Lake Milton State Park

Lake Milton State Park is a 2,691-acre day-use park in Lake Milton, Ohio, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Water accounts for most of that total: the sheet lists 1,685 acres of water against 1,006 acres of land, making the lake itself the park's dominant feature. The park's own description calls it home to some of the best recreational waters in Ohio, and highlights boating, swimming and fishing as its main draws.

The park suits boaters, anglers and swimmers more than backcountry hikers, since its trail system is short and its facilities cluster around the lake and beach. A 600-foot beach, a marina, seasonal boat docks, and an accessible fishing pier give the park a working-waterfront feel, while the surrounding shoreline supports waterfowl and shorebird habitat.

Plan your visit

Camping & lodging

1 mapped camping locations

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Address: 16801 Mahoning Avenue, Lake Milton, OH, 44429
Phone: (330) 235-0030
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.

On the ground

The Mahoning River is the park's named historic feature, tying Lake Milton to the broader river system that runs through this part of Ohio. Lake Milton State Park sits within the Appalachian Plateau, a landscape that was overridden by glaciers roughly 12,000 years ago and today mixes rolling hills, forests, bogs, old fields, streams and lakes. That plateau setting is described as a meeting ground for plant and forest types from the southern Appalachians and the northern Allegheny region, including stands of white oak and hickory typical of the south.

On the ground, the park offers a Nature Trail running 1.25 miles on the northwest side of the lake near the dam, and a Paved Trail of 1.0 mile on the east side of Lake Milton near the marina. A Storybook Trail near the amphitheater at the north end of the beach covers approximately half a mile, following a paved path beside the lake and a wooded area, with a Free Little Library at its start. Ways mapped near the park total 0.87 miles across 18 segments, a small footprint reflecting how much of the park's activity centers on the water rather than the trail network.

Practical notes

Park hours run 6am to 11pm daily, and visitors are permitted to actively engage in legitimate recreational activities outside these hours. The park office can be reached at (330) 235-0030.