Fairly large state park with a a nice size lake and beach area. We visited with the intent to hike. However we checked out the lake and beach area before heading to the trail. It's a nice size sandy beach area and there were a large number of people enjoying the sunny day. We chose a trail that was shared with bicycles (unknown until we saw trailhead). And although the trail was a beautiful walk through wooded areas it was rather distracting to have to move over and be on the look out for the bikers (and they definitely outnumbered the walkers) If we visit again we will have to do more research for a footpath only trail. read more

See all

My wife and I love hiking here. We enjoy hiking here in the fall, spring, and summer. The trails are nice and long. They're also wide enough if you're into trail biking. The camping sites are also nice and clean. They have a diverse array of trees, birds, and animals in their woods. The trails are like a 1.5 to 2 out of 5 in difficulty. There's one spot in a trail where you should be prepared to get a little wet. So would recommend wearing water resistant or water proof hiking shoes. These trails are not rocky enough to wear a helmet difficult, but you will work up a sweat. During fall and spring the trails can get a little slick and tricky. The paths are clear and the animals are chill. They usually do their own thing. The park rangers are also super friendly. read more

See all

My wife and I stopped here for a few days on our way towards Kentucky. We were lucky to get a spot in the full service area for the days we needed and are very happy that we did! It's a beautiful campsite! Many luxurious options. If you have the golden buckeye card, it is extremely financially attractive to stay during the week! Several picnic shelters are available along with multiple outdoor playgrounds that are absolutely top quality! There is even outdoor ping-pong and corn hole in addition to little free libraries! read more

See all

Enjoyed an late morning and afternoon here for a High School rowing competition. Ample parking for only three teams competing. Unfortunately the bathrooms were still closed - it's past the start of spring, folks...get your facilities un-winterized! Overall though, it's a nice park and lake. read more

East Fork State Park - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

Not too many good-sized lakes near Cincinnati, so we drove out to check out East Fork Lake a couple times this summer. We were going to attempt kayaking, but when we arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday, it was very crowded. There were many people hanging out by the launch area, and already quite a few boats in the area. We decided to try swimming instead, and had to walk down a fair ways to find a space that allowed us to keep distanced. Under the water, there are so many large rocks, it is hard to walk comfortably. Unsurprisingly, there was not a single mask on the beach - I know it's tricky in this kind of environment, but they're needed for when you're walking around. We came back early on a weekday morning, and the conditions were much better for kayaking. The beach was empty. We saw seagulls and herons, but no turtles. We kept an eye out for the bigger boats - one definitely didn't see us until last minute - and we had to paddle a lot to check out the far sides of the lake. read more

East Fork State Park - Morning kayaking - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

It's a pretty decent place for a day hike. Although sometimes the trails just disappear on you and you have no idea of where to go. Do not come here after it's rained recently. Unless you don't mind walking in mud that goes up to your knees. The beaches can be nice and a pretty decent place to chill. But most of the times I've been here there are signs up warning about the toxic algae in the water. I also would not recommend this place for camping. There's not enough here to justify staying the night. Just come for the day and go home. Plus the firewood that I got from the camp store is the worst firewood I have ever seen. Which is saying a lot since I've been camping for over 3 decades. read more

Huge park. We were there to paddle. As such, we did not check out any of the trails. Boat launch was fairly busy. If paddling, be aware that motorboats are allowed on the lake. There is a no wake area, but that is near the boat launch. It wouldn't be very enjoyable to just stay in that area and paddle. There were boats really hauling out there. Still, it was a nice lake to paddle in the Fall. Based on how busy it was, I think it would almost be too busy to enjoy in the summer. Despite a recent cleanup, I saw quite a bit of trash on the shores. It was interesting to see seagulls inland. I tried to get a picture of them but it just didn't come out well. One of the boat launch areas is currently under construction. (Fall 2019) The boat launch at the campground is still available. The day we went there was a trick or treat event happening later that night. As such, the streets were going to be closed at 4:30pm. It ment we had a limited window to paddle. I was shocked at how full the campgrounds were. People take this event seriously. Campsites were decorated for Halloween. This wasn't just a few decorations hung. Tents and campgrounds were adorned with inflatables, and other large-scale decorations. read more

See all

Awesome park for hiking, boating and fishing! Stay under the speed limit when driving around the park.

