Lake living near Canton
Portage Lakes homes and lake living
Portage Lakes is a chain of state park lakes in Summit County: eight lakes and 2,034 acres of water with a 400 hp limit (Nimisila is electric only). It’s about 30 minutes from Canton.
Quick facts
- Drive
- approx. 30 minutes from downtown Canton
- County
- Summit
- Managed by
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources (state park); Nimisila park land by Summit Metro Parks
- Ownership
- Deeded private homes next to state park water
- Horsepower limit
- 400 hp on all lakes except Nimisila Reservoir (electric motors only)
- Water
- Eight lakes, 2,034 acres
- Launch ramps
- Eight in the state park
Steve’s take
Portage Lakes is close, it’s deeded land, and you can run a real boat. It’s Summit County, not Stark, so look up taxes and the school district for the exact address.
Boating rules by lake
Every Portage Lake allows up to 400 hp except Nimisila Reservoir, which is electric motors only. ODNR’s park map marks most of the lakes as 400 hp and no-wake, with speed/ski zones on part of the system (for example, Turkeyfoot Lake). Check the map for the lake your house is on. Nimisila is 742 acres and was built in 1936–37 to keep water flowing into the Portage Lakes. Summit Metro Parks has managed its park land since 2015.
Docks on state water
Homes here are deeded, but the water belongs to the state park. If a dock sits on or over state park water, ask ODNR what permit covers it and whether that permit transfers to you before you count it as part of the property.
Nearby
Questions buyers ask
What’s the horsepower limit at Portage Lakes?
400 horsepower on all lakes except Nimisila Reservoir, which allows electric motors only (Ohio DNR).
Are Portage Lakes homes deeded?
Yes. Unlike MWCD cottage sites, homes around Portage Lakes sit on regular deeded land next to state park water.
How far is Portage Lakes from Canton?
About 30 minutes from downtown Canton (approx.).
Sources
Checked October 2, 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the lake office, the county or the school district before you rely on them.
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