Lake Hope Visitors Guide
Lake Hope State Park, Ohio
Lake Hope and the surrounding Lake Hope State Park offer a wealth of recreational activities in a rugged, but scenic setting in southeast Ohio. Located within the 26,824-acre Zaleski State Forest, the second largest state-owned forest in Ohio, Lake Hope State Park invites outdoor-lovers to celebrate its natural wonders, including the beautiful Lake Hope, during all four seasons. Visitors with a fondness for water sports may enjoy fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and sunbathing at Lake Hope. Trail enthusiasts may choose from 17 miles of hiking trails that wind around Lake Hope in Lake Hope State Park along with a 23-mile single-track bike trail for mountain biking. Backpackers and horseback riding aficionados will appreciate the 21 miles of backpacking trails and 33 miles of bridle trails at Zaleski State Forest and Lake Hope State Park. Winter activities at Lake Hope State Park include sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. Hunting is also allowed, but only during specific times of the year at Zaleski State Forest.
Lake Hope, Ohio is located in an area where Ohio's iron ore industry flourished in the 19th century. Reminders of the region's past are still evident — among them, abandoned mines and the Hope Furnace chimney. Although much of the timber in the present area surrounding Lake Hope was harvested for use in the iron smelting process, a second-growth forest has sprung up. Among the flora that nature-lovers may see today are oak, hickory, spring wildflowers and even yellow lady's slipper, a rare orchid. Wildlife living at Lake Hope State Park includes deer, wild turkey and the most popular of the Lake Hope park's wild residents: the beaver.
Visitors to Lake Hope may choose from a variety of accommodations, such as cottages, developed and primitive campsites, a lodge and a group camp. A horsemen's camp is available at Zaleski State Forest. Among the other offerings at Lake Hope State Park are picnic areas, including two picnic shelters, and a dining lodge that overlooks Lake Hope.
Lake Hope State Park Fees
Admission to Lake Hope State Park is free. Campsites, with or
without electricity, range from $15-$19 per night. Cottages
cost approximately $63-$75 per night ($385-$485 per week).
Discounts may be offered during the winter months. The eight-bedroom
Laurel Lodge rents for $300 a day. A teepee, camper cabin and
Rent-a-Camp units are also available for rental. A valid Ohio hunting
or fishing license is required for visitors wishing to hunt or fish.
(Prices subject to change without notice or from what’s listed on this web site.)
Lake Hope State Park Hours
The park itself is open year-round. Campgrounds remain open
round-the-clock, while day-use areas around Lake Hope and the park are
only open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visiting hours for Zaleski State
Forest are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with legal campers, hunters and
fishermen allowed during the off-hours.
Lake Hope State Park Contact Information
27331 State Route 278
McArthur, OH 45651-8220
(740) 596-5253
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