My favorite place to mountain bike. Trails for beginner-advanced. Can get a little crowded on the weekend. Around 12 miles total w beautiful scenery. read more

East Fork State Park - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

Nice park with water access, bike and hiking trails. Good birdwatching areas. We had a full hook up and the camp host made rounds to make sure everything was as it should be. We will be coming back this way and staying here. read more

Reviewed exactly 5 years ago; I'm adding a star:) While it's not my very favorite park, it is always very clean and well maintained. I guess just the shear size of it makes a little 'disconnect' for me. Since the last time I reviewed they have added more full hook ups, which i love; I do wish they would add one or two more bathrooms. It can be quite a walk depending on where your site is. The lake is beautiful; great for kayaking! read more

Great park and fishing. Super get away for a few days from the rat race. Make new friends at the. Campground. Try it !

Decided to go trail running in East Fork State Park the other day. A couple of things I noticed. For pro's, the place is huge and offers a lot of space for many different activities. They have backpacking, mountain biking, boating, beaching, horseback riding etc. There are multiple camp sites and you can even pitch a tent in the middle of the woods, if your heart desires. During my run I saw more than a few deer and squirrel, so that is pretty cool as well. As for cons, the signage here is awful! I drove by the trails multiple times because I didn't realize where they started. During my run I noticed that a few other people were having issues as well, they were driving slow and looking all around trying to figure out where to go. Oh and also, bad signage doesn't just apply to the roads, it applies to the trails too. I ended up getting lost on a 12 mile trail because I couldn't make out the paint on the trees, which is what directs you through the trail. All I know is that my 30/40 minute trail run ended up being 3.5 hours. Yikes! Tip: Get a map at the "Marine Station". You will need it! read more

East Fork State Park - Backing packing trail - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

See all

East Fork is a peculiar place. The center of the park is a manmade lake where the land was flooded but many trees were left standing, so be careful when taking a boat into certain spots of the lake. The fishing there can be decent, but sometimes East Fork even experiences bouts of Red Tide, which makes for a bad day at the beach. That's unfair because there is plenty good about it: a large campground, tons of hiking, biking, and even horse-riding trails for people with all kinds of different interests. East Fork Lake may not be the real deal, but for many on the east side of Cincinnati, it's a great way to get away. read more

East Fork State Park - Courtesy of Ohio State Parks Website - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

It was we all had a good but thay did not have Any percoions to keep us 6 feet that it the only this that was bad

We stayed at the campground 217 and there was a big party behind us. There were lots of motorcycles came by with loud noise, people were having conversations with loud voices until 2am, and it was still going on. Is there any security office can we call? Also, bathroom was far and inconvenient, we almost got lost coming back from the bathroom. This experience was horrible and we will never come back again. read more

I struggle with what I really think of this park, because it is so big, and there is so much more that I havent even explored yet, so I may update in the future, but so far we are at 3 stars for what I have seen/used. The main thing I have done is kayaking, and I try to go at less crowded times when there isn't the threat of tons of bigger speed boats on the lake causing a lot of wake. On the most recent day I went, there were quite a few motor boats, but staying on the outskirts worked out fine, and there are some no wake areas near the 3 boat ramps and beach. Sadly when paddling the outskirts there is a TON of garbage on the shores. There is lots of cool wildlife, but the water is pretty murky, definitely wouldnt swim here. There is a small beach on one side, but it is pretty gravely sand. There are several nice docks for people without boats to walk out on. This lake must have a ton of fish because they were jumping up all around the boat, so bring your fishing pole! I have also done some hiking here, but so far the areas explored haven't been super impressive. There is also novice mountain biking which is nice. Not one time that i've been here have I seen a park employee which I think is odd. Havent tried the camping area or horse trails yet. Mostly, the draw of this park is it is within 3 miles of my house so I can ride my bike here, or barely secure the kayak for the short drive. read more

See all

The park itself is beautiful but I would NEVER go there to swim like I did when I was younger. The water is nasty. There is always something floating in the water like diapers, condoms etc. I can't take my granddaughter there because you never know if you will run into drug deals or prostitution. Stay away from the beach if you can help it. read more

It's a nice campground, we've been coming back for years. Avoid site b28, it has constant standing water due to several big holes and the water spigot drain doesn't drain, it just overflows into the site. Also, avoid loop b entirely for memorial weekend, 4th of July and Labor Day weekend.. unless you like music blaring from 8:30AM to 10PM+ all day long. The same group occupies the center area of the loop and blares music and runs a leaf blower at all hours or the day. Park staff wouldn't do anything about the noise, so I guess quite hours rules are for everyone else.... read more

