Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 815 | | | Water, acres | 102 | | | Nearby State Forest, acres | 2601 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 4 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Picnic Shelters, # | 2 | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 400 | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | 10 | | | Seasonal Dock Rental | 5 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 3 | | Camping | Primative, # | 198 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Rent-A-Camp Sites, # | 3 | | | Camper Cabins, # | 3 | | | Group Camp, capacity | 120 | | Winter | Sledding | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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View TOPO Maps!
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Buffington Island State Memorial
Howes State Park
Clifton F McClintic State Wildlife Station
Stroud Run State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Forested hills, a picturesque lake and the lazy Ohio River characterize Forked Run State Park. Located in the heart of Appalachia, colorful history, riverboats,scenic vistas and abundant wildlife give the park its rural charm. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Forked Run State Park lies in the forested hill country of southeastern Ohio. This is Ohio's oldest landscape never reached by the glacial ice that once covered much of Ohio. Although this area was untouched by the massive ice sheets, torrents of glacial meltwaters hastened the carving of the valleys and hillsides into their present-day form.
Much of the area, now heavily forested, was once void of timber. Trees were cut to fuel the many iron furnaces of the area in the mid 1800s. Today, much of the forest has regrown, and vast stands of oak, hickory, maple and tuliptree clothe the deep ravines and hillsides. Wildflowers can be found in bloom except in winter months. Wild blue phlox, bloodroot, dame's rocket, cardinal flower, daisy fleabane, goldenrod and asters provide colorful displays. In spring, the hillsides burst forth with brilliant blooms of dogwood and redbud.
The forest and fields provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species including gray fox, raccoon, opossum, gray squirrel, white-tailed deer and wild turkey. Many songbirds enjoy the refuge of the forest including wood thrush,white-breasted nuthatch, scarlet tanager, pileated woodpecker and whip-poor-wills. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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The park is family fun.
Very family friendly. Bathroom and shower areas are clean and well lighted. Beach area clean and very nice place to swim and hang out. Fishing is nice.
Written by Loretta
15-Apr-2008
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| Camping: |
| The main campground is situated on the ridges overlooking the scenic valley of Forked Run Lake. There are 198 non-electric sites in both sunny and shady areas. The campground offers showers, pet camping sites and a dump station. A group camp that can accommodate 120 individuals is available by reservation. Three Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cookstove and other equipment can be rented during summer months by reservation. Three camper cabins are available for nightly rental. |
| Trails: |
| Three hiking trails provide opportunity for exploration, exercise, nature study and wildlife observation. |
| Picnicking: |
| Several scenic areas have tables and grills for picnicking opportunities. Two shelterhouses are available by reservation. |
| Boating: |
| A ten horsepower limit on boat motors ensures a quality boating or fishing experience on the lake. Three launch ramps provide access to the lake. Boat rentals are available. The first Ohio River Access project for the state park system was completed here in 1990. The easy access launch ramps also have a wheelchair accessible area for fishing plus boat tie-ups and restrooms. This area is located south of the park entrance off S.R. 124. |
| Swimming: |
| A nice 100-foot sand beach offers enjoyment for swimmers and sunbathers. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Anglers will enjoy nice catches of crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish. Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park and the nearby Shade River State Forest. Squirrel, deer, grouse and wild turkey are popular game species in the area. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required. |
| History of the Area: |
| The colorful history and folklore of the Ohio River create the character of Forked Run State Park. The Ohio River felt the pull of the Indian's paddle, served as a territorial boundary, brought settlers into the Northwest Territory and carried flatboats and "steamers" that shipped passengers and cargo from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.
The mouth of the Shade River which empties into the Ohio nearby was known as a gloomy, rocky place called the Devil's Hole. The Indians returning from their raids into western Virginia routinely crossed the Ohio at that point with their prisoners and plunder. They would travel through the valley of the Shade River on the way to their towns on the Scioto. Settlement of the area was slow to develop until the Indian threat had subsided and the discovery of coal in the region provided means of support.
As mining increased, towns sprang up along the Ohio. Pomeroy, Middleport, Minersville and Syracuse were important mining centers. The coal was used to manufacture coke which in turn was used in the many furnaces that smelted iron ore from the surrounding sandstone bedrock. The ore resulted in iron used to produce agricultural implements, ammunition and cannons for the Union Army during the Civil War. During the 1860s, Ohio was one of the nation's leading producers of iron.
Equally important to the prosperity of the area was the salt industry. The first salt well was drilled in 1850 near Pomeroy. Eighteen salt furnaces were in operation during their peak of importance. Nearly 3,600 barrels of salt were produced daily.
The villages of Reedsville and Belleville were important boat-building centers, and it was on this section of the Ohio River that Captain Horatio Crooks introduced the compound-cylinder steam engine.
John Hunt Morgan, the Confederate General, while on his raid through Ohio was hampered in his efforts here to escape into western Virginia. The local militia thwarted Morgan's effort to ford the Ohio near Pomeroy, and as a result, he was eventually captured in Columbiana County.
