The sites are inconsistent between their sizes on the Clifty campground. We had two small tents and one car. If we had any more gear or people it would have been uncomfortable.
I had to be careful when parking as I had to avoid the water supply, 2 trees, a safety pole for the water supply (painted brown), electricity box, and then the drop off on the other side of the road. It did take a few turns to get in and out of the campsite. We did have cell phone service (Verizon) at the campground. My friend that was T-Mobile did not have cell service. There are areas in the park where I did not have a signal such as when we went hiking or exploring. I would pre-download maps for the area on All Trails as that was extremely helpful.
Some of the campsites at Clifty were much larger and were 2 of my site. Each site had a water hook up, standard lantern/trash pole, fire ring, electric box, and was a short walk from the Clifty campground bathroom. If you can hand pick your site or scout it out before hand it is well worth doing that if you have a larger sized family or tent.
I actually preferred Clifty over the main campground (Ridgeline). Ridgeline was down a long winding road. It had way more folks. Ridgeline is better suited for the RV and large tent crowds. Look closely as each site is rated for a different RV length and they had one pull in site. At Ridgeline they even have one campsite (tent) that was rated for 16 campers. Generally, each site was rated for 8 campers. Ridgeline also had some horse campers as I was able to see their horse trailers when going through the campsite. I saw 3 riders on horseback when I was driving to the camp store. The stables are in two spots on the road down to Ridgeline.
Taken from Cumberland Falls State Park webpage "Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is the perfect destination to introduce the family to the thrill of horseback riding. The park offers guided trail rides that are easy enough for the first timer and still adventurous for the more experienced. Riders, age 6 and up will enjoy a 45-minute ride through an eastern Kentucky forest, beautiful in any season. The stables open weekends in May and are daily after Memorial Weekend until Labor Day. Also open on weekends during Sept. and Oct. Rides start on the hour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is$20.00 per person. Personal horses are not permitted on the trails at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, but there are several opportunities to do so in the surrounding area. There are many miles of trails and several horse camps in the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest and The Big South Fork National River and Recreation area."
Clifty was smaller and quieter. It felt like it had more trees and only tents on this row of campsites. The campsites are close to each other as we talked with our camp site neighbors on the both sides. When I first booked my site I knew of the difference in locations between Ridgeline and Clifty but I couldn't figure out what the difference in settings/vibe would be like and I am so happy that I had picked Clifty.
The perk about the Clifty campsites is that they are close to the pool. You can easily walk to the pool with your family when it opens. The pool is free for campers. I didn't get to check out their bathrooms but my fellow camper did and she said it was good. I also discovered a trail and more down behind the Clifty campground. I only found it as I noticed yellow blazes by the bathroom and followed it back to the trailhead. Close to the bathroom is the dumpster with a home made jamming device to keep the bears out of the dumpster. The Clifty bathroom was not ADA accessible as no wheelchair bathroom stall. Shower wasn't accessible either if you have any mobility challenges.
Moonbow at Cumberland Falls - We arrived early and had a picnic dinner. The moon bow is best when the moon is high over the falls. We were hoping to see it around sun set at 9:30 - 10:00 but we actually had to stay later. Make sure you take advantage of the picnic tables that are near by and the bathrooms. The best site to see the Moonbow is at the Upper Falls which is close to the gift shop/snack bar. You can see the falls from further down at the other observation decks. We hung out there for some time to avoid the crowds at the Upper Falls.
The parking lot will fill up as it gets closer to the time of the Moonbow. I avoided that by doing the picnic dinner and coming before sun set. The Cumberland Falls remain open till midnight as they know folks will want to see the Moonbow this is only seen at certain times of the year due to the moon. It was nice to notice the ranger at the entrance of the park as we were leaving. He was keeping tabs on the crowds at a distance as he wasn't needed at that time.
Hiking - Ask for a map at the lodge as I didn't see them at the campgrounds or even signs explaining what trail 12 vs 2 was in the area. Also, be aware that the Sheltowee trail is in the area this is a 333 mile long trail and you will see the white blaze or turtle blazes.
