The area around Lake Erie in Ohio is renowned for housing some of the best wineries in America. While this is a huge draw, the various state parks that lie within it also provide plenty of reasons to go there.
One such park is Geneva State Park. Set across 698-acres and residing at an elevation of 587 feet, this beautiful and tranquil Ohio state park is a haven for those who enjoy outdoor recreational pursuits like boating, fishing and hiking.
Adrenaline junkies also come here for the chance to spend 2.5 hours riding the zipline that runs through the canopies of the trees. While the park offers excellent opportunities for picnicking, birding and hunting too. In the winter, cross-country skiing is also a very popular activity.
Sandwiched between Cleveland, Ohio and Erie, Pennsylvania, the park receives lots of visitors from both cities and beyond. Tapping into this, it offers a plethora of accommodation options which include a lodge, cabin and cottages, as well as over 90 electric campsites for RVs, trailers and tent campers.
Activities
Visitors to the park, can choose to enjoy its fabulous landscape in several different ways.
Outlined below is a brief rundown of some of the main activities you can do during your time there.
Boating at Geneva State Park
As you would imagine the sparkling waters of Lake Erie provides exceptional opportunities for boating and paddling.
To help visitors maximize their enjoyment of this picturesque waterway there is a fantastic marina and six-lane boat ramp available to them.
There is also a concession store that stocks a wide range of boating accessories like gas, baits and even fishing licenses.
You’ll also find a shop and cafe at the marina where you can grab something to eat or drink.
Fishing at Geneva State Park
The lake is renowned for its huge population of walleye which attracts fishing enthusiasts from all over Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Anglers can also catch plenty of salmon, trout and smallmouth bass as well.
To cast a line here you will need to hold a valid fishing license. Once you have procured one, you can choose to fish from the shore, or within the central basin on a boat.
During the winter, ice fishing often takes place on the lake. Be sure to measure its thickness before engaging in this activity though.
Hiking at Geneva State Park
If you love hiking you will be pleased to read there are six miles of mainly shaded trails within the park waiting for you to explore.
These trails meander through the trees and round the lake showcasing the park’s diverse range of flora and fauna species along the way.
Most of these trails are suitable for novice hikers. There are also two miles of paved trails available for cyclists to tackle.
Ziplining at Geneva State Park
Geneva State Park is very popular with adrenaline junkies who flock here for the chance to partake in ziplining.
The extreme adventure company Geneva–on-the-lake offers fantastic canopy tours that take people on a 2.5 hour jaunt through 25 acres of the park.
During this experience you can take in exceptional bird’s eye views of the lake, forest and overall landscape below you.
Constructed with heavy duty steel cables, the zip lines are extremely safe. They also provide different heights and degrees of difficulty to meet the different abilities of beginners and more seasoned practitioners.
In addition to the ziplining, there is also a rope course you can go on as well.
Winter activities at Geneva State Park
When the snow hits the park in the depths of the winter it becomes an excellent playground for skiers to enjoy.
Between the months of December and May the six miles of hiking trails turn into excellent tracks for cross-country skiing.
There are also four miles of designated trails set aside specifically for snowmobiling.
If you do not have any skis you can rent them out at the park. Please note, skiers under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Pets at Geneva State Park
Pets are allowed to come with you on your visit to Geneva State Park. Although you should be mindful of a few conditions.
Firstly, they need to be well behaved during their entire time at the park. They also need to be kept on a leash and if they make a mess you will have to clean it up and dispose of the waste accordingly.
Be mindful too that dogs are not permitted on the swimming beach. They are allowed to splash about on the water outside of it though and can join you at all campsites – although not the cabins.
Camping at Geneva State Park
If you are in need of overnight accommodation to visit the park there is an excellent campground onsite.
All up it offers 93 sites for trailers, RVs and tents that all come with electric hookups – four of which have full hookups.
Nestled in the woods they provide shade during the heat of the summer, with many of them also conveying excellent views of the lake. Each site can hold rigs of up to 45 feet in length.
Amenities at this campground include flush toilets, hot showers, fire rings, picnic tables, grills and a dump station.
As well as these campsites there is also a lodge, 25 cottages, 12 cabins and seven overflow sites available for guests to stay at. You can make a reservation at any of them up to six months in advance of your visit.
Park Location
Geneva State Park
4499 Padanarum Rd
Geneva, OH 44041
Phone: 440.466.8400
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Geneva State Park:
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