East Fork State Park is a decent get-a-way for anyone looking to take a little time off from the hustle and bustle of an active metropolitan area. Just close enough so that you're not taking a whole day to get there and back, East Fork (located on the outskirts of Amelia and Bethel) is far enough to escape the day-to-day stresses and pressures that come along with an average work week. The closet state park in the tri-state area (not to be confused with the numerous Hamilton County Parks) it's a decent offering as state parks go. East Fork has everything you would expect to find in a state park. A number of hiking and biking trails to enjoy, the main attraction of the park is of course the lake. My wife and I have taken the kids here on a number of occasions for a swim. And when my father-in-law has been down for a visit, he's taken the kids out on his canoe. The lake is nice for a swim, although I'm partial to oceans myself. It's big enough for boats to either glide or race across without disturbing the swimmers. As for facilities, they're pretty bare. There are bathrooms that offer a changing area for swimmers not too far from the shore. A recently built pavilion with an outdoor fireplace honors the memory of Matt Maupin, who many in the Cincinnati area know as one of the first American casualties of the Iraq War. There is not a snack bar which is a bit of a bummer. So bring your own food and drinks. Occasionally an ice cream truck will arrive and park right down next to the beach for a while. That's the only time you can get something that you didn't bring with you. That's pretty much it. It's a nice park. It's free, but to be honest I'd recommend paying the nominal fee (I think it's just $10 a year) so you can enjoy the Hamilton County Parks. There are more amenities and those parks just look nice. But if you're looking for free, then East Fork is the way to go. Mahalo, and enjoy. read more

First camping experience in the US and I was impressed. The camping ground is big and the spots you get have a spot for a car, a firepit and electricity pole. You can pick a place and feel as if you're the only ones there. It's so quiet and peaceful and you get to see a lot of stars. Still, you have the luxury of a bathroom and showers, and electricity so it is perfect for non-seasoned campers! We did 2 hikes: the red and the orange trail. The red trail was extremely muddy, but still a lot of fun. The orange trail was 8 miles, but a lot less muddy and took us to some amazing lake views. We arrived on Friday evening and left on Saturday evening and it was the perfect getaway. So close to Cincinnati, yet a different world! read more

Due to flooding, we had to go to the beach on the other side of the lake and camping area. The dogs were able to swim on the very end of the beach where it was rocky, which was expected. They had fun. We packed a lunch and ate on the covered swing. The campground it self was nice. We did a little hiking with the dogs. They like that too. Why 3 stars...the bathrooms. They could have been cleaner. That's all. read more

East Fork beach is so pristine! I must admit, I'm from the opposite end of the state of Ohio, and I got lost trying to find the beach for over an hour (with my husband sleeping in the car not being able to complain about me being directionaly challenged). But once I got directions from a lady at the campground area, she gave me a map that said the address was in Bethel not Batavia (neighboring towns) & it all made sense. I found the beach but I had very little time to spend since I was in the area for a friend's housewarming party and was due back home at the end of the day. But I took my half hour here at the beach and with my husband still sleeping in the car I absorbed every ounce of sunshine I could get. It was one of those Indian summer days in late September. The sky was clear, the beach was big and the water was sparkling and warm. It was so serene. I don't know if this beach gets crowded in the real summer months, I was there in technically fall, it seems like it might be a popular destination. But since it is located in the middle of nowhere (just kidding, maybe 45 minutes outside of Cincinnati) maybe it never gets crowded. I will without a doubt return to this beach when I am back in the area. read more

East Fork State Park - Hiking Near Me - Bethel, Ohio

See all

Huge park with nice lake, small beach, leafy forest inhabited by wild turkeys, deers, lots of birds etc. Unfortunately, the signs and marks are insufficient and confusing. When we arrived on Sat afternoon the Park Office was closed and without the map it's hard to navigate. The beach area was clean, but there were no snack bars, so bring your food. The boathouse was closed as well, but we saw some kayaks on the water, which must be cool. We wanted to go for a bike ride, but the park only offers mountain bike paths through the forest, no paved loops! Lots of hiking and picknicking options. The area seems very 'wild' and underdeveloped, which may be a huge plus for nature lovers. Would love to come to see foliage there, must be amazing! read more

Sites are numbered and very easy to find. The park is huge! Most sites have the picnic table and fire ring in the woods behind the RV! It has a paved bike path. Sites are very spacious, quiet, and secluded. The lake is very nice. Parking pads are blacktop. Camping area is mostly gravel or grass. It rained ALL day my first day and I had no problem with mud at my site. I'd recommend this park to everyone and I'll definitely be back! read more

The park wasn't as I remembered it. The lake was empty on a Monday. It was nice. There was some trash off to the side of the lake but not anywhere that would be seen just by glancing over. The picnic shelter my family and I found was dirty though. Huge piles of old charcoal under the grills, graffiti everywhere, lots and lots of garbage from wildlife making its say into the unchanged trash bins and broken picnic tables. Our kids had fun so it wasn't too much of a bother but really, it never used to be this rundown. We checked the water conditions on the website before considering our trip there to make sure the lake was safe. That is a nice feature to be able to look online. I really hope they consider more picnic areas and clean them up a bit...it's still summer. read more