Even some of the signs such as where the waterfall was for the near by Dog Slaughter Falls Trail said the falls were 1 mile away but it was actually several more miles. I used the All Trails App and kept track of the miles on my Fitbit. We found the Extended trail on All Trails and that matched up to the GPS tracking we did while on the trail. We found 3 different signs for this hike in 3 different locations and each time the mileage was off.
I have camped at this site several times. Ear plugs are a must as it is in the direct flight path of a major airport. My boyfriend had a Fitbit and was able to spot how many times an airplane flew over our tent in the evening/early morning hours. It must be a UPS hub or FedEx as the planes were huge and at all hours.
That being said it is a great price. The website is tricky to book a campsite as it makes it hard to see when the next possible opening will be for a site. I generally like to call them and talk with them.
On each visit, I learn more about the area and the trails. They have 4 trails that you can explore.
The sites are mixed which did cause some confusion as other campers were on my site when I rolled in. I had to explain that I had Group Site 2 and they had Family Site 2. This is a big difference. Once they finally believed me they moved onto the next site and already had my camp fire going for me.
The nice thing is that they deliver firewood to your campsite. You don't have to pick it up at the camp store and make a mess of your car. For Family sites per night you can order a bundle at $15.00 and for the Group Sites you can order a bundle at $30.00. I did not feel like the wood was lacking as it was a nice load of wood. They delivered it while we were out hiking. I simply ordered some at the main site/office each morning depending on what I felt like later on in the evening based on our group plans/weather.
Our campsite did have water as you can see from the pump. Then we had porta johns. I traditionally come to this campsite every 2 years for a local festival in Louisville. You will want to notice that the rates can change for certain busy times such as during the races.
For a group site they only allowed 2 cars. The rest of the cars had to go to an overflow lot which was near by. It was a short walk but can be a hassle. Don't expect to park plenty of cars at the site even if it is a group site.
They do have dumpsters at the campground aka park but not at your campsite. Be prepared to pack it in and pack it out. I do like how they have a gate with a code but it is heavy. I had to have my friends help me lift the gate as I am not a strong build. It is the long swinging arm kind and had to be lifted slightly to help me get the lock out of it.
As I mentioned the location is why we keep coming back. The folks in the office are friendly and there is lots to do in Louisville.
We went to Sara's Campground and walked around the campsite (bayside aka away from the beach and behind the restaurant) from end to end (3 times). I didn't see a camp host sign or office. We never did find the main office until the 3rd time when we were driving out of the neighborhood. They do have a big sign at the entrance but my brain didn't process that they were also across the busy road.
This campsite is actually on BOTH sides of the road. My passenger spotted them as we were leaving the area after we had passed the area multiple times. It almost looks like they are an extension of the water park for those of us that are out of town. The area is very busy visually so be prepared to accidently drive past it.
The main campground (bayside) is located behind the restaurants. The location is awesome as it is right across the road from the beach. You will want to note that Presque Isle State Park does not have any camping within their park boundaries.
Sara's charges $30.00 a night and only two adults per tent. The beach camping is first come/first serve (no reservations). No pets on the beach side which may explain why there were some tents over on the bayside (RVs) side of the campground. If you wanted to escape the wind this might be a good spot to tent camp. Also, if you wanted to be close but not too close to the water due to having young children.
Sara's Diner was closed but seemed to be used for storage for the main business. We were able to get milk shakes at the eatery. You order at the outside window and then move inside to pick up your milk shake or other food items. At the other building (Eatery), I asked two employees if they knew where to connect with the campground office but they didn't know what I was talking about.
We used their cross walk to walk across the main street and we immediately came to the beach. On the left it was labeled private beach and a wall blocked the view. I didn't realize this might be part of Sara's but also looked like some private property/condos to me. Once on the beach to the right was a long beautiful shore line. It would be an easy walk and carry of beach items. I was hoping we could camp at the site and get a post card to reserve a spot for the upcoming year.
We did see folks camping in tents behind the restaurants with the RVs. The ground was slightly sandy and they looked comfortable. We looked on with campsite envy. Some folks may prefer this as it is back a bit from the shore so it isn't windy the whole time and less sandy. Either side had easy access to the bike trail and I would have felt safe riding my bike on their bike trail. It was a smooth paved lane that was mostly away from traffic.
