A Scenic Overlook in Scioto Trail State Park near Chillicothe, Ohio. Self made photo.
A Scenic Overlook in Scioto Trail State Park near Chillicothe, Ohio. Self made photo. Analogue Kid at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5

Scioto Trail State Park

State Park · Ohio · Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Scioto Trail State Park covers 248 acres just south of Chillicothe, Ohio, within the much larger 9,000-acre Scioto Trail State Forest in Ross County. Of that total, 218 acres are land and 30 acres are water. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park. It sits in the Appalachian foothills along the Scioto River, where rugged ridgetops and wooded valleys carry oak and hickory forest reminiscent of the southern Appalachians. In spring the trails run past flowering dogwood and redbud, with woodland wildflowers such as spring beauties, Dutchman's breeches, wild blue phlox and wild geranium on the forest floor, and ferns, mosses and lichens covering the sandstone outcroppings.

The park suits hikers, paddlers and campers looking for a quieter wooded stop near the historic mound sites around Chillicothe, rather than a destination built around a single big attraction. Its small scale and hand-powered lake keep it low-key, with camping, fishing and picnicking as the main draws alongside the forest scenery.

Plan your visit

Trails

11 named routes 15.19 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

  • 2.63 Buckeye Trail
  • 2.61 Long Branch Trail
  • 1.93 Hewitt Trail
  • 1.23 Estep Hollow
  • 1.08 Caldwell Trail
  • 0.76 Stewart Lake Trail
  • 0.70 CCC Trail
  • 0.65 Buckeye/Bridle

Camping & lodging

8 mapped camping locations

The Scioto Trail State Park Campground offers wooded Electric campsites near Caldwell Lake and hike-in Primitive sites at the Stewart Lake camp area. Reservations are required. Reserve online or by calling (866) 644-6727…

Know before you go

Address
144 Lake Road, Chillicothe, OH, 45601
Phone
(740) 887-4818
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

144 Lake Road, Chillicothe, OH, 45601

Directions on Google Maps →

On the ground

ODNR maintains a Church Hollow Trail, a difficult 3-C Trail, and a family-friendly Friendship Trail. The Buckeye Trail and Long Branch Trail are among the named routes mapped near the park, threading through the same ridge-and-valley terrain, and the Stewart Lake Trail leads toward the hike-in primitive camp area at Stewart Lake. The Log Church, a restored replica of the oldest Presbyterian church in the Northwest Territory, is located in the Caldwell Lake camping area. The park's only listed historic feature is its Dam/Spillway.

The wider Scioto River Valley held extensive earthworks left by the Mound Builders, and Adena mounds are found elsewhere in Ross County. Mound City, attributed to the Hopewell culture, lies on the Scioto floodplain north of Chillicothe, with other Hopewell mounds at Seip Mound, Spruce Hill and Fort Hill. That deeper history sits outside the park's boundary but gives the surrounding valley its character.

Photos

Practical notes

The Scioto Trail State Park Campground offers wooded electric campsites near Caldwell Lake and hike-in primitive sites at the Stewart Lake camp area, and reservations are required, either online or by calling (866) 644-6727. Caldwell Lake allows boating for hand-powered vessels or electric-only motors and has one boat ramp, with kayaks, canoes and paddle boats available seasonally for rent from the campground check-in station. Anglers fish for bluegill, bass, catfish and trout, and a valid Ohio fishing license is required for those 16 and older. A small, unguarded beach near the campground is open during daylight hours, with swimming permitted in designated areas only and pets not allowed on the beach. Hunting is not permitted in the state park itself, but the adjacent state forest allows hunting for deer, squirrel, grouse and turkey. Three scenic areas offer picnicking with tables and grills provided. Park hours run 6am to 11pm daily, and visitors may continue legitimate recreational activities outside those hours, with questions directed to the park office at (740) 887-4818.

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Sources: State agency, Wikimedia Commons / editorial, OpenStreetMap contributors, Google Places · updated 2026-08-23