South Bass Island State Park
RV Guide

If you love spending the warm days of summer on the water, then you will enjoy all of the boating opportunities on South Bass Lake Island. If you are unable to bring your own watercraft, you can rent kayaks, fishing boats, powerboats, and other types of personal watercraft from many of the rental facilities on the island. If you bring your boat, the closest access point to the water is from the public boat launch located near the picnic area. If you brought along your fishing gear, you can try your hand at fishing while out on the water. Before heading out on the water, ensure you know the proper boating laws for the area.

Put-in-Bay is a vibrant island community just waiting to be explored. You can rent golf carts or bikes at local vendors just outside of the park to cruise around in style. Outdoor train tours give you a unique way to see all the nooks and crannies of the island. There's a local fun center where visitors can rock climb, mini-golf, mine for gemstones, get lost in a maze, or visit the butterfly house. If snacking and visiting old cars are your thing, then pick up a treat and head to the Antique Car Museum.

The park is so beautiful that you will want to spend the majority of your time outdoors. Pack a picnic lunch and head to the small picnic area where you can enjoy eating your meal at one of the picnic tables overlooking the water. The picnic area is on the northwest side of the island near Put-in-Bay. Water and restrooms are nearby, so guests don’t have to go far to access those amenities. After lunch, take the family to the small stone beach and swim in one of the designated swim areas or play on the little playground outside of the park office. Everything in the day-use area is closely located, so you can plan your day bouncing back and forth between activities.

You don’t have to own or rent a boat to fish in Lake Erie. South Bass Island State Park provides its guests with access to a fishing pier and shoreline fishing area, as well as the use of the fish cleaning house. Bring your tackle and fish for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, and channel catfish, and then take your catch back to the cleaning house to prepare it for dinner. If you don’t have your own fishing equipment, there are many locations on the island that rent and sell fishing gear. If you plan on fishing, be aware that Ohio State Law requires that all anglers over the age of 16 own and possess a valid fishing license.

Although there are not any official hiking trails inside of South Bass Island State Park, that doesn’t mean that hikers won’t have a place to walk and sightsee during their trip to the island. The Jane Coates Wildflower Trail, a half-mile trail owned by the Put-in-Bay Township and Park District, is a protected nature trail that offers visitors views of wildflowers and migrating birds along their hike. The blue ash, chinquapin oak, and hackberry woodlands shade the path and house many different bird species, a bonus for birders visiting the park. The trailhead is located about .25 miles north of the Maple Leaf Cemetery on Put-in-Bay Road. Be sure to take along water and some snacks to keep you energized along the trail.

South Bass Island was formed during the glacial period, and remnants of the glacial presence are still evident on the island today. During the formation of the Great Lakes, giant sheets of ice descended onto the land, which is now present-day Ohio. When the climate warmed and melted the glaciers, the broken segmented ice chunks bumped into the earth and left behind huge gouges and indentations across the bedrock. The glacial grooves, now a permanent feature in the land, can be seen in many spots along South Bass Island. During your visit to the park, head to the area between the park office and the campground and see these massive indentations in the land. Having the opportunity to enjoy this natural wonder is a huge privilege!