Summary
Some good reasons to visit include camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming. The park covers over 1,200 acres and has a 102-acre lake with a beach area for swimming.
One of the main points of interest at Forked Run State Park is the Forked Run Dam, which was built in 1967 to control flooding and generate hydroelectric power. Visitors can view the dam from several hiking trails in the area.
Another interesting feature of the park is the mature forests, which include oak, hickory, and maple trees. The park also has several wildflower species, including trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and May apple.
The best time of year to visit Forked Run State Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the park is in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy fishing and boating on the lake, hiking the trails, and camping in the park's campsites.
Overall, Forked Run State Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. Its natural beauty, interesting history, and variety of recreational opportunities make it a must-visit destination in Ohio.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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