Forget Lake Erie, These Are Ohio’s 10 Underrated Destinations For Camping, Swimming, And Lake Fun

Though it does not border any of America’s oceans, Ohio does have a “coastline” of types because of its northern border alongside Lake Erie. The presence of a North American Great Lake is sufficient to give Ohio a number of wonderful seashores, islands, and lakeside resorts, together with incredible waterfront locations that usually rival what you will discover on the precise ocean. Great Lake shores additionally have a tendency to supply superb parks, and Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline is dwelling to loads of terrific public lands and nature preserves on the native, state, and federal ranges. Lake Erie, nevertheless, is much from Ohio’s solely lake for swimming, tenting, and enjoyable recreation on the water. Though none match Lake Erie in dimension, Ohio has loads of different inland lakes and reservoirs that provide wonderful outside recreation. 

One benefit of Ohio’s “other” lakes is that they stretch throughout all corners of the state, from distant forest settings to only outdoors of main cities. As a consequence, yow will discover an awesome Ohio lake vacation spot with out having to drive all the best way to Lake Erie. These lakes typically characteristic pretty parks and nature preserves with alternatives for swimming, boating, fishing, and different enjoyable water actions. And like a lot of Lake Erie’s greatest parks, these alongside Ohio’s smaller lakes typically embody campgrounds for memorable in a single day journeys.

While lake choices across the state are in depth, a couple of underrated Ohio parks do stand out for having probably the most complete experiences for guests. These 10 neglected park locations provide among the greatest outside experiences past the well-known Lake Erie. Each stands out for its mixture of campgrounds, swimming seashores, leisure alternatives, and delightful surroundings.

Harrison Lake State Park is a scenic lakeside getaway within the coronary heart of northwest Ohio’s farmlands. The area’s huge, biodiverse wetlands have lengthy since been drained away, however Harrison Lake retains a couple of ecological traces of the earlier ecosystem. Harrison Lake covers about 100 acres, with a shoreline marked by waterside forests and meadows. Harrison Lake gives boating, fishing, and a swimming seaside (together with a chosen seaside for canines). The Harrison Lake State Park Campground has 165 campsites on each the north and south shores, with electrical campsites, group websites, cabins, and yurts.

Though the phrase “creek” options in its identify, Caesar Creek State Park’s most distinguished physique of water could also be its 2,830-acre lake. Beyond its lake’s sheer dimension, the park’s vibrant meadows, wooded ravines, and lakeside forests create some actually memorable scenes. Caesar Creek Lake’s leisure seaside is nice for cooling off, however guests also can get pleasure from kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Caesar Creek State Park’s campground has almost 300 campsites, together with electrical websites, RV websites, and an equestrian camp. Campers even have entry to a secluded swimming space away from the park’s major seaside.

Covering greater than 17,000 acres, Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest state park. It options an almost 3,000-acre reservoir, with beautiful shores lined with thriving second-growth forests, wildflowers, rolling hills, and valleys indicative of jap Ohio’s Appalachian borderlands. Salt Fork Lake’s expansive space creates ample house for boating, whereas the park’s swimming seaside is among the largest inland beaches in Ohio. The Salt Fork State Park Campground has in a single day choices for tents and RVs, with handy lake entry and a separate swimming space obtainable to campers. 

Strouds Run State Park is a premier lake escape subsequent to Ohio’s walkable and artsy faculty city of Athens. Strouds Run is thus shut sufficient to civilization for handy day journeys, whereas nonetheless pristine sufficient to be a real getaway into nature. The park’s Dow Lake gives wonderful fishing, boating, and paddling alternatives, all in view of forest-lined hills. Campers on the Strouds Run State Park can keep at certainly one of 57 campsites, two cabins, or a gaggle campsite, with shut entry to a big sandy swimming seaside.

The central characteristic of Indian Lake State Park was as soon as a small offshoot of the historic Miami & Erie Canal. Today, nevertheless, Indian Lake and its surrounding state park characteristic a few of western Ohio’s greatest water recreation, together with boating, fishing, and even jet snowboarding. The park’s location alongside main chook migration routes supplies very good birdwatching alternatives, and there are even two totally different seashores open to swimming. The Indian Lake State Park Campground has totally electrical campsites proper on the water, plus a ship camp the place boaters can spend the night time. 

Scioto Trail State Park’s 218 acres initially appear slightly small for a park. However, it is situated inside Ohio’s over 9,000-acre Scioto Trail State Forest, so visitors have loads of house on each land and water to discover. Water recreation is out there on the state park’s two small however pretty lakes: Lake Caldwell and Lake Stewart. Both are wonderful for paddling excursions amid views of the park’s dense and delightful Appalachian space hardwood forests. The park’s campground is conveniently situated close to the lake, with handy entry to a small wading seaside and swimming space. 

The 396-acre Kiser Lake of Kiser Lake State Park has 5 miles of shoreline adorned with tree-lined hills and wetlands. On land, a lot of the state park’s surroundings stems from Ice Age glaciers that molded the panorama hundreds of years in the past. On the water, Kiser Lake gives distinctive alternatives for crusing, paddling, and even scuba diving in notably clear waters (thanks partly to the prohibition of motorboats). The park’s 600-foot seaside is supplied with a concession stand, and the Kiser Lake State Park Campground has 77 cozy campsites close to the water. 

Like Scioto Trail State Park, Shawnee State Park is situated in a a lot bigger state forest, on this case, the greater than 60,000-acre Shawnee State Forest. Within this rugged stretch of southern Ohio’s “Little Smokies” Appalachian foothills, Shawnee State Park gives loads of outside adventures. On land, guests can expertise hikes over rolling hills just like the breathtaking Day Hike Trail. On the water, Shawnee State Park’s twin Roosevelt and Turkey Creek lakes provide public swimming seashores, boating, and fishing. The park’s two campgrounds embody comfy tenting websites, electrical hookups, cabins, and even marinas for lake entry.

Located simply half an hour north of Ohio’s capital metropolis, Alum Creek State Park has a status as among the best tenting locations close to Columbus. The park facilities round a big reservoir surrounded by forests and open fields, with a couple of cliff-lined coves hidden in plain sight for peaceable fishing escapes. As a preferred Columbus-area tenting vacation spot, the Alum Creek State Park Campground is wealthy in facilities like electrical, water, and sewage hookups. It additionally has boat ramps, leisure services like basketball and volleyball courts, and entry to certainly one of Ohio’s largest swimming seashores.

Arguably Ohio’s greatest inland lake escape that is not in a state park, the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area is a jewel of the sprawling Wayne National Forest. The slightly fiery identify of the 143-acre Lake Vesuvius comes from a historic iron furnace that after operated close by. Foreboding as its volcanic namesake could also be, Lake Vesuvius is a peaceable and alluring forest retreat with swimming seashores, boating areas, picnic spots, trails, and scenic overlooks. The recreation space has two developed campgrounds, with a number of spots having quick access to the seaside, the boat launches, or the park’s many trailheads.