OHIO STATE PARKS
Division of Parks and Recreation
1952 Belcher Drive, Bldg. C-3
Columbus, OH 43224
614/265-7000
To reserve a cabin in an Ohio State Park, call directly to the individual park. For reservations during the summer, holiday weekends and the peak fall foliage weeks, make your reservation 1 year in advance to guarantee a cabin or cabent (tent with cabin furnishings and woodstove). A deposit is required to hold reservations. Harding Cabin and cabents are on a lottery system due to their popularity. Call the park directly for a lottery application.
All campgrounds are on a first-come, first served basis, except Mohican State Park, which has a summer reservation system. For a $7 a night fee, plus the campground fee, your family can rent a "Rent-A-Camp" site that includes a lodge-type canvas tent, dining fly, table, cots, 2 sleeping pads, lantern, cooler and campstove. Ask the park department for a brochure on this program. There are special facility discounts during the winter season. For Golden Buckeye Card holders (Ohio citizens only) over 60 years old, there is a 25 percent discount on cabins and a 50 percent discount on camping and Rent-a-Camps. Ask for an Ohio Pass Card if a non-resident for discount savings within Ohio Parks. There is primitive camping in many parks at no charge. During the winter there are limited facilities at many parks.
All cabins can be rented by the week during the summer except Buck Creek and Lake Hope. Deluxe cabins are heated for year-round use. Each sleeps 6 persons and has 2 bedrooms with twin beds, bath with shower, living room with sofa-bed, kitchen, dining area and screened porch. The standard housekeeping cabins are available only during the summer months. Each of the standard cabins sleeps from 4 to 6 persons and has a dining area, kitchen and bath. All bed linens, blankets, towels, dishes and kitchen utensils are furnished in all the cabins. Sleeping cabins are open all year, and are available only at Lake Hope. The sleeping cabins are l-bedroom cabins sleeping 4 persons, or 4-bedroom cabins sleeping 10 persons. These cabins have woodburning fireplaces, propane furnaces, baths, and some kitchen facilities. All linens are furnished.
Cabin rates: Two-bedroom deluxe, $75 to $85 per day or $280 to $370 a week. Lodge rates: from $44-$64 single, or from $52 to $72 double. During the fall and winter get a package deal: stay 3 nights for the price of 2 for most cabins from Nov. 1 —April 30; or, stay 3 nights at the lodges and pay for 2 1/2 nights. The Aways Package is from $139 a couple for a Sun.—Thurs. cabin stay from Sept. 8—Oct. 3 1, or from May 1—May 31. The package includes cheese, fruit and champagne; breakfast in the morning; and some of the evening meals. Remember, all cabins and lodges require reservations. A deposit is needed to hold a reservation. For summer month stays, make reservations one year in advance.
Contact the Ohio State Parks Dept. for special events throughout the year held at the parks. Popular events include the Buckeye Trail Winter Hike and Campout, The Siberian Husky Sled Dog Race at Alum Creek, the Buckeye Classic Sled Dog Race at Punderson, the Maple Syrup Festival and Winter Campout at Hueston Woods, and the Maple Syrup Festival at Indian Lake.
BUCK CREEK STATE PARK
1901 Buck Creek Lane,
Springfield, OH 45502
513/322-5284
The park is NE of Springfield with a nice cabin area located near the scuba diving area on Buck Creek Lake. The dammed creek offers boating, a public beach near the dam, and a full service marina. There are 9.2 miles of snowmobile trails. This is a new park in the Ohio park system, in the heart of a fertile agricultural area. Legendary frontiersman Simon Kenton lived in the area, with his wife. She named the area Springfield for the many springs bubbling up. The park protects many wet botanical wonders of the area. The N. end of the park is great for wildlife observation, particularly migratory waterfowl. The Crabhill House is a historic homestead built of brick, maintained by the Clark County Historical Society. There are deluxe cabins at the park.