Presque Isle Lighthouse Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.$7— House Tour and Tower Climb$3— House Tour FREE— Walk the grounds Taken from https://www.presqueislelighthouse.org/
We also did the boat tour https://piboattours.com/lady-kate/ This was $16.00 and well worth it. We were able to learn a lot about the history of the island. It is naturally windy and out on the open water so make sure you take some layers as it can get chilly even in July.
We then hit the road to continue to find another campsite. If you don't mind crowds and noise from the road, RVs, or other campers then this is the site for you. It has a great location that cannot be beat for ease of access to the beaches.
I wanted to write this review to help with some of the confusion. I've been there and back but sometimes I am still confused by this park.
1) You will want to know that they have more than one campsite (Linesville and Jamestown).
2) They also have more than one beach. The smaller beach is where you can access a bathroom. The larger beach seems to have been forgotten to a degree as no bathroom.
3) Then next door in Ohio they have the same name for their park. Grab all of the paper maps from Ohio and PA. As on Google Maps it does get confusing as to which part is in Ohio and which part is in PA. Notice that the parks ignore their neighbor to a degree which adds to the confusion.
4) Be sure to visit the Pymatuning Dam Gate House (Which feels like a whole different park).
5) We did find some trails around the Pymatuning Dam Gate House but had trouble finding trail maps or folks to ask for information.
6) Make sure to go over and feed the carp. This is located at Linesville Spillway and not in the Linesville campground. I will see if I can upload the carp video as it was a neat experience. Do bring bread as they do not have the fish pellets for purchase at this time. Bread is bad for the water and ducks etc. but at this time they are not discouraging it.
This campground has it all:) I picked this campsite as it is further south in the Daniel Boone National Forest so it isn't near the chaos of the climbing that is found further North.
"Peak Season Rates as listed on website - https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232370?tab=fees
Cabin Electric$75.00 Standard Electric$30.00 Standard Electric Other$41.00 Standard Nonelectric$22.00 Standard Nonelectric Other$27.00 Standard Nonelectric Double Site$33.00
Limit 6 people and 2 vehicles per single campsite; additional vehicles will be charged$8/night; additional campers will be charged$1/night A$5 nightly fee is charged for electric hookups Each cabin has 2 double bunk beds with out mattresses, Please bring your own sleeping bags or other bedding."
We wanted to check out the cabins as they looked so darling. We couldn't quite tell if the cabins had AC or heat.
As for the beach, it was a blast and we spent pretty much the whole day there and every day with the heat. At night the beach is sadly closed but if you go up a little more on the road you will find another "beach" spot that isn't closed so you can look at the stars over the lake.
It is a pain to get back to town in my opinion so make sure you have what you need.
The park has some great gems and also some areas that can use some TLC (Tender Loving Care). Check in is at 2PM and Check out is at 1PM. What really sticks out beside the Bison are the racoons. They also have a wide variety of playgrounds so if you need more than one big toy this is the park for you.
The Bison is a must as you can take a short walk out to watch the herd from behind a fence. It is a great experience for little ones. If you are blessed to have seen them in Yellowstone then it won't have the same excitement. They are penned in a small area similar to what you would expect for the common cow.
The racoons are an issue at this park. We actually got so uncomfortable at one point that we went into the RV to get away from them. Make sure you practice good food practices as they are out and more aggressive than I would prefer as they do get up close to you. They kept walking up to where we were seated and too close for my comfort. I did see others still feeding the raccoons even though the park has done an good job asking folks not to do so.
Hiking information taken from state website
• Big Bone Creek Trail:.9 mile, easy.• Bison Trace Trail:.5 mile, easy.• Cedar Run Trail:.9 mile, easy.• Coralberry Trail: 2 miles, moderate.• Gobblers Trace Trail:.5 mile, moderate.
Check out the museum and the discovery trail while in the park.
I did not add a transcript to the video please turn on the Live captions within the accessibility settings of your Google Chrome browser.
The park itself where the camping happens is actually pretty small as in one loop. We never saw a park representative. We were there on a weekday and we also did not interact with a host at the camp ground. It was very low key. It is right in town and by the main road so you will hear road noise.
