Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 1384 | | | Water, acres | 2080 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 2 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 800 | | | Mountain Bike Trails, miles | 2 | | | Beach Concession | yes | | | Nature Center | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | -2 | | | Seasonal Dock Rental | 650 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 5 | | | Fuel For Sale | yes | | Camping | Primative, # | 80 | | | Electric Sites, # | 130 | | | Full Hookup Sites, # | 20 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Camp Commissary | yes | | Winter | Sledding | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes | | Accommodations | Restaurant | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Fort Hill State Memorial
Paint Creek State Park
Serpent Mound State Memorial
Tranquility State Wildlife Area
Fallsville State Wildlife Area
Oldaker State Wildlife Area
Kincaid Springs State Fish Hatchery
Seip Mound State Memorial
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Rocky Fork State Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Unlimited horsepower boating allows for excellent skiing on the lake which also provides catches of bass, muskellunge and walleye for skilled fishermen. A scenic gorge, dolomite caves and natural wetlands add to the popularity of this recreation area. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Rocky Fork State Park nestled in Highland County derives its name from the stream flowing through the park. This stream, winding over dolomite limestone, has eroded spectacular gorges and caves which we can enjoy today.
Present-day Rocky Fork Creek flows through an ancient valley. Blocked by glacial ice more than 12,000 years ago, the stream reversed direction and rapidly cut the 75-foot gorge seen today. Caves in the region formed as rainwater, trickling through the limestone, dissolved the bedrock. Dolomite limestone is particularly vulnerable to this type of weathering. Sullivantia, extremely rare in Ohio, blooms in the gorge. The small white flowers can be seen from the moist cliff face in mid-summer. Other wildflowers include wild geranium, jewelweed, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace.
Rocky Fork provides habitat for numerous waterfowl, songbirds, raccoons, skunk, red fox and white-tailed deer. The wetlands in the park are home to the green frog, bullfrog, opossum and muskrat. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Great Campground
We love that Rocky Fork is so pet friendly and the newly remodeled shower houses are great.
Written by a.little
13-May-2008
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great place
we love the park its got clean bathrooms and nice pads for campers and once you start camping you will see campers are the friendly people
Written by my haven away from home
24-Jun-2008
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| Camping: |
| There are 190 campsites suitable for trailers and tents at the northwest corner of the lake. The campground is equipped with showers, flush toilets, laundry facilities, dump station, camp store and campers' beach. Electric hookups are available at 130 sites, with an additional 20 sites offering full-service hookups. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites in both the electric and non-electric areas. A launch ramp and tie-ups are provided for campers with boats.
A separate group camp may be reserved by contacting the park office. The recreation barn also may be rented. It contains meeting space, restrooms, showers and a modified kitchen. |
| Trails: |
| Four miles of hiking trails take visitors through cool woodlands, scenic gorges and moist wetlands. A short trail near the campground takes nature lovers to an observation station where excellent birdwatching can be pursued. |
| Picnicking: |
| Picnic areas are located on the north and east shores in wooded areas overlooking the lake. |
| Boating: |
| Motors of unlimited horsepower are permitted at Rocky Fork. Sixteen boat launching ramps are located around the lake. Rental docks are available for frequent summer visitors. A designated area is available for boat camping. |
| Swimming: |
| Two large public beaches with changing booths and bathhouses are located on the north and south sides of the lake. A boat/swim area is available for boaters. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Anglers will enjoy excellent catches of bass, bluegill, crappie and muskellunge at Rocky Fork. A wheelchair accessible fishing pier is located on the southeast side of the lake. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required. |
| History of the Area: |
| Rocky Fork State Park is an area steeped in the rich Indian history of Ohio. The land provided abundant game and a ready transportation system in the nearby creeks and rivers. These same streams provided access to the Rocky Fork area for the first settlers.
Plentiful water attracted a number of millwrights to the Highland County region. During the 1800s and the early 1900s, at least six different mill sites were established along Rocky Fork's banks. These mills not only ground flour, but also cut lumber, carded wool and even wove blankets. Water-powered industry was instrumental in the early development of the locale.
The only mill remaining on the Rocky Fork is the J. A. McCoppin Mill found just below the Rocky Fork spillway and operated until the 1970s. First built by David Reece in 1810, the earliest mill was washed out during high water. Soon after the destructive flood, the present cut-stone dam was built. These mills were the focal point of early rural life.
In 1897, surveyors for a proposed railroad came to the countryside that would one day be the park. Local people had high hopes that the new "Black Diamond" rail line would bring prosperity to the area. The addition of rail transportation would enable the local mills to ship flour and other mill industry goods all over the country. There was to be a depot built in Rainsboro with a stockyard and telegraph office. Meetings were held by railroad officials to secure a right-of-way from nearby landowners. A town was planned near McCoppin's (at that time Costello's) Mill. Unfortunately, the "Black Diamond" never got past the planning stages, and the new town of Lodore never came to be.
