Salt Fork State Park is nestled within the hilly woods along Salt Fork Lake in Guernsey County, Ohio, only 90 miles east of Columbus. This picturesque park (the largest state park in Ohio) features trails, a marina, a golf course, lake activities, an historic site, and the resort-style Salt Fork Park Lodge & Conference Center.
Guests enjoy escaping from their daily hustle to swim, hike, fish, camp, picnic, birdwatch, hunt, play golf, dine, and more.
Activities
Salt Fork State Park’s extensive landscape offers something different for each visitor. In addition to its traditional park activities – boating, swimming, hiking, fishing and camping – the park also features a mini golf course, playgrounds, the historic 1837 Kennedy Stone House, and a Nature Center with live animals and other displays.
Bring a picnic lunch or grill your day’s catch at one of the picnic areas located near the lake. Or head over to the resort lodge and eat in their restaurant, coffee shop, or snack bar. The lodge also features a game room, swimming pools, conference center, 148 guest rooms, and 53 cabins.
Planning to visit during the winter? Depending upon the weather, guests can sled, cross-country ski, ice fish, and snowmobile. The Snowmobile Loop is a 19 mile winter trail that circles though the woods.
Here are some of the many activities that you can do during your visit to Salt Fork State Park:
Boating at Salt Fork State Park
Bring your boat (or rent one inside the park) and enjoy some quality time out on the 2,952 acre lake. All types of boats are allowed on the lake and the 8 boat launches, scattered throughout Salt Fork State Park, provide convenient access to the lake.
The park’s 2 marinas, open seasonally, offer 469 rental docks and concessions (including boat rentals). Boaters may access 3 separate swim areas and a 400 foot boaters beach.
Swimming at Salt Fork State Park
Swim, float, sunbathe and picnic along one of Ohio’s largest inland beaches. Salt Fork State Park’s 2,500 foot beach area is popular during the warmer months! Concessions, restrooms, showers and changing rooms are conveniently located nearby.
Hiking at Salt Fork State Park
Explore one of the 14 hiking trails located inside Salt Fork State Park. These picturesque trails lead through the woods, hills, and meadows offering guests a closer look at Ohio’s flora and fauna. Most trails are around a mile long and range from easy to moderate, except for the Buckeye Trail that extends for almost 7 miles.
Horseback Riding at Salt Fork State Park
Bring your horses and enjoy a peaceful ride inside Salt Fork State Park. The park features bridle trails, an equestrian camping area, and plenty of parking for horse trailers.
Trails start near the equestrian campground and wind through the hills, meadows, woods, and along the lake with resting areas scattered along the way. Guests should be aware that some sections of the trails pass through hunting areas.
Archery at Salt Fork State Park
Bring your archery equipment and spend some time practicing in the park’s 12 station walk through range. Access to the range is located near the campground.
Golfing at Salt Fork State Park
Check out Salt Fork State Park Golf Course during your visit. This 18 hole golf course proudly features a Pro Shop, snack bar, driving range and a practice putting green.
Fishing at Salt Fork State Park
Pick up an Ohio fishing license and pack up your angling gear. During your visit to Salt Fork State Park you may have a chance to catch largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye and muskellunge.
Hunting at Salt Fork State Park
Hunting is permitted inside Salt Fork State Park, but only in designated areas. Bring your hunting gear and check in with the ODNR Division of Wildlife located inside the park.
Birding at Salt Fork State Park
Birdwatching is popular year round inside Salt Fork State Park, so grab your binoculars and a bird list and head out on the trails. You may just spot a Scarlet Tanager, Winter Wren, Red-tailed Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpecker, Cliff Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Canadian Goose, or a Ring-billed Gull. Plus cardinals, goldfinches, warblers, sparrows, ospreys, owls, wild turkeys, and ducks.
Nature and Wildlife at Salt Fork State Park
Take a walk through picturesque meadows inside Salt Fork State Park. Here you will discover beautiful wildflowers, such as violets, asters, wild geranium and goldenrod. And you may glimpse songbirds, White-tailed Deer, Gray Squirrels, Red Foxes, frogs, as well as many other wildlife species, throughout the wooded hills and near the lake.
Pets at Salt Fork State Park
Pets are allowed within designated areas at Salt Fork State Park. The park features a 1 acre dog park near the main beach where dogs may swim and play freely without leashes. For all other areas of the park it’s important that you keep your pets on a hand held leash that is no longer than 6 feet.
Camping at Salt Fork State Park
Spend the night (or several) inside Ohio’s largest state park! Salt Fork State Park has a resort lodge, cabins, and a variety of camping areas for guests to choose from.
The Salt Fork Lodge & Conference Center, nestled in the wooded hills overlooking Salt Fork Lake features 148 guest rooms, 53 cabins (chalet, lakeside and hillside), a restaurant, coffee shop, snack bar, game room, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and meeting rooms.
The large campground offers spacious full hook up sites, non-electric sites, and tent-only campsites. Restrooms, hot showers, a camp store, playground and a dump station are conveniently located nearby. Registered campers also have access to a separate beach area, a boat launch, and 60 docks.
The park also has a primitive tent-only campground, an equestrian camping area, and a group camp for organized groups. All campsites throughout the park have picnic tables, fire rings and access to restrooms. Pets are allowed on all campsites.
Park Location
Salt Fork State Park
14755 Cadiz Rd
Lore City, OH 43755
Phone: 740.432.1508
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Salt Fork State Park:
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