No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 366 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 10 open for online reservation · 9 reserved · 347 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 8 fall on weekdays and 2 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October shows no online availability. 0 of 62 tracked reservation dates are open there — 62 on sites not offered online.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 shelters| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked date. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked date. New Year: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Elm Grove | 5 |
| Shady Ridge | 5 |
The 2 shelters with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
All 2 shelters with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Grove | 5 | 5 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25 |
| Shady Ridge | 5 | 5 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25 |
About Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters
Overview
Both picnic shelters at Dam Site Recreation Area make for a pleasant getaway at Delaware Lake.
Shady Ridge Shelter is nestled under elms atop a grassy ridge, providing privacy from surrounding areas, while Elm Grove Shelter is cradled between rows of trees just 50 ft. from the parking area.
Recreation
Pack a picnic or fire up the grill with friends and family. Anglers might want to bring their rods and take advantage of excellent fishing opportunities on the river below the dam.
In addition, the Division of Wildlife stocks fishing ponds in the 4,670-acre wildlife area adjacent to Delaware State Park.
Facilities
Both picnic shelters provide water and electric hookups, playgrounds, a volleyball court and easy access to restrooms. An open grassy space is ideal for field sports like soccer.
Shady Ridge provides more privacy, while Elm Grove boasts a textured patio with pedestal tables and a group grill.
Natural Features
Both reservable shelters are near the dam on Delaware Lake in central Ohio. The lake is hugged by forests, which provide a habitat for groundhogs, pheasants and white-tailed deer.
Nearby Attractions
Delaware State Park is just over a mile from the picnic shelters and offers lots of activities, from jet skiing to disc golf.
A series of low-intensity hiking trails, ranging from .25 miles to 1.6 miles, traverse the area and connect with the lakeshore.
Getting there
From Delaware, Ohio, head north on US 23 N for 5.4 miles (just beyond Railroad Underpass). Turn right at Delaware Lake Sign.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters?
Reservations for Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters are made through Recreation.gov. 97.3% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 10 of 366 remain open. Pick the shelter on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Which month has the most availability at Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters?
September 2026, with 10 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 26.
When is the next open date at Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at Delaware Lake Damsite Shelters.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.