The eastern part of Highland County has been a resort location for many years. The "Seven Caves" and nearby Rocky Fork gorge attracted visitors even in the mid 1800s. At the turn of the century, Colonel Walter H. Hutchins, a regular visitor to the area from Cincinnati, first dreamed of building a dam near McCoppin's Mill. He was the lake's biggest promoter and saw construction begin in 1949. The first water spilled over the dam in April 1953. Since that summer, thousands of people have visited Rocky Fork State Park. The lake has become a favorite of fishermen and water sports enthusiasts. |
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| Area Accommodations |
|  | Murphin Ridge Inn - West Union, OH
Country Inn and Restaurant located in the Appalachian Foothills of Southwestern Ohio. Featuring 9 Cabins, each with a whirlpool tub, fireplace, queen or king-size bed, heating and air conditioning.
Price Range: $107 - $240
Web Site: http://www.murphinridgeinn.com |
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| | B&Bs / Inns | | Murphin Ridge Inn - Situated on 142 acres of rolling woodland and farmland with breath-taking vistas of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Murphin Ridge Inn is the ideal spot for a romantic getaway, family vacation or business retreat.
| | Cottages and Cabins | | Murphin Ridge Inn - Situated on 142 acres of rolling woodland and farmland with breath-taking vistas of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Murphin Ridge Inn is the ideal spot for a romantic getaway, family vacation or business retreat.
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| Area Places to Eat |
| Fine Dining | | Murphin Ridge Inn - Situated on 142 acres of rolling woodland and farmland with breath-taking vistas of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Murphin Ridge Inn is the ideal spot for a romantic getaway, family vacation or business retreat.
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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: |
| Hillsboro Campgrounds and RV Services - Hillsboro Campgrounds and RV Services. Select the desired Campground or RV Service located in Hillsboro, Ohio. Campgrounds: Rocky Fork State Park (937) 393-3210. Rocky Fork State Park Marina ... | | The US50 - A guide to the fifty states - The US50 is a extensive guide to history, outdoors, tourism, events and attractions for the fifty states. | | CAMPING? - CAMPING?? ANYONE LOVE TO GO CAMPING?? Now, my kind of camping is not a tent & a sleeping bag. SORRY to disappoint you, but I am not a "roughing it" kind of camper. I take everything with me that... | | Postings from Ohio Birds: 23-28 October 2001 - Ohio Birds and Natural History | Birders Online | Organizations Range Maps | Christmas Bird Counts Photodocumentation Library | Where to Find Birds | More Ohio Birding Websites. Ohio BIRDER ... | | 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. ... | | Where to ride your ATV - ... parking lot. Grocery, gas, pizza nearby. Trails are not open year round. Call for dates... Rocky Fork State Park within 5 miles. Paint Creek State Park within 10 miles. Cove Lake State Park within ... | | AOL Travel: Cincinnati - What's Going On - Camping - Explore AOL Travel Travel Main. Air Travel. Car Rental. Destination Guides. Hot Deals. Interests & Activities. Lodging. Maps & Directions. Newsletter. Packages & Cruises. Quick Getaways. ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Fort Hill, south of Bainbridge off State Route 41, is the site of a complex of Hopewell Indian mounds. These mounds are more than 1,000 years old and the site includes a museum. Serpent Mound, in northeastern Adams County, is one of the most spectacular Indian earthworks in Ohio. Built by the prehistoric Adena Indians, Serpent Mound is a 1,000-foot snake effigy mound. Both of these sites are operated by the Ohio Historical Society.
Paint Creek and Pike Lake state parks are located within a short drive of Rocky Fork. Both parks offer excellent camping, fishing and hiking opportunities. Oldaher, Fallsville and Hillsboro Reservoir are areas operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and offer fishing and hunting. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Chaparral Family Campground
10136 W Middletown Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 337-9381
| Ponderosa Park
9362 Salem Warren Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 332-0044
| Timashamie Family Campground
28251 Georgetown Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 525-7054
| Rocky Fork State Park
9800 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-4284
| Cedar Hill Campground
10186 Thomas Rd
Leesburg, OH
(937) 780-2267
| Rocky Fork State Park: Park Office
9800 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-4284
| Babington Camping & Mobile Hm
11993 Spruance Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 466-2323
| Mineral Springs Lake Resort
160 Blue Gill Rd
Peebles, OH
(937) 587-3132
| Shady Trails Family Campground
11145 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-5618
| L B Camping
2483 Greenbriar Rd
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 493-4614
| Long's Retreat & Campground
50 Bell Hollow Rd
Latham, OH
(937) 588-3725
| Tanglewood Acres Horse Camp
2779 Pike Lake Rd
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 493-3142
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Hirn's Corner
3504 Us Highway 50 W
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 634-3286
| Chris' Bait and Tackle
107 N Main St
Peebles, OH
(937) 587-5021
| Willard's Lake
3605 Us Highway 50
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 364-6134
| Cast Away Lakes
4098 E Danville Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 288-0104
| Highland Lakes Inc
2850 McAfee Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 927-9103
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | North Bay Cottages
11083 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-2849
| Tu-Lakes Motel
7420 N Beach Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-1917
| Lazy H Cabin Rentals
14889 Old 50
Bainbridge, OH
(937) 365-1961
| Holiday Cottages
6837 Mccoppin Mill Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 365-1331
| Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat
11 Cow Run Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 764-1365
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| Directions: |
| 9800 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133 |
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