It is also right next to a golf course. We hung out on the golf porch after hours enjoying the rocking chairs. We also drove by several of the local distilleries. The next morning we had donuts in town before we hit the road to our next campsite. https://www.hadornsbakery.com/
We didn't see any hiking trails but it is interesting to notice that they have a dog/bark park across the street that you can pay for access to for you and your 4 legged friend.
Tour Information
Tours are limited to no more than 9 persons to allow for social distancing. Available seven days a week from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Adults:$14 Seniors(age 62+):$12 Youth(age 13-17):$10 Children(age 6-12):$9 Toddlers(age 5& under): Free Active Military:$5 Bus Groups:$10 School Groups:$5
Information taken from https://parks.ky.gov/bardstown/parks/historic/my-old-kentucky-home-state-park
The primitive campsites by the main road do not even show up on the map or on the state's website. I am not sure how one would go about camping in the grassy area by the playground as they were nice spots.
The real reason why we came to the campground is because nearby is https://bernheim.org/ This was a wonderful place to hike and spend the day. We also got to see the forest giants. They recommend a donation of $10.00 per car and it was well worth it.
We actually turned into the campground thinking it was the Army Corps of Engineer campground and that site is located on the other side of the dairy bar. This campground is lined up right next to the fence of the other campground (See below).
We were at the https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233679 Outflow Camping for the Youghiogheny River Lake.
You will drive past this campsite if you take the road back to the dam and drive over it to the beach. They had music playing there one night while we were camping at the other campsite.
The bunk house option seems interesting but we couldn't figure it out. This is $20.00 a night. We may have to call to figure it out.
Their site lists two different prices for the season. You will notice the RVs have a nice roof over them to protect them from sun damage and weather. They are close to each other and are pretty permanent. The agreement is for a year so if you want to camp out for a solid season this maybe the site for you.
It is easy to see why folks pay for a whole season as you have different activities that you can take advantage of from biking, boating, skiing, fishing, and more.
I did not post a transcript of the videos please turn on your Google Live Captioning within your accessibility settings for the captions to be generated.
Overflow Parking is easy to access and did not require an additional fee. Our parents had their A-liner trailer on the site and their SUV. It did get tight so we moved my Honda CR-V to the over flow parking spots. It was an easy short walk to the parking lot.
The campground has easy access to the bike trail. You can see bikers camping in a certain spot for the special rate of $14.00 per biker. If you are a family of bikers it may make sense to book a traditional site.
The group campsites were awesome in size and ease for parking. One group site is fairly close to a bathroom. The 2nd group site (2A) is rather far out and would benefit from a porta john. The size limit caps at 150 campers. They have a price grid based on the number of campers. It is listed as a walk to site which is about 300 yards. The cars would be at the parking lot. 1-20 people$50, 21-40 people$60, 41-60$70, 61-80 people$80, 81-150 people$90. This site is only for non-profit groups and will need to show proof of their non-profit organization.
The beach is a short drive away over the dam. It was a great spot to spend the day with the kids floating and swimming. It was an active spot with families having a barbeque, birthday parties, and folks set up on the beach or in the upper grass area.
Next to the campground is a dairy bar that had great ice cream and food. You can either walk, bike, or even drive to it if you wish.
This was a Fall camping experience in a cabin as we knew it would be cold in the evenings. We also had a non-camper with us so this was a nice compromise. We had a cozy cabin with 2 bathrooms. We also had a small kitchen where we could cook when we didn't want to cook over the fire. This was another way for us to social distance as COVID-19 was still an issue.
I also took photos of the camping bathrooms as each KOA does it a little differently. You will notice that the bathroom is unisex. It is a single bathroom (toilet and shower). This is in the center of the campground. The bathroom photos below are not of the cabin.
The cabin you see here is the Deluxe. "Deluxe Cabin(More than two Bathrooms), Patio Deluxe Cabin(w/ Bathroom)- Evergreen KL8-9-10 Perfect for large family or two couples with two queen bedrooms, sleeping loft, 1 1/2 baths, kitchenette, 3 tvs located in quiet corner with shade trees. Sorry, Not Pet Friendly! Linens are included in all seasons except Winter. Please bring pool towels." Taken from Reservation Email.
