Buck Creek State Park

I’ve been coming here for special holidays for seventeen years, it was great! I would recommend this place for graduations, cook outs with relatives and friends!

I came here with my dog and mostly hung out at the beach. The beach itself wasn’t all that impressive — it was basically just a bunch of gravelly sand along a reservoir. The water looked like it’s probably good for boating, but the beach was pretty lame. Maybe if I were here to camp or boat it would have been better, but otherwise it was pretty underwhelming.

Just took a 4 night trip to the park and stayed in a cabin. The cabin was clean and appointed with just about all you need for a short trip. We did have to buy a kitchen knife to cook with. Also, there are no «steak» knives — so we passed around my pocket knife.
The beach was good and bad. Good: there is a lot of beach area and the water is what I expected from a a man made lake. Also, the bathrooms are clean and equipped.
Bad: lots of Goose poop along the beach/​water line. There is no apparent effort by the state park to clean up sections each morning. We would spend about 15 mins cleaning up a spot for us to use.
Overall, we enjoyed our time more so because we brought the fun with us. This is a low frills place that is good for families who like to make their fun as we do.

Best beach your gonna find within a few hours? Definitely. Best beach? No. It’s a great size for a man made lake, but beware this isn’t a ‘wiggle your toes in the sand’ beach, bring flip flops. Closer in its bare-​foot-​walkable but after a foot or two you NEED shoes. Your feet will hate you if you don’t, OW! On the upside it’s very pretty and during the week it’s fairly quiet. Have ran into some… Erm… ‘Rough’ individuals that like to yell demeaning things at women trying to enjoy themselves. Would recommend if you just need to visit a beach for your sanity, it’ll quench the thirst, but not completely out out the fire. Four stars is honestly for convenience, otherwise it would be three.

It’s a great place to bring family. My brother and his family. Total occupants: 2 kids under the age of 8, my daughter (17), 4 adults. The master bedroom had a queen sized bed with a small vanity area. One open closet and an iron and board. The second bedroom has a bunk bed and a full mattress on the bottom bunk. Next to that was a twin bed. Also had a vanity and open closet. One bathroom with standing shower, sink, and commode. They provided towels and linens. Each bed had sheets and comforter. Living room had a trundle couch. Flat screen tv with directv. Kitchen had a refrigerator though very small, the stove with an oven, coffeemaker toaster & sink with running water. cabinets had some dishes and pots and pans and utensils. Small table with the bench. Although compact still have all the resources you needed to make a meal. Back porch was screened in with a picnic table. There was also a rocking chair and two other chairs. Outside in the fire pit area was two picnic tables as well. The barbecue was a standard outdoor barbecue pit area. There are a lot of spiders by the door however you were out in the woods. So they weren’t invasive at all, however, was scary to look at every time you walk in and out. The weather was nice although it didn’t rain it was still comfortable. Lots to do on that trail hike as well really close. There was also play area with swings and a Bocce court.
Another thing was that we stayed in a pet friendly cottage. All of the carpets were not perfect, however, they were not smelly at all. Very clean for the location. Would definitely stay there again! We stayed in cottage #12.
I would like to try cottage 18 or 19 just because it had a Lakeview. However those may not be pet friendly.

This is a nice park, the water is beautiful, you will get sick make sure if you must go in do not let the water in your mouth. Other than that it really is a nice place to relax and let the kids go crazy

BEST green space in/​around Springfield, in my opinion! This overlooked resource is NEVER crowded, has something for everyone, and is your go-​to four season outdoor getaway (when you can’t afford to get AWAY!!). Head over there any time of the year for great bike and hiking trails, camping, just about your own private beach (esp. later in the afternoon…) and TONS of great photo-​ops all year long! Don’t miss the MASSIVE display of wildflowers in bloom early spring right at the main entrance! I’m going to try to post some shots of them from a few years back and some AMAZING sunset shots I got over the reservoir there last summer…
Funding seems to continually be a problem all over the place, and this place is unfortunately no exception in the great tug of war for $$$… I hear great things about plans for expansion, including possible white-​water rafting and rapelling (???) in the area, and as much as EVERYONE/​EVERYWHERE is short of funds, I hope SOMEHOW this place continues to grow and thrive!!!

Wow! Only one other review? I’m surprised.
Springfield has been hiding this one from us! What a nice state park. Opened in 1975, it’s a huge 2,120 acre reservoir with a really nice beach area. Beach is about a half mile long with a decent light gravel and sand base. I was there yesterday at about 3:30 and there were maybe 200 people there all together so it wasn’t crowded at all.
Everything looked clean and neat. Grounds were well kept and the people just seemed like average middle class people out for the day with the kids.
There’s also 1,896 acres of parkland so it’s a pretty big place.
Oh, and if you are into walking or biking there are plenty of paved trails to get some exercise on. Might be a good alternative to Hoover Reservoir and Alum Creek.

Beautiful state park around a massive water reservoir! I went there this fall and the leaves on all the trees around the water were just breathtaking. Also happened to be there for the park’s Halloween weekend celebration: everyone parks their campers for a night of grilling out, haunted campsites, trick-​or-​treating and hay rides. SO much fun! Can’t wait to go back in the spring/​summer.

Not a bad park, the boating area is nice, trails wonderful, and the campgrounds are fairly clean. Its been sometime since I have been back, but it was one of my likable spot to camp at.