BURR OAK STATE PARK
Rt. 2, Box 286
Glouster, OH 45732
614/767-3570
Camp Office: 614/767-3683
Lodge/Cabin Reservations:800/282-7275 or 614/4394406
This area once was inhabited by Indians, who hunted the abundant game. Coal mines operated here at the turn of the century, but a fire in 1924 destroyed the coal business. Only the church is a reminder of the town called Santoy, which once stood within the park. This is a resort park offering a wide variety of activities. The lake is great for water sports and fishing, and a public beach on the W. side of the lake includes a bathhouse, showers and snack bar. A restaurant is at the lodge. There are numerous hiking trails in the park, including a portion of the Buckeye Trail. For backpacking, try the 29-mile Burr Oak Backpack Trail. There are 30 deluxe cabins situated near the lodge in the wooded hills, near the lake, fully furnished. There are 60 guest rooms at the Burr Oak Lodge. The guests at the cabins may use the swimming beach, tennis courts, boat launch ramp and indoor pool.
COWAN LAKE STATE PARK
729 Beechwood Rd.
Wilmington, OH 45177
513/289-2105
This park once was the home of an early settler, a soldier in General Anthony Wayne’s Revolutionary Army. The park is in the gently rolling hills of SW. Ohio. A glacier stood on the site over ten thousand years ago, and when it receded it exposed much of the shale seen today. The lake at the park offers low-horsepower boating, sailing and canoeing. There are also many nice hiking trails. The Lotus Cove Trail is a self-guided trail on boardwalks to the American lotus (water lily) colony. This is one of the largest growth areas of the plant anywhere in inland U.S. The plant has leaves up to 2 feet in diameter with large, yellow flowers. Nearby is Stonelick State Park, 13 miles away, and Caesar’s Creek, 18 miles NW. Be sure to visit the King’s Island amusement park; the outdoor drama, "Blue Jacket"; and the College Football Hall of Fame in the area. There are 27 deluxe cabins and a campground. The cabins are in a wooded area, all with 2 bedrooms and the amenities mentioned above for deluxe cabins.
DEER CREEK STATE PARK
20635 Waterloo Rd.
Mt. Sterling, OH 43143
Camp Office: 614/869-3124
Harding Cabin Reservations:, 614/869-3124
This park is what was left behind when great continental glaciers receded, and features low ridges bordering valleys cut by post glacial streams. Ancient Indians once lived in the area. President Harding once stayed in a cabin in this park, built in 1918 by his attorney general. This large cabin, called Harding Cabin, is rented by lottery draw, and can be rented for 1 day at $75 or up to a week at $375. The historic 1 1/2 story cabin contains a living room with stone fireplace, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and 3-bedrooms with queen-sized beds. The main bedroom has a double bed and a single bed. The couch in the living room converts into a sofa bed. The cabin, which sleeps 7, is heated, AC and open a year around. There is a full length porch overlooking the 1,277-acre lake, and a private dock. There are hiking trails, bridle trails, a 350 acre 18 hole golf course, and a full service marina within the park. Visit the drama Tecumseh at the outdoor. Sugarloaf Mountain amphitheater nearby. You may want to stay at the lodge which is airy and modern in design. The guest rooms are spacious with balconies offering vistas across the lake. The park also offers 25 deluxe vacation cabins.
DILLON STATE PARK
5265 Dillon Hills Dr., Box 126
Nashport, OH 43830
614/453-4377 or 614/453-0442
Dillon State Park is in an area of geological and cultural history at the W. edge of the Appalachian Plateau. The area has been sculpted by nature into round hills and broad meadows. The Licking River flows through the park, on its way to Muskingum River. There is a huge campground at the park and many hiking trails. Much of the area within the park is a public hunting area during certain seasons. There are lighted trap and skeet fields, a rifle range, a pistol range, and a heated indoor shooting range. Dillon Reservoir is the place for water sports, canoeing and rowboating. Adjacent to the beach is tennis, horseshoes, volleyball, handball and basketball. Game equipment is free. Sledding hills at the camping area are used in the winter. Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve is 10 miles N. of the park, offering 7 hiking trails. You will see remnants of the Ohio-Erie Canal access at the preserve. The North Central Bike Trail within the preserve is about 4 miles long. There are 29 deluxe cabins in the park. For more information on this area, call 614/265-6452.
GENEVA STATE PARK
Box 429, Padanarum Rd.,
Geneva, OH 44041
213/466-8400
The park is in NE Ohio on Lake Erie, with 2 1/2 miles of beach on the lake. Hike along the freshwater marshes and estuaries. The Chestnut Grove is a shaded grove of silver maples and virgin oaks, overlooking the lake. Picnic at the Crabapple picnic grounds. In the winter, snowmobile on many trails. The 12 standard cabins are popular in the summer because of the lake. The cabins are open from May 1—Oct. The 3-bedroom cabins have dinette kitchens, living rooms, refrigerators, stoves, and showers, renting for $200 a week during the summer, or by the day in May and Sept.
HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK
20160 S.R. 664
Logan, OH 43138
614/385-6841
Camp Office: 614/385-6165
The hollows and caves of the park once attracted the ancient Adena Indian culture to this area over 7,000 years ago. The name of this river park comes from the hourglass-shaped river whose formation was due to the ice blockage of glaciers. A power mill was once located on the river. The 6 parks within this unique area include Old Man’s Cave, along a gorge that cuts through the sandstone. A large campground, lodge and cabins make this a nice part of the park. Cedar Falls Park was named by settlers after the hemlocks that they mistook for cedars. Ash Cave Park has the largest cave in the state; the name came from huge piles of ashes found in the cave by early settlers. The Conkles Hollow Park is a deep, narrow gorge and one of the lesser known parks; a very beautiful park for nature studies. The Rock House Park has a cave running horizontally to the cliff face with a number of "windows" formed by cracks intersecting the main cave at right angles. Cantwell Cliffs is the most remote of the parks, offering trails along the cliffs to mature hardwoods and a large cave. This is a hazardous area, so stay on the trails. There are 40 deluxe cabins at 2,000-acre Hocking Hollow Park, and a restaurant.
HUESTON WOODS STATE PARK
Rt. 1
College Corner, OH 45003
Lodge and Cabin Reservations: 800/282-7275 or 513/523-6347
The park is forested with huge, ancient beech-maple woods. The area once belonged to Matt Hueston, an early pioneer. The park is known for its wildlife rehabilitation program. The nature center is used to nurse injured and orphaned birds back to the wild. There is a large enclosure often filled with deer. The park has a popular network of hiking trails, 2 lakes for fishing, with golfing on the 18-hole course. The Pioneer Museum stands on property once known as the Doty Homestead, with a house furnished as a farmhouse of the mid 1900’s; open in the summer. The Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve is located on the W. shore of the lake, a National Natural Landmark. The 200 acre preserve protects a virgin stand of beech and sugar maple trees. Each spring, sap is taken from the trees and sugar is made at the sugar house. Tours are conducted during the annual Maple Syrup Weekends. The park has 25 deluxe cabins, 34 standard cabins and 94 lodge rooms, plus a restaurant.
LAKE HOPE STATE PARK
Zaleski, OH 45698
614/596-5253
There are many reminders of the iron foundry industry in this park, located in the heart of the Hanging Rock Iron Region. The Hope Furnace was built over 100 years ago to process iron ore that came from the sandstone bedrock; the iron was used by the Union Army in the Civil War. Much of the wood from the hillsides in the area was stripped for the smelter furnace; later, this industry died and the area went back to forest. There is a naturalist program during the summer, and the forested hills are great for hiking. There are large campgrounds and Rent-A-Camp areas. The beach area has a bathhouse, and there are rental canoes and rowboats at the lake. The cabin area includes 25 deluxe, 21 standard and 23 sleeping cabins. Bring your own utensils and Coleman cookstove for the sleeping cabins. There is a nice dining lodge with restaurant and snack bar. Groups may reserve Laurel Lodge, a rustic cabin sleeping 25 persons, with full kitchen facilities. Cross-country skiing is popular in winter in the area, with most of the cabins open during this season.
MOHICAN STATE PARK
3116 State Route 3
Loudonville, OH 44842
419/994-4290
Lodge Address:
Rt. #2.
Perrysville, OH 44864
800/472-6700 or 419/938-5411
This once was the Delaware Indians’ hunting grounds. Johnny Appleseed frequented the area, caring for his apple tree nurseries. The park is adjacent to and surrounded by the Mohican State Memorial Forest. The Mohican River is popular for fishing and canoeing; there is a canoe livery in the area. There are nice hiking trails through the hardwood forest. The popular Lyon’s Fall Trail leads to the waterfall and sandstone rock shelter, and begins at the Covered Bridge. A resort lodge, cabins and a modern campground offer lodging. There are 25 deluxe cabins at the river in a wooded area. Each was built in 1968, sleeping 6. The cabins are open year around and rent by the week during the summer. Make reservations a year in advance for summer stays. The 96-room lodge overlooks Pleasant Hill Lake and is operated by a concessionaire.
