Guilford Lake State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Guilford Lake State Park is located in the eastern part of Ohio and is considered one of the state's hidden gems.
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Summary
The park offers a variety of activities for visitors including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. The lake itself is the main attraction as it spans over 400 acres and is home to a variety of fish species.
Some of the park's highlights include the spacious campground, which offers both electric and non-electric sites, as well as a group camping area. There are also several picnic areas and a beach for swimming and sunbathing.
One of the most popular activities at Guilford Lake State Park is fishing. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish. Visitors can also rent a boat or bring their own to explore the lake's many coves and inlets.
In addition to outdoor activities, the park also has a number of historical sites to explore. The nearby village of Hanoverton is home to several historic buildings, including the Spread Eagle Tavern and Museum and the Hanoverton Canal Town District.
The best time to visit Guilford Lake State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the lake is best for swimming and boating. However, the park is open year-round and offers hiking and cross-country skiing trails for visitors to enjoy during the winter months.
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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.
Related References
Scenic Vista Park
Waterworth Memorial Park
Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Park