Salt Fork State Park Is The Single Best State Park In Ohio And It's Just Waiting To Be Explored
By Beth|Updated on December 01, 2023(Originally published June 24, 2021)
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
If you’re looking for quality time in the great outdoors, there’s hardly a better option than one of Ohio’s beautiful state parks. Today’s feature destination just so happens to be the largest state park in Ohio, and as you can imagine, it’s filled with endless opportunities for adventure. Stretching across 17,229 acres of Guernsey County, Salt Fork State Park is home to breathtaking natural features and diverse species of plants and animals. While it is well worth taking a day trip to enjoy the sights, there is almost too much natural beauty to take in on a single day, which makes Salt Fork State Park camping a great idea. Without further ado, here are some memorable things to do at Salt Fork State Park in Ohio.
From wide-open meadows to beautiful lakes, dense forests, and picturesque valleys, this park encompasses a beautiful variety of terrain just waiting to be explored.
The crown jewel of the park is the nearly 3,000-acre lake that offers stunning scenery year-round. Plus, there are two marinas and eight boat ramps for those who wish to get out and explore the water.
Lastly, in addition to its treasure trove of outdoor attractions, the park is also known for its history preservation. History buffs will want to explore the Kennedy Stone House.
This historic residence was built in 1837, long before the state park existed.
Salt Fork State Park Hiking
Salt Fork State Park features 14 scenic hiking trails ranging in difficulty from the 6.86-mile Buckeye Trail to the easy Forest Crest Nature Trail, which is a leisurely stroll that is less than half a mile long.
This easy, well-maintained loop will take you past the historic home. The trail is easy to navigate but can be rocky in some areas, so be sure to watch your footing.
For a lengthy trail with gorgeous water views, take the Shadebush Trail.
This 7.8-mile loop has an elevation gain of over 900 feet, so you'll be encountering a variety of terrain and absolutely breathtaking views of the water. Typically, it takes a little over three hours to complete, so you'll want to plan accordingly.
While you're out hiking, you may want to keep your eyes peeled; Salt Fork State Park is also the site of many reported Bigfoot sightings!
As recently as 2020, visitors to the park have claimed to have seen the huge, ape-like creature walking around the woods. Bigfoot sightings are so common in the park that an episode of the television series “Finding Bigfoot” was even filmed within the grounds.
Visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the cryptid for themselves will likely have their best chance at three specific locations that are said to have the most frequent sightings: at Morgan’s Knob, along the Buckeye Trail, and near the aptly-named Bigfoot Ridge.
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Salt Fork State Park Camping
If you'd like to stay longer than just a day, be sure to check out the park's overnight facilities. There's an impressive campground as well as private cabins and a spacious lodge retreat.
Imagine waking up in the park and having so many adventures just beyond your doorstep!
The RV sites come equipped with full electric hook-ups and the campground boasts many amenities, including heated shower houses, a boat launch, and even a playground for younger visitors.
For the most accurate GPS directions, you'll want to enter "Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center" into your mapping device.
From Columbus, you'll take Interstate 70 East to Interstate 77 North, then you'll follow Salt Fork signs to U.S. Route 22 East (Cambridge Exit 47). Afterward, turn right onto U.S. Route 22 East and continue for about six miles until you see the park entrance on your left. For even more directions, be sure to visit the Salt Fork Park Lodge website.
Tips for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to Salt Fork State Park, it's helpful to come up with a game plan ahead of time.
Have you ever explored Salt Fork State Park before? If so, feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! For more information, you can visit the official Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
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