Wolf Run State Park

Wolf