PIKE LAKE STATE PARK
1847 Pike Lake Rd.
Bainbridge, OH 45612
614/493-2212
As the Appalachian Mountains uplifted, the earth’s crust buckled and a broad plateau was created at the W. end of the range. The Appalachian Plateau crosses Ohio from N. to S. through the middle of the state, the location of Pike Lake State Park, in an unglaciated area of the plateau. Dense forests of oak, hickory and other hardwoods cover the area. Many prehistoric Indians lived in the area, with the Shawnee later making this their home. Morgan’s Raiders passed through the area during the Civil War. Six miles of hiking trails and bridle trails wind through the woods. Modern changing rooms with showers are provided at the beach. The park is surrounded by the Pike State Forest. Campsites are in tall trees along the valley. The cabins are on a hillside with scenic views of the lake valley and hills. There are 12 deluxe cabins, 13 standard cabins, and a group cabin for up to 20 people.
PUNDERSON STATE PARK
Box 338
10755 Kinsman Rd.
Newbury, OH 44065
216/564-2279; or 216/564-1195
Punderson Lake is one of the few natural lakes in the state, created by glacier melt over 10,000 years ago. This is the largest and deepest of the glacial lakes in Ohio, and offers great water sports. The park is named after an early land agent who constructed a small dam on a small river to power a grist mill. The grist mill turned into a brewery that was very successful, and the lake grew into a popular resort for the citizens of nearby Cleveland. Summer is great for golfing on the 18-hole course, or swimming at the beach. In the winter the area is filled with tobogganers, sledders and ice skaters. The Winter Sports Chalet is a heated indoor facility. Snowmobiling is popular in the park, as well as cross-country skiing. The annual Punderson Cup race is held in February and the Buckeye Classic Sled Dog Race is in January. There are 26 deluxe cabins, open year around. Each cabin has 2 bedrooms, hide-a-bed, kitchen, screened porch, living room and shower. Each cabin sleeps up to 6, and rents for $70 a night. Lodging is also available in the English Tudor-style Manor House. There are 32 rooms at tile Manor House, and a restaurant. The rooms each sleep up to 4, and rent for $50 a night.
PYMATUNING STATE PARK
Box 1000
Andover, OH 44003
216/293-6030 or 216/293-6684
This large park in NE Ohio is on the W. shore of Pymatuning Reservoir, offering many outdoor sports. Pymatuning is Indian for "crooked-mouthed man’s dwelling place." The area was once a lumbering camp. The reservoir was created in the 1930’s to regulate the Shenango and Beaver Rivers. There are nice hiking trails in the park, and you are sure to see wildlife. The swimming beach is near the causeway, with bathhouse, showers, lockers and snack bar. Boating and fishing are also popular on the reservoir. Winter activities include skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, and winter camping. The 27 deluxe cabins sleep up to 6, and are open year around. The 35 standard cabins are open from April 1—Nov. 1, and each sleeps 4.
SALT FORK STATE PARK
14755 Cadiz Road
Loce City, OH 4372S
Camp Office: 614/439-3521; Lodge: 614/439-3521
Box 7
Cambridge, OH 43725
Lodge and Cabin Reservations: 800/282-7275 or 614/4394406
In the heart of a forest and stream threaded area is Salt Fork State Park, adjacent to the Salt Fork Reservoir. The park is in Guernsey County, one of the first areas settled by the pioneers who followed Zane’s Trace into the Ohio wilderness. A stone cottage built in 1837 from locally quarried stone still stands in the park, now protected by the National Register of Historic Places. Morgan’s Raiders used the area during the Civil War in pursuit of the Union Army. This is Ohio’s largest state park, with an 1 8-hole golf course, 20 miles of bridle paths, and boating and water-skiing areas on the lake. The 2 full-service marinas rent small boats and excursion boats. The 15 miles of hiking trails wind through forests and fields. Hunting is permitted during special seasons. Winter sports include snowmobiling, skiing and ice fishing. There are 54 deluxe cabins, and a lodge with 148 rooms located on a peninsula stretching into the lake..