Lying in the forested hill country of southeastern Ohio, Forked Run State Park is the ideal destination for your next RV vacation. This 791-acre state park is characterized by the lazy Ohio River, a picturesque lake, and forested hills. The park offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventure activities like boating, picnicking, hiking, swimming, and hunting.
The picnic areas are well fitted with tables and grills with two shelter houses also available in the picnic spots. For swimmers, the park features a 400-foot sand beach. For natural life lovers, the park has several animal species like deer, squirrels, wild turkey, and grouse. Forked Run State Park provides you with 120-acre Lake for boating activities. There are several boat launch ramps spread across the park, and boat rental is also available. If you love fishing, you will get to enjoy views and nice catches of bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie.
This state park has three hiking trails waiting for you to explore. Honeysuckle trail is the easiest stretching for over half a mile while the Riverview and Lakeview Trails are a bit more difficult. These three trails will offer you with the chance to exercise and observe the game species available at the park. The park also offers winter recreation activities with sledding being the main one when conditions permit. A 24-hole disc golf course is also available.
Forked Run State Park is located three miles south of Reedsville in eastern Meigs County. It is located adjacent to Shade River State Park. It is located 35 miles from downtown Athens and 10 miles from Tuppers Plains. The park is accessible by both RV or vehicle.
Local roads within the park are twisty but very well paved to allow you to move around in your rig with ease. The roads will take anywhere you want to go within the park whether in your vehicle or camper. The are no strict driving restriction within the park so you will be able to access the park`s recreational spots easily. This state park has three hiking trails that are over four miles long. They run across the park from the beginning to the end of the campground road.
There are well laid out parking spaces within the park to make sure there is no congestion or interference with traffic flow. The parking spaces are nicely engineered and broad for cars and campers. You may also park at the ranger station. The parking spots are also ADA accessible. If you stay the night, you can park at the campsites. However, only a maximum of two vehicles is allowed at any site. A camper or motorhome counts as one vehicle.
Forked Run State Park has a total of 143 campsites available in five areas. The park has 79 electric campsites and 64 non-electric campsites. Once you park your rig on the paved pad you'll find a picnic table and fire ring at your site. Amenities available in these sites include showers, vault latrines, a dump station, and a playground. Laundry services are also available in the campsites.
Pets are only permitted in selected sites. Only two vehicles are allowed per site. Reservations should be made a day ahead of arrival and up to six months in advance.
One of the main outdoor recreational activities at Forked Run State Park is boating on its 120-acre swimming lake. There is no set restriction to the maximum horsepower limit. However, boats, over 10HP should strictly operate at a no-wake speed. Access to the Lake is facilitated by two launch ramps. The wildlife launch ramp provides access to the Ohio River. The boat ramp is wheelchair accessible and has tie-ups. Boat rental services are available at the lake. There is also a restroom close to the lake at the beach parking lot. Ohio River boat launches are available adjacent to the park entrance.
Forked Run State Park has well-developed picnic areas and shelters. Some of the resources in these picnic areas include picnic tables, outdoor grills, and drinking water. There are two shelters available in the picnic areas. There is a picnic area adjacent to a small swimming beach on Forked Run Lake. This will give you to have a scenic view of the lake as you enjoy the breeze or your picnic lunch. A playground is also available to help you occupy an afternoon.
Anglers who visit Forked Run State Park will have the chance to enjoy catches of catfish, bluegill, and crappies. Fishing is available on Forked Run Lake. The lake also contains dime sized freshwater jellyfish. However, if you intend to go fishing, you will be required to provide a valid Ohio fishing license. The lake will ensure you have a quality fishing experience that will give you optimal relaxation. Carry your fishing equipment in your campervan.
Forked Run State Park has very ideal hiking trails for nature lovers. There are three hiking trails and they are over four miles long. They all provide you with an opportunity for exploration, nature study, and wildlife viewing. The Deer Run Trail is less than a mile long and traverses through the campground. It can be accessed from the end of the campground. The Lake View Trail is over two miles and can be accessed from the swimming beach parking lot. Honeysuckle is a self-guided half-mile nature trail.
During the winter months, Forked Run State Park offers sledding as an outdoor activity. The park will offer you some perfect winter fun making it the ultimate winter destination for your RV vacation. Remember to carry your high horsepower snowmobiles in your RV. Sledding is however only available when weather conditions allow or when. The sledding trails are well elevated to make sure that you will have a good time in the cold as you get your blood pumping.
Hunting in Forked Run State Park is only permitted in designated areas within the park and the nearby Shade River State Forest. Its forested hills present a variety of hunting opportunities for wildlife lovers. Some of the animal species available include deer, squirrel, grouse, and wild turkey. For you to hunt any wild animals, you will be requested to provide a valid Ohio hunting license. Carry your hunting gear in your motorhome for this adventurous and relaxing outdoor activity.
