It has been said that Ohio's history can be found written in the rocks. By studying the bedrock layers in Ohio, we know that ancient seas, marshes or swamps covered all or portions of the state at times over the past 500 million years. Sediment deposited by those ancient waters solidified into rock and eventually uplifted forming dry land. Animals and plants were embedded in the sediment, and today, these fossils reveal the different life forms that existed in Ohio's past. Cowan Lake lies near the Cincinnati Arch, an uplifting of bedrock that occurred during the Appalachian Mountains' building process. The erosion of this arch in the Cowan region exposes fossil-rich limestone. Here are some of the most famous fossil hunting fields in the world. The stand of beech-maple forest around the lake at Cowan contain beautiful wildflowers including bloodroot, wild ginger, spring beauties and trillium. The woods, fields and lake provide habitat for a variety of birds: Ring-neck pheasant, herons, eastern bluebirds, catbirds, house wrens. Mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, skunk and others.

• Explore the shallow areas of the lake: American Lotus, a brilliant water lily, is abundant in the lake's shallow areas. The plant's leaves grow up to two feet in diameter supporting large yellow flowers.
• Go for a hike: More than 4 miles of hiking trails begin near the cottage and camping areas and lead to scenic locations in the park. The Emerald Woods Trail meanders through a mature beech forest.