Lake Hope State Park
State Park · Ohio · Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- 15 named trails
- Camping
- 3,103 acres
Lake Hope State Park covers 3,103 acres in southeastern Ohio, near McArthur. The park combines 2,983 acres of land and 120 acres of water, the latter forming Lake Hope itself. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park, which sits entirely within the Zaleski State Forest in the valley of Big Sandy Run. It suits visitors looking for a forested, lake-centered park with a mix of paddling, fishing, hiking, and camping rather than a single dramatic feature.
Ancient Native Americans began digging for a black rock called Zaleski flint in the area about 4,000 years ago, shaping it into arrowheads and spear points that were traded across the Midwest. The Adena culture, who lived in the Ohio Valley from 800 B.C.E. to 100 C.E., built the Zaleski Mound Group south of the park in Zaleski State Forest, and the mounds were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Delaware (Lenape) nation, who moved to Ohio in the early 1700s, was the main Native American group living in the Lake Hope area. That layered past, combined with a working lake and surrounding state forest, makes Lake Hope a good fit for travelers who want both quiet natural recreation and a sense of the region's long human history.
Plan your visit
Trails
15 named routes 15.04 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km
- 3.21 Furnace Trail
- 2.63 Peninsula Trail
- 2.09 Little Sandy Trail
- 2.01 M-N Trail
- 1.08 Tulip Trail
- 0.60 N-O Trail
- 0.48 Red Oak Trail
- 0.47 Archery Trail
Camping & lodging
16 mapped camping locations
Site types & reservations: see the official site.
Know before you go
- Address
- 27331 State Route 278, McArthur, OH, 45651
- Phone
- (740) 596-4938
- 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
27331 State Route 278, McArthur, OH, 45651
Directions on Google Maps →On the ground
Lake Hope, the 120-acre water body at the park's center, is held back by a dam and spillway near where the swimming beach and boat ramp are located along State Route 278. The Furnace Trail, at 3.21 miles, runs near the head of the lake and is the longest named route mapped near the park. The Peninsula Trail, at 2.63 miles, follows the shoreline. Buzzard Cave, listed among the park's natural features, is reached via the Buzzard Cave Trail, and the Keeton cemetery trail leads to the historic Keeton Cemetery. Other named routes near the park, including the Little Sandy Trail, M-N Trail, and Tulip Trail, add up with the rest to 15.04 miles of mapped ways across 30 segments, most of it dirt or unpaved surface.
Historic structures scattered through the park point to its iron-making and settlement past: the Hope Iron Furnace and the Hope Schoolhouse stand alongside the dam and spillway and Keeton Cemetery as the park's four listed historic features. Anglers fish for bluegill, catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass, and a valid Ohio fishing license is required for those 16 and older. The Lake Hope Boathouse rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, and pontoon boats in spring, summer, and fall. Swimming is permitted in designated areas along a 600-foot beach near the dam, with a beach house, sun deck, boathouse shelter, and concessions. Hunting is not permitted within the park, though it is allowed in the adjacent Zaleski State Forest. The park offers a family campground with electric and non-electric sites and camper cabins, along with cabin options including the Laurel Lodge, which accommodates up to 24 guests, and the Lake Hope Dining Lodge overlooks the lake and offers a restaurant.
Photos
Practical notes
Park hours run from 6am to 11pm daily, though visitors engaged in legitimate recreational activities are permitted outside those hours. The park is located at 27331 State Route 278, McArthur, OH, 45651, and the park office can be reached at (740) 596-4938.
Nearby parks
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Browse all Ohio parks →Sources: State agency, Wikimedia Commons / editorial, OpenStreetMap contributors, USGS PAD-US, Google Places · updated 2026-08-23