For 2 nights it totaled $153.00 which is a good price compared to other cabins we were looking at within the region. We could have had others camping in the tent section of the campground so it is an easy way to have a mixed crowd for a camping outing.
I did type in some information into the Special Requests within my reservation booking online, as I had a question about who had to pick up the key as a friend lived closer. No one responded and I had to call them.
Cabins Check in is at 3PM and Check out is at 12 PM
We were able to buy firewood from the KOA camp office. They bring it to your campsite and we were able to grill hotdogs and other food items on our camp fire. Do read the general information closely and look at number 15 for a free scoop of ice cream.
https://www.whitehousefruitfarm.com/donuts We did a donut run and explored the farm for our outing for the day.
We also spent the day checking out a local mill https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/places/mill-creek-park/lantermans-mill/
This is one of my favorite campsites in Ohio. 5 Rivers Metro Parks really knows how to provide a great camping experience. They provide a bundle of firewood for each night that you have reserved the site. In addition, you can easily purchase more wood that will be right there at the site for you. "Your camping permit comes with one 2' x 2' bundle of firewood per night. Additional firewood available at checkout(+$10.00 per 1/32nd of a cord)." https://www.metroparks.org/rentals-permits/reserve-a-campsite/?id=786297&api=facilities&type=camp
The ranger checked in on me and also let me know he was closing the gate to the park. I had his contact information and felt safe and secure while camping here. We had an awesome conversation and I look forward to seeing him on a future visit.
I love how easy it is to put away the trash and recycle as this isn't something I see at the larger campgrounds within the state. It is refreshing to see the attention to small details such as this when camping.
The bathroom is simply a porta john. It is the accessible one and was fairly clean while I was at the site. No running water, electricity, or other perks such as being able to buy ice at the campground. You are close enough that you can run into town to stock up on more ice and items.
I spent my time at Argonne Lake but you will notice folks fishing at that lake and the other smaller lakes onsite.
Buckeye my campsite is rated as for 5 parking spots and a capacity of 12 folks. This is much more than what is allowed at our local state parks. As I mentioned it is nice and easy for a group of us to camp here. I have friends that come over from Columbus and I come up from the Cincinnati region. It is an easy drive and the parking situation is much easier for all of us to drive ourselves from each city with our own gear no shuffling of items. This spot does have other larger campsites if you need to look into that for a larger group.
"This walk-in campsite is located near Argonne Lake parking lot. It features access to hiking trails, nearby sustainable farm and demonstration gardens, as well as fishing in both the lake and fishing ponds(no license required). This site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Potable water and a restroom are located within 600 feet of campsite on the southeast side of the lake." https://www.metroparks.org/rentals-permits/reserve-a-campsite/?id=786296&api=facilities&type=camp
I have friends that love to explore the lake, ponds, sustainable farm, and the easy access to the trails. For those that need something interesting to look at you will find old abandoned items such as a pool and street car in the woods. The land has an interesting history you will want to explore.
Another thing that is impressive is that they also have a rental program. If you do not have camping gear but still want to get out and try it then you can rent it from them. https://www.metroparks.org/rentals-permits/rentals/equipment/ A set of 6 is $50.00 for the weekend. This includes the tent, sleeping pads, and sleeping bag. If you only needed a tent for the weekend that would b e $30.00. For folks that want to take advantage of their other campsites (backpacking) they have a full rental of backpacking gear for $40.00. If you only needed the backpack and and tent that would be $25.00 and if you only needed a back pack tent for the weekend that would be $15.00
In the short videos I posted you will notice that I did not add a transcript. Please turn on your Google Accessibility for Live Captions to access the spoken information within the video clips.
Shawnee State Park (Little Smokies of Ohio)
Has a great ranger/naturalist (Jenny) she made the days go by in a memorable way as we were able to do a creek crawl with her one day, kayaked for free with her on the lake, and had several other activities that we enjoyed. ODNR has a gem in Jenny as she was able to tailor the events to a wide range of abilities, interests, and ages.
