South Bass Island State Park

South Bass Island State Park is a 33-acre state park on South Bass Island, reached only by boat or ferry. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources describes it as a scenic landmark offering views and access to Lake Erie from atop the island's white cliffs, and its small footprint makes it a stop for a few hours rather than a wilderness destination.

It suits boaters, anglers, and campers looking for an island base rather than hikers seeking long trails. Camping, a fishing pier, a small beach, and a picnic area cover the basics, while the island's glacial bedrock and a couple of historic markers give visitors something to look at beyond the water itself.

Plan your visit

Trails

5 named routes 6.29 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

0.37 Duff Woods Preserve
0.30 Cooper's Woods Shady Path
0.29 Jane Coates Wildflower Trail
0.22 Morrison Woods Trail
0.16 Story Walk Trail

Camping & lodging

7 mapped camping locations

South Bass Island State Park Campground offers Electric, Full-service, and Primitive sites from May through mid-October. Reservations are required. Other overnight options include four Cabins and a Group Camping Area.

Know before you go

Address: 1523 Catawba Ave, South Bass Island, OH, 43456
Phone: (419) 285-2112
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 park's defining natural feature is its glacial bedrock. South Bass Island formed as glaciers advancing from Canada gouged and scoured the rock, and as the ice retreated and the climate warmed, meltwater filled the depressions left behind to help form the Great Lakes. That history is still visible today: small scratches called glacial striations mark the rock surface, and a small set of Glacial Grooves is exposed near the group camp area.

Two historic features round out the park's named sites: the Put-in-Bay Script Sign, and the Victory Hotel Ruins. Beyond the park's own 33 acres, walkers can pick up short paths nearby, including the Duff Woods Preserve path, Cooper's Woods Shady Path, the Jane Coates Wildflower Trail, the Morrison Woods Trail, and the Story Walk Trail, the longest of which runs 0.37 miles.

Practical notes

Park hours run from 6am to 11pm daily, though visitors engaged in legitimate recreational activities are permitted outside those hours; questions can be directed to the park office at (419) 285-2112. The campground offers electric, full-service, and primitive sites from May through mid-October, with reservations required, along with four cabins and a group camping area. A public launch ramp near the picnic area provides boating access to Lake Erie, a fishing pier near the park entrance allows shoreline fishing with a valid Ohio license required for those 16 and older, and a small stone beach offers swimming access at visitors' own risk.