East Fork Camp Ground is one of the nicest state parks in our area. Their campsites are spacious, they offer full hook-up sites, as well as electric only. They have updated bath houses and restrooms. They have over 400 campsites so the park is really large and offers a lot of space to roam. They have a sub-par putt-putt course, and a small camp store. They have equestrian trails and a few hiking trails. The lake isn't as nice as it was in years past, but it still draws a crowd of boaters. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and will surely return. read more

On a scale of 1 to Yosemite, this state parks ranks about 20 for wilderness adventures. No, you are not going to be dazzled by the amazing scenery or pristine woodland. You may see a few roaming deer, ducks, or the occasional unidentifiable carcass, but let's face it, you're at a man-made lake in the middle of Ohio. However, there aren't too many places in the Cincinnati area where you can wander through the woods, so I'll just go ahead and lower my standards for this. Pros include easily accessible parking and facilities. The park is very large, so there are plenty of trails to explore. Hiking trails of vary in length for the most timid to the most ambitious traveler. There is even a cool "Indian Mound" that you can check out and the reservoir...I mean "lake..." is peaceful and seems relatively clean for swimming for fishing. The park even offers campsites to rent for your true backwoods ambiance. Cons include the fact that you never really feel like you're deep into the woods due to the traffic and population density of the area, there is plenty of trash along the shoreline and in the woods, and the man-made features are a constant reminder that you are still in Ohio. The thing about all of this (not sure if pro or con) is that you pretty much don't need a map if you're going for just a little day hike (oh, add "availability of an accurate map" to my list of cons). If you were to get lost, you could pretty much walk in any direction and you'll end up hitting the "lake" or a road within a few minutes. If I can leave you with a tiny piece of advice, I encourage you to do a little research on the area because there is some diverse cultural history to check out. read more

Campground sites are nice and spacious in the area we stayed in (Section E). The bath house was nice but the quantity of showers and restrooms is severly lacking for the number of sites in that section. We were not told that there was ecoli found in the lake water and it was recommended to stay out of the water, even though the staff knew we were heading out to fish they even recommended the beach area even though it was closed. read more

I went hiking on warm winter day in Jan, and the trails were extremely muddy. Also, one of the trails runs along side the road which really takes away from the scenery. All in all though it's a pretty cool place, and I would definitely check it out again. read more

Love,love,love this park. The trails are awesome and I can run without having to worry about traffic. I have run some trail runs up here as well and I have always been glad I went. read more

Let me start by saying we have spent many nights in numerous Ohio State Park campgrounds in the past. Since we had our RV on a permanent site for the past few years we had not been to a State Park in a while. All I can say is what a change. This may be annoying to some but ever since Ohio privatized the State Parks they are just not as well kept as they used to be. The site was muddy, rest rooms were nasty and of course the gate was unmanned most of the time allowing for anyone to come and go as they please. Yes it is a big area with lots of trees and it has a large man made lake but it is just not what the Ohio parks used to be. Frankly it is a shame that as usual whenever a private company becomes involved all they care about is profit. read more

Great place to camp. Has pet camping and horse camping areas. Great riding trails, hiking trails, boating ramps, beach areas, picnicking areas and shelters. Nice clean park with lots to do. read more

Very pretty park with hiking, mountain biking, a lot of pretty covered picnic areas to grill, and boat (big docking area)! There's even a beach area if that's what you're into. We haven't fully explored yet, but I like what I've seen so far. read more

There are many things to do at the park. I personally will not get in the water because of the oil and gas from the boats. I have camped here so many times and never had a complaint. read more

Love East Fork state park, however I wish that they could fence in some area's for the horses so that you don't have to tie them up if you are camping or having a picnic with the family. It would be nice to be able to release the horses in the field so they could graze/ a water area there for them too, while you take a break . Also wish they would follow up on the plans to build a hotel for ppl to stay at... Also needs more areas for kids to play at and make them in the shade so the kids don't get burnt on everything! Just a few suggestions.... A money maker for eastfork too would be renting boats, ski doo's, kayaks, paddle boards, and parasailing ect... Our park could be soooo much more if they offered sooo much more. thx, Holly Fouch read more

for one thing, this lake and park are BIG. if you don't like one area, try another. the beach was pretty good when i went there recently. the pebble beach was clean and the water was clean enough. not great visibility, but it's august so the volume is low and the water is warm. it still tests clean enough to swim in by the state and EPA monitoring people. they have a link to their test results on their website. as far as lake swimming goes, i give it a thumbs up. the picnic areas are nice, secluded and have flush bathrooms. i would definitely come again. read more