Forked Run Lake
Forked Run Lake sf-dvs · CC BY 2.0

Forked Run State Park

State Park · Ohio · Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Forked Run State Park covers 911 acres in Reedsville, Ohio, including 791 acres of forested hill land and 120 acres of water. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park, which sits in the unglaciated hill country of southeastern Ohio, where glacial meltwaters rather than ice carved the surrounding valleys and hillsides. Forested hills, a picturesque lake and the lazy Ohio River characterize 791-acre Forked Run State Park, as the agency describes it. Much of the surrounding forest was cut in the mid-1800s to fuel local iron furnaces, and oak, hickory, maple, and tuliptree have since regrown across the ravines and hillsides.

Its lake, beach, and campground make it a straightforward base for a few days outdoors, with the Ohio River's long history of travel and trade running through the area just beyond the park boundary.

Plan your visit

Camping & lodging

11 mapped camping locations

Forked Run State Park Campground offers Electric and Non-electric sites, Camper Cabins and a Group Camp. During the winter camping season, facilities may be limited.

Know before you go

Address
63300 State Route 124, Reedsville, OH, 45772
Phone
(740) 378-6206
Official site
ohiodnr.gov
Managed by
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Hours
6am to 11pm daily. Visitors are permitted to actively engage in legitimate recreational activities outside these hours. If you have questions, call the park office.

Getting there

63300 State Route 124, Reedsville, OH, 45772

Directions on Google Maps →

On the ground

The Ohio River once carried Native American canoe traffic, served as a territorial boundary, and later carried flatboats and steamers shipping passengers and cargo between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Nearby, the mouth of the Shade River was known as the Devil's Hole, a place Native Americans crossed with prisoners and plunder before traveling the Shade River valley toward their towns on the Scioto. That river history sits just outside the park, while inside its boundaries the lake and its shoreline trails are the main draw.

Three trails thread the park: the easy 0.6-mile Honeysuckle Trail, the moderate 2.2-mile Lakeview Trail, and the moderate 0.75-mile Riverview Trail. The Lakeview Trail is the longest of the three, tracing the 120-acre lake at the center of the park. A dam and spillway mark the lake, which also has two boat launch ramps, one on Curtis Hollow Road and one at the dam with tie-ups and wheelchair access. Boats over 10HP must run at no-wake speed on the lake, and there is no horsepower limit otherwise. A 400-foot sand beach sits along the shoreline, with swimming permitted only in designated areas.

Photos

Practical notes

Forked Run State Park Campground offers electric and non-electric sites, camper cabins, and a group camp, though facilities may be limited during the winter camping season. Park hours run from 6am to 11pm daily, and visitors may continue legitimate recreational activities outside that window. The park office can be reached at (740) 378-6206. The park is located at 63300 State Route 124, Reedsville, OH, 45772.

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Sources: State agency, Wikimedia Commons / editorial, OpenStreetMap contributors, USGS PAD-US, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12