Today, the area is known as a truck-farming center which produces crops of cabbage, melons, sweet corn and the famous Ohio River tomatoes.
Construction of Forked Run State Park began in May of 1951. In October 1952, the 102-acre lake was completed. The lake was stocked and opened to the public in the following year. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| Cottages and Cabins | | |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Forked Run State Park - Forked Run State Park Taken October 22, 1999. Back to Fall Color Page. | | Accommodations - A Gem along the Ohio River.... Meigs County Tourism. Home. Accommodations. Attractions. Boat Accesses. FREE Brochure. Message Board. Calendar of Events. Coloring Book. Dining & Meeting. ... | | Forked Run State Park - Forked Run State Park Taken October 22, 1999 Click for larger image. Back to Fall Color Page. | | Tour of the Hocking River - ABC Riders News Trails Rides Spoken Word Links Photos. Tour Application. A short history of the tour as chronicled by Ellen Morin. Please e-mail or snail mail any stories that you would like to... | | ActiveDayton Ohio State Parks - Southeast - Forked Run - ActiveDayton.com Recreation Guides - Get Dayton and Ohio area guides, maps and information on Dayton parks, Ohio state parks, golf courses, bowling, softball and other recreation opportunities... | | The Daily Sentinel - Your hometown newspaper. | | Reedsville Campgrounds and RV Services - Reedsville Campgrounds and RV Services. Select the desired Campground or RV Service located in Reedsville, Ohio. Campgrounds: Forked Run State Park (614) 378-6206. Services: None. Home. Locate.... | | Ohio Public Areas - Ohio's Appalachian State Parks. Adams Lake State Park (adams) Barkcamp State Park (belmont) Beaver Creek State Park (columbiana) Blue Rock State Park (muskingum) Burr Oak State Park (athens) ... | | Ohio - State Search List: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY. Ohio. ... | | Meigs County - MEIGS COUNTY. In every adversity one can usually find an advantage. In Southeastern Ohio's Meigs County, the adversity is a downsizing coal mining industry, which is a casualty of Clean Air Act... | | Information About Our Crafts - Located in Southeastern Ohio, Meigs County is the premier location of Ohio's South Coast Region. Nestled in the gently rolling foothills of Appalachia, Meigs County is home to the twin towns of... | | SEORF -- Travel and Tourism - Information. Athens County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Hocking County Tourism Association. Jackson County Community Web Site. Marietta / Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Gallia... | | Sporting Activities - A Gem along the Ohio River.... Meigs County Tourism. Home. Accommodations. Attractions. Boat Accesses. FREE Brochure. Message Board. Calendar of Events. Coloring Book. Dining & Meeting. ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Forked Run State Park is located adjacent to Shade River State Forest. Much of the forest's 2,601 acres is second growth pitch pine and Virginia pine. The area is also rich in hardwoods such as oaks and hickories. Hemlock and mountain laurel are found in some of the deep gorges.
Marietta, situated 34 miles northeast, offers the historian many opportunities including a visit to the Campus Martius State Memorial Museum, the Ohio River Museum or one of the area's restored sternwheelers.
Marie J. Desonier State Nature Preserve is located north of Forked Run near Coolville. This preserve is heavily forested and contains a large variety of ferns, wildflowers and songbirds. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Circle S Campground
RR 68 S
Belleville, WV
(304) 863-6306
| Wisteria
39617 State Route 684
Pomeroy, OH
(740) 742-4302
| Forked Run State Park
63300 State Route 124
Reedsville, OH
(740) 378-6206
| Carthage Gap Camp
22575 Brimstone Rd
Coolville, OH
(740) 667-3072
| Rivers Bend Campground
1051 State Route 144
Coolville, OH
(740) 667-3530
| Royal Oak Resort Club Inc
33429 Flatwoods Rd
Racine, OH
(740) 992-6488
| Mountwood Park
Route 50 E
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 679-3611
| Corral Campgrounds
120 Point Dr
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 485-8900
| Edgelawn Campgrounds
706 Summers St
Parkersburg, WV
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| Old Lock 24 Campgrounds
46909 State Route 124
Racine, OH
(740) 949-7039
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Jeff's Carry Out & Bait Shop
100 Lasley St
Pomeroy, OH
(740) 992-3756
| Bubba's Bait Shop
614 Lakeview Dr
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 485-1150
| Skeen's Live & Artificial Bait
2206 Staunton Ave
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 485-6953
| Johnny's Outdoor World
7000 Grand Central Ave
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 295-4937
| Village Bait & Tackle
26201 Main St
Coolville, OH
(740) 667-6817
| Hornbeck's Bait & Tackle
174 State Route 339
Belpre, OH
(740) 423-1949
| Angler's Xstream LLC
202 Lakeview Ctr
Parkersburg, WV
(304) 485-6911
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Thunder Lodges
215 W Mcdonald Ave
Man, WV
(304) 583-2830
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| Directions: |
| Use Mapquest and the address provided below to create a custom set of directions from your location to the Park:
63300 State Route 124, Reedsville, OH 45772-0127 |
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