Cell Phone service is weak at the park. We didn't always have a signal at the camp grounds but if you go over to the lodge you will have a signal. You can also access Wi-Fi while at the lodge if needed. The lodge has a restaurant that you can eat at if you wish. They also have an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and an indoor hot tub. If you camp at the state park campsites you can pay for a day pass. This is a great thing to do when you need a change of pace or if it is rainy and you want to swim indoors. They even have a game room (old school arcade).
Near the Shawnee State Park is a dairy bar that my family has gone to for many years. It is a part of the tradition to get Turtle Sundaes. https://www.facebook.com/Buckeye-Dairy-Bar-Miniature-Golf-166451746787194/
In the Shawnee lodge if you look closely at the main mural you will notice Raven Rock. We totally overlooked this while we were growing up. Thanks to the internet we now know this is a nature preserve. https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/raven-rock-state-nature-preserve
Our first campsite was number 12. We arrived at 5:55 PM and the camp office closes at 6:00 PM. The gal waited for us to check out the site and we promptly came back as she did indicate it was a rough site. This site and 13, 14 is what I would expect for a backpacking campsite. Not for a traditional car camping non-electric campsite. If we had any older or younger family members with us it would have been inaccessible. We didn't like the walk up to the site and the big draw back was the table in the poison ivy. We promptly for the 1st time in my camping career paid a fee to switch to a new site. Luckily the park was not super busy as it was a weekday.
Bathroom access such as the stairs, bathroom stalls ADA, and other access points will need to continue to be improved for those with mobility issues. This would have greatly impacted my friends and family had they been with me on this trip.
The showers in the bathhouse are motion sensor based. That means if you get too far from the sensor the shower will turn off. Also, make sure you take your shampoo items etc. out with you before you get dressed as if you reach back in to grab your items you will promptly get sprayed.
Another favorite spot is the fire tower https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/copperhead-fire-tower Please make sure to respect the fire tower as it is one of the few fire towers that you can still go up in and look at the beautiful view. You will not have a signal here so make sure you also ask about how to get back as we didn't have a GPS signal for the way back and just explored our way back to civilization.
The park was not super busy while we were there in June. It is a well kept secret as I found this to be one of the most charming parks that I have been to in a long time. I suspect the cell phone signal and location has impacted folks coming to this park compared to others. It isn't super close to a major city but for me that is part of the charm.
For those of you who like to mountain bike do check out the new mountain bike trails. I cannot report on those as I am not talented enough to go out on those trails;)
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A.W. Marion Campground- Campsite non-electric- 025
This was a weekday camping trip (Wednesday) and the campground was mostly empty. I never did see the two camp hosts while I was at the park. I was not able to purchase any camp fire wood or ice as they were not there. The town is close by so you can easily purchase what you need in town. I actually was lazy and had breakfast in town at Bob Evans due to the rain.
Ohio campsites no longer do walk on sites. It is easy to pull in and look at the sites to determine which one you would like and then make your purchase online. I do this to ensure I get a camp spot near the host(s) and that I am close to the bathroom. It also allows me to see the conditions of the campsite before I pay for it. You won't be able to take a shower at this campground. Hopefully, ODNR will add a shower house in the future as this would make the campsites even better.
The playground seems new as I don't recall seeing it in the past but my memory could be faulty. The group campsites seemed to be better cared for this time with some improvements. There is a simple basketball court for kids to play at as well.
This park is pretty basic and near the lake. You do have to go around to the other side to access the marina.
I have not added a transcript of my spoken descriptions that can be heard in each video. Please turn on the Google Live Access for the auto captioning feature in your browser. This can be located in your Google Settings/Advanced/Accessibility/ and enable the captions.
Yellow Springs is a popular destination in Ohio. Make sure you do your homework when coming to the area as they have a lot happening in a small area. You will notice the two restaurants mentioned down below in the photos. One of them is an old mill that you can walk around at certain times of the year.
This site was so low key and didn't have a lot of people. We saw a few cars and trucks during our weekend as it is a canoe launch. Locals also will stop here to hike and avoid the crowds in town. It isn't far from the bike trail so those who are more adventurous might look into how to connect the route for those that don't mind biking some on the road.
