Best Tent Camping near Delaware Lake
The forests surrounding Delaware Lake in Ohio contain several primitive tent camping options, including Mohican Memorial State Forest where dispersed camping is permitted in designated park-and-pack sites. Scioto Grove Metro Park offers backpacking-style tent sites that require reservations and are available only on select weekends. Both locations provide more secluded camping experiences than the developed campgrounds in the region, with distances from parking areas ranging from a short walk to several miles of hiking.
Access to tent sites varies significantly between locations. Mohican Memorial State Forest features ten park-and-pack sites that require registration at the ranger station kiosk before setting up camp. Registration is first-come, first-served, with no reservation system. Sites include basic fire rings but lack amenities such as running water or toilets. The trails to most sites cross creeks and can be muddy after rain, especially along shared horse trails. Scioto Grove's tent sites include tent pads and fire rings with provided firewood but are only available during limited weekends throughout the camping season.
Most tent camping areas near Delaware Lake feature a combination of wooded seclusion and natural scenery. The park-and-pack sites at Mohican Memorial State Forest offer varied terrain and environments, with some sites tucked into forests and others situated near streams. Site selection involves trade-offs between accessibility and privacy. Campsite 10 at Mohican is described as spacious enough for multiple tents with hammocking options. Scioto Grove's backcounting campsites provide river access and natural surroundings. A visitor noted, "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit, besides that they're totally primitive."
