Lake Hope State Park Campground

About

Lake Hope State Park Campground sits within 2,983 acres of parkland in the heart of Zaleski State Forest, offering a rugged and scenic camping experience in southeastern Ohio's Hocking Hills region. The 187-site campground accommodates both tent and trailer camping, with 46 sites offering electric hookups and the remaining 141 sites designated as primitive. Modern amenities include heated showerhouses, pit latrines, dump station, and laundry facilities, while each site features a picnic table and fire ring. The park centers around Lake Hope, a 120-acre impoundment on Big Sandy Run, where campers can enjoy a 600-foot swimming beach with bathhouse and concession, fishing for bluegill, catfish, crappie and largemouth bass, and boating with electric motors only. Eleven miles of hiking trails traverse the lake and surrounding woodlands, while the adjacent Zaleski State Forest offers 25 miles of mountain bike trails, 6 miles of bridle trails, and a 21-mile backpack trail with primitive campsites. The park's history adds unique character, with the Hope Furnace chimney standing as a reminder of the 19th-century iron industry that once dominated the region. The second-growth oak and hickory forest now harbors abundant wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and beavers, along with rare wildflowers like the yellow lady's slipper orchid. A horsemen's camp serves bridle trail users, and group camping facilities accommodate organized groups.

Directions

Lake Hope State Park Campground is located at 27331 State Route 278, McArthur, Ohio 45651. From McArthur, head north on State Route 278 for approximately 5 miles; the campground entrance will be on your right.