The porta john was clean and we did see a park ranger a few times during our visit. The sheriff also drove through at one time. Their presence was visible and a short friendly wave to us. You need to keep your permit handy in case they do ask to see it. I kept mine in the windshield. When you make your reservation online you will need to know the car make/model, year, and license plate number. This is done for safety reasons and to ensure cars are parked in the appropriate locations for the appropriate time/reasons.
Set up is 3:00 PM and Departure is at 12:00 PM. The reservation service fee was very reasonable and is less than what ODNR charges for their online reservations. The service fee was $1.33 and you cannot have more than 10 folks at a campsite. It is also important to know that the site does not have electricity or clean drinking water. You will need to bring in the water that you will need for cooking and cleaning during your stay.
https://www.gcparkstrails.com/activities/camping/ This is the webpage that you will want to look at for making the reservation.
Cowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park. It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. This is good if you want to meet with friends somewhat in between. It isn't too close to the highway so you don't hear the road noise as it is a few miles away but it is an easy drive to the park.
They have been revamping the Nature Center to make it more accessible to folks as they have recently added a ramp. The Nature Center actually has two buildings side by side used for different purposes. Then behind the Nature Center they have a location where several birds are located in cages. Then next to where the birds are kept you will notice a new paw print trail that is a short but informative hike.
The commissary has great pizza and ice cream. We also bought our firewood and ice from them as well. We didn't need to leave the park. We had a few trails to pick from and picked two of the shorter ones for members in our group.
The cabins have been revamped as well. They are all close to each other so if you wanted to have a family reunion or a get together this would be a great spot to do so. At the end of the main road it will lead you to the lake. You can use the dock to put your boat out (kayak and certain motor boats). Folks are fishing at the lake or simply enjoying the beauty of the lake.
The beach is simple but that is part of the charm. It is clean and we were able to swim on the hot days that we had while camping.
Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different. For the forest office I go to Co Rd 939, Perrysville, OH 44864
Do not camp illegally or without a reservation. They do post signs and ask other campers to report the illegal camping.
The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite. This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10. If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail. The parking lot was clean and easy to access.
I had limited cell phone signal while here but this had the best signal out of the 10 sites.
All of the Park and Pack camp sites do not have a bathroom. As you can see from this site I took the time to take a picture of the moon pole. So do leave no trace of your bathroom habits.
This site was great for both hammocks and tents. You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome. We had another camper over by that spot so I didn't take pictures of his gear. He had a hammock and tent set up. He was camping at the spot for a week for his vacation. On our last night at this site another backpacker came through and set up. Make sure you get a reservation and look closely at the board at the kiosk. Our main camper at this site was gracious as he had booked the site for the week most folks didn't realize the site was taken as his name was so far up the clipboard. We weren't alone in not realizing that and he enjoyed the brief company we provided as good neighbors to each other.
First off this campsite was the hardest for us to find but it is the easiest to get to in terms of walking. How does this happen? We took the main trail head at the bridle parking lot but this isn't where you should go. The main trail head gets you to sites 1- 3.
You need to be in the same area but instead look over by the pavilion you will see the trail campsite marker for #4 campsite marked. You will never ever find it on the loop. The map is misleading. We naturally did the whole red loop looking for it and never did find it.
So once again go to the pavilion and look over by the firewood shed. You will see the trail to campsite number 4.
This is the easiest and safest to get to if you have any issues with mobility. It is almost a rails and trails walk into this campsite. I have a friend with mobility challenges and can walk on wide open trails. It is gravel but this site and number 10 is what I would pick for her. 10 does have a slight up and in that could be a challenge but it is largely flat.
It is close to the trail but we only saw two ladies pass us by when we were camping here. We did arrive to the campsite late as we did a loop that we didn't need to hike as we were looking for this in the wrong part of the bridle section.
Cell phone coverage with Verizon was very limited out here. Download your maps before you go. No near by water source for this campsite.
I will come back to add "captions" to my videos in the picture description boxes down below.
Campsite number 3 is also on a short creek crossing. Nothing to worry about with your pack on this August sunny day. It had plenty of space for tents and hammocks. It was close enough to hang out by the creek if you wanted.
No cell phone service for Verizon. On this post for the Park and Pack I focused on the forest postings. Do register before you do the long walk out here (depends on which way you do the loop).
You don't want to do illegal camping at the Park and Pack sites as they do keep an eye out for it. They also want folks to call it in to discourage bad behaviors. I spoke to such a guy in the Park and Pack parking lot as illegal campers had taken up a spot for another park and pack camper that did register.
It is nice no official check in and check out time like you have at the state park campsites. However, the early bird does get the worm or in this case the camp site. It is harder for folks that live further away to get their hands on a site. As there are only 10.
The ranger office is closed at this time. Make sure you go to the Mohican Memorial Forest office and not the Mohican State Park office. They are located close to the covered bridge in the park. I use the GPS address Co Rd 939, Perrysville Ohio to locate the ranger office. That being said going here you can register and see where everyone is going by looking at the clip board.
As always keep the local numbers handy and take photos of the map. They do have a few at the trail head kiosk but no maps were at the registration kiosk.
This site was one of my favorites as it was right by the creek. The creek was clear and cool. It was also far enough away that I wouldn't be constantly worried about it. Still something to be mindful of when camping near water.
Crossing the creek the water at this time was ankle high. No cell phone service for Verizon at this time.
Make sure that you look for the red blazes on the trees at the start of the trail. I would recommend downloading the various bridle trails (Mohican) on the AllTrails app. The paper map provided at the trail head was missing some information.
The parking lot is well maintained. Just a heads up as we parked in the wrong section make sure you go to the outer section of the parking lot. Act like you are leaving and then look to your left you will see the Park and Pack sign. This is to keep you separate from the horse section and parking lot. We missed it our first two times to the parking lot. We did park in the wrong section and no one hassled us. It was odd though coming back to our car and it being the only one in that spot. The other Park and Pack folks knew where to park. We didn't see it until we were leaving.
This campsite you just briefly leave the main trail to cross the creek to your own private campsite. We loved loved this site. We felt so spoiled as it isn't the crowed state parking campsite that you often think of when you think of camping.
It has a good mix of space for tents and hammocks. A larger group could easily camp here together without feeling like they were on top of each other.
A well hidden campsite. We almost walked past it and didn't even know it. Toledo another hiker on the trail was still looking for it and never found it. This is one of the smallest camp sites. It would be hard to put a big tent here so make sure you use your smaller tents. You can easily hang hammocks back here. If I were to pick which way I would go for this site it would be hammock camping hands down.
This one does have a creek crossing after you leave the camp site. It was the deepest part of the creek and muddy leading up to it. This is because the trail is also the horse trail in the forest. The water is muddy so I wouldn't creek at this spot but it does have easy water access.
This was nice on a hot day and if you needed to filter water it would be super easy. However, do be aware that horses are going through the water. Horse poop and pee is not distracting from the camp site as it is far enough away. No real bug issues at this site.
You have the official fire ring and also the fire ring that folks have created from river rocks. You should use the official fire ring as rangers will not be pleased with other fire rings. I never did see a ranger but folks talked about them.
Make sure you register for your site and do not camp illegally. It is an issue here and they are looking to make sure folks did register at the kiosk at the ranger station. It is currently a clip board system. The actual office is closed due to COVID-19. Do get to the clip board early as these sites are popular. No reservation system so you really don't know which one you will be able to get when you drive up to the forest.
Also, make sure that when you use your GPS to the kiosk/ranger office that you do so inside of the forest. Many folks accidentally end up at the Mohican State Park which is right next door.
For my GPS I use the phrase Mohican State Forest Offices to get to the right spot. This is Co Rd 939, Perrysville, Ohio 44864
Your cell phone signal (Verizon) will be limited back here. It will work at some of the high points. I use the trail app AllTrails to help me navigate back here. You will want the Mohican Red Bridle Trail Loop, Mohican Blue to Red Bridle Trail Loop, and the Mohican Yellow Bridle Trail Loop. When you look at the paper map that is provided at the kiosk it doesn't have all of the waypoints/letters that the use back in the woods. I had to use my app, paper map, and an earlier photo of a map to identify what a certain point was on the loop.