The Wayne National Forest surrounding Peebles, Ohio sits within a heavily wooded region of Appalachia characterized by steep hillsides, narrow ravines, and numerous streams. Located in southern Ohio's unglaciated plateau, the area experiences moderate rainfall year-round that can rapidly affect stream levels at camping areas. Many campsites require adequate drainage preparation, especially during spring and fall seasons when precipitation increases.
What to do
Hiking exploration: Pike Lake State Park offers several accessible trails with educational elements for first-time visitors. "The trails here are easy and short. I loved the informational boxes and tags that they had on the trees or plants. This is helpful if you have little ones with you or if you are like me and just like to learn about the animals/plants on the trail," notes a Pike Lake State Park visitor.
Lake activities: During summer months, smaller lakes provide calm water recreation options with rentals available. "There is a small pond/lake that has a beach you can kayak or canoe and fish (renting them is an option)," explains a visitor to Pike Lake. Another camper adds that "The lake is smaller, but nice beach area and pedal boats are fun."
Geocaching adventures: Shawnee State Park offers organized geocaching opportunities throughout its grounds. "Challenge your family members for a round of mini golf or basketball, or set out on a geocaching adventure," suggests a reviewer who enjoyed the activity options beyond horse trails.
Cave exploration: Carter Caves State Resort Park offers spelunking opportunities for visitors willing to cross into Kentucky. "The park has a lot to do, not just the caves. There's tons of waterfalls off the trails, and other things to see. The caves are great to explore as well. Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something!" shares a visitor.
What campers like
Tent site privacy: Some campers particularly value the secluded tent sites at Shawnee State Park. "Unlike many Ohio State parks I've visited, the Shawnee campground has a variety of great tent sites. Several of these are hidden in the trees at the top of some steps and up a short path. If you don't mind hauling your gear a short distance from your car, sites like this are perfect as they're for tent campers only."
Lake fishing access: Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area provides good fishing options with convenient campsite proximity. "The fishing isn't bad at Vesuvius, but the shore access can be crowded, which has resulted in a limited number of keeper fish," reports one visitor to Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area.
Off-grid tranquility: The equestrian camping areas near Peebles provide genuine disconnection from technology. A Shawnee State Park camper explains, "There is absolutely no cell service in the Campground. The lodge at the top of the hill has a weak signal, but is better than nothing if you really need to check in with outside world."
What you should know
Water planning: Many sites lack direct water access, requiring additional preparation. "You had to park and carry your gear back to the sites," notes one Lake Vesuvius visitor about tent camping there. At Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius, one camper warns: "Beautiful place to camp... the water pressure was extremely high."
Site flooding concerns: Low-lying areas throughout the region experience drainage issues during rainfall. "It rained quite a bit and many of the sites got flooded. The ground here doesn't drain well," reports a Pike Lake State Park camper. Another visitor noted: "It rained the first day we were there and people were literally bailing there sites out with buckets."
Campsite logistics: Site selection requires careful planning for size and amenities. "Not all the sites were as spacious as ours so be careful which one you choose. In fact, there was one so small, I'm not sure where a tent would go," advises a Pike Lake visitor. For horse camping specifically, plan to bring portable corral systems.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Cowan Lake State Park offers sites near play areas. "Site 57 - this site backs up to the ravine and is nice and large. It has a lot of shade and grass. We were able to run a line between trees for a dog run. Great neighbors on both sides but right across the site is the playground. It's a little noisy but if you have kids, it works."
Educational trails: Some parks feature interpretive elements ideal for children. "We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful," notes a Pike Lake visitor. Another camper mentioned: "The very short (but rewarding) Rockhouse Trail is right on top of the major lake action. The benefit is a nice rock house at the end, as well as interpretive signage that sheds light on Ohio's iron industry and history."
Seasonal activities: Halloween weekends at parks near Peebles draw families with special programming. A Shawnee State Park visitor explains: "We were there on their Halloween weekend, with a fun site-decorating contest and trick or treat in the afternoon, which was mildly annoying for us because they closed the roads from 2 to 6 so we could not drive back to our site."
Tips from RVers
Hookup planning: East Fork State Park provides varied hookup options but requires advance knowledge. "The State Park is on one side of the Lake and the Campground is on the other. There is no public road between the two," notes one camper, highlighting the importance of understanding the property layout before arrival.
Site selection: Choose carefully for level ground and appropriate size. "Some sites are sloped from slight to more severe. We did have to take our camper off our truck (truck camper) in order to get level," shares a Lake Vesuvius visitor. For equestrian camping near Peebles, verify sites can accommodate both your RV and horse trailer.
Extension cords: Some electrical hookups at equestrian campgrounds require extra-long cords. "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, with no wiggle room because one end was the park road/driveway, the other end a hill," explains one Shawnee State Park visitor.
