa Avenue entrance and head east to find the trailhead. This natural surface trail takes you through a progression of blackberry thickets with gray dogwoods and cottonwood saplings, through an open field, then uphill for a slight climb into a forest with cherry, maple, oak, and pine trees that provide homes for a variety of birds and wildlife.

Cottonwood Trail – 0.55 miles
Park at the Genoa Ave. entrance, then cross the driveway to find the trailhead. Perfect for hikers and bird watchers alike, this natural surface trail follows the edge of the restored Cottonwood wetland. It offers a wildlife-viewing house where wood ducks, mallards, and green herons can be seen. Pockets of spring wildflowers along the trail include spring beauty, trout lily, may apple, and trillium.

Sippo Lake Trail – 0.96 miles
Park at either the 12th Street or Perry Drive park entrances, then walk or bike this limestone trail between the Exploration Gateway and the Sippo Lake Marina. You’ll follow the contours of the land with views of the 100-acre Sippo Lake. Several different habitats offer perfect viewing spots for yellow warblers, green herons, and butterflies. Numerous species of trees such as white oak, wild black cherry, and wetland dogwoods border the trail.

Sippo Marina Trail – 0.65 miles
Park at the Sippo Lake Marina off Perry Drive. You’ll hike up a hill through a deciduous forest and back down along the shoreline of Sippo Lake on this natural surface trail. In the spring, enjoy flowering dogwood trees and wildflowers such as mayapple, spring beauties, and jewelweed. Marvel at the beautiful colors of the red oaks and maples in the fall.

Woodland and Wetland Trails – 0.8 miles
Park at either the Genoa Avenue or 12th Street entrances. This network of trails travels through wetlands and young woodlands between the Exploration Gateway and the Wildlife Conservation Center. Waterfowl, muskrats, and several types of frogs (green, wood, and spring peepers) make their homes in the wetlands. Maturing cottonwood trees create a canopy as they border the trail in several places.