Shawnee State Park

On the ground

The park's forested hills are part of the Appalachian Plateau, where the underlying bedrock was uplifted without the folding that produced true mountains farther east, leaving the rounded terrain now shaped by stream erosion. Shawnee Lodge and Conference Center overlooks Turkey Creek Lake and the surrounding forest, with 50 guest rooms, 25 vacation cabins, a restaurant, and conference space. The Shawnee State Park Campground has two separate areas, one near Roosevelt Lake and one near the Ohio River, with electric and non-electric sites and two camper cabins, and primitive equestrian camping is available in the adjacent Shawnee State Forest. Historic features in the park include a Civilian Conservation Corp Historical Marker, a Historical CCC Cabin Museum, a spillway, and a bridge, while natural highlights include a beaver dam, a wetland, and a vernal pool.

Walking routes fan out from the lakes and campgrounds. The Backpack Main Trail South Loop runs 3.46 miles and the Backpack Main Trail North Loop runs 2.47 miles, both part of the park's backpacking network. The Day Hike Trail East Loop and Day Hike Trail West Loop connect through shorter day-hiking sections near the lake, and the Knighton Nature Trail and the Lookout Trail offer additional named routes through the park. Two well-stocked lakes, Roosevelt Lake and Turkey Creek Lake, hold largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and trout, and a trout derby is held each year on the fourth Saturday in April at Turkey Creek Lake. Hand-powered and electric-only motorized boats are allowed on Roosevelt Lake, while Turkey Creek Lake allows gas motors at idle speed, and unlimited horsepower boats can reach the Ohio River from a marina. Public beaches sit on both Roosevelt Lake and Turkey Creek Lake, and both are unguarded. Hunting is not permitted within the state park but is allowed in the adjacent state forest.