Cabins near Latham, Ohio are nestled in rural Pike and Highland counties with elevations around 900 feet above sea level. The area features dense woodlands of oak, hickory, and maple trees with seasonal temperature variations from cold winter nights to humid summer days. Most cabin facilities operate from April through October, though several state parks offer year-round accommodations with four-season heating and cooling systems.
What to do
Hiking trails: Pike Lake State Park Campground offers multiple scenic trails for different skill levels. "We went on a short hike around the lake with the littles, there are longer hikes if you wish," shares one visitor about the family-friendly paths.
Fishing opportunities: Rocky Fork State Park Campground provides excellent angling from shoreline or boat. "Great campground... excellent fishing," notes a camper, with catches typically including bass, catfish, and crappie.
Water activities: Boating options range from canoes to paddle boats at many locations. "We rented canoes, but there is also a rowboat and several kayaks. The main lake is large enough that an hour's rental is just fine for your canoe time," explains a visitor to Tar Hollow State Park Campground.
Disc golf course: Several parks feature courses for this growing sport. "They have a disc golf course it was over grown and had so much poison ivy we could only play two holes," warns one camper, suggesting calling ahead to check course conditions.
Wildlife viewing: Many cabin areas provide opportunities to spot local fauna. One visitor notes, "Watch your steps," as Tar Hollow has "a thriving Timber Rattlesnake population" - an important safety consideration when hiking.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Cabin layouts and spacing vary significantly between parks. "The cabins are very nice," with some sites offering more seclusion than others. At Shawnee State Park Campground, "several of these are hidden in the trees at the top of some steps and up a short path" providing more privacy.
Natural settings: Many cabins are positioned to take advantage of scenic views. "We stayed in site 10 right on the river and the views were great," reports a visitor to Sandy Springs Campground, where Ohio River vistas are a highlight.
Camp stores: On-site supplies prove convenient for forgotten items. "The camp store was nice and well stocked. They did have a mini golf course and a few holes of disk golf," explains a Rocky Fork camper, showing the dual convenience and entertainment value.
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards are consistently mentioned in reviews. "The bathrooms, showers and camping sites are always well maintained and clean," reports a visitor to Long's Retreat Family Resort, an important consideration for cabin guests who may share bathhouse facilities.
Off-grid experience: Some cabins offer a genuine disconnect from technology. "Love no cell reception! Quiet clean and staff (owner) is always pleasant and helpful!" shares a camper, highlighting the opportunity for a digital detox.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. Weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day typically fill months in advance, with holiday periods booking up to a year ahead.
Amenity variations: Facilities differ significantly between locations. "While not luxurious, the cabin was clean, beds comfortable, AC worked great, functional kitchen and bigger bathroom than I expected," notes a camper about their Pike Lake experience.
Cell service limitations: Many cabins sit in areas with limited connectivity. "There is no cell phone service. Be sure to give anyone who may need to contact you a heads up," advises a visitor to Tar Hollow, suggesting planning accordingly.
Water access considerations: Lake conditions vary by location. "The lake wasn't so great for swimming, too many geese," reports a visitor to Pike Lake State Park Campground, indicating that water quality issues may occur seasonally.
Seasonal closures: Operating schedules differ between parks. Long's Retreat operates "Apr 1 - Oct 31" while others like Rocky Fork State Park operate "All year," requiring verification before planning off-season stays.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Parks offer varying entertainment options for children. At Long's Retreat Family Resort, "The kids can either swim up at the lake (with multiple water slides and a huge floating dock with diving board), the little kids can have fun in the splash pad right at the beach, go carts, rock wall climbing, basketball, arcade and so much more."
Playground proximity: Consider site location relative to play areas. "Site 57 - this site backs up to the ravine and is nice and large. It has a lot of shade and grass... but right across the site is the playground. It's a little noisy but if you have kids, it works," advises a Pike Lake visitor.
Cabin selection for families: Unit sizes and layouts vary considerably. "We have been going here for the last 6 summers with a big group (nearly 30 kids with us). Everyone always has such a great time and it is the highlight of all the kids summers," shares a Long's Retreat visitor, showing some locations can accommodate larger family gatherings.
Beach facilities: Swimming areas differ in quality and amenities. "Nice clean lake, boating, playgrounds, bath houses," reports a visitor to Rocky Fork State Park, though water conditions vary seasonally.
Hiking difficulty: Trail ratings can be misleading for young hikers. "Believe the camp store is open until 8pm during the week," notes a Tar Hollow visitor, suggesting checking hours before planning evening activities with children.
Tips from RVers
Site conditions: Ground stability can be an issue in some areas. "It rained quite a bit and many of the sites got flooded. The ground here doesn't drain well," warns a visitor to Pike Lake, suggesting choosing elevated sites.
Hookup availability: Utility access varies between parks. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, "We enjoyed a full hookup site. The spots aren't very spacious but there's lots of trees nearby and an easy walk to get to Old Mans Cave."
Size restrictions: Many older campgrounds have limitations for larger rigs. "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. we got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length," cautions a visitor about Shawnee State Park, suggesting calling to confirm actual site dimensions.
Satellite reception: Tree coverage affects connectivity. "The first site we had we were unable to set up our StarLink so we scoped out another site where there were no trees and then asked to switch," shares a Shawnee State Park visitor, highlighting a concern for those needing internet access.
Winter facilities: For off-season stays, utility availability changes. "A winter camping gem! Heated bathroom with showers are available for winter campers at Paint Creek State Park," notes a visitor, valuable information for those considering cold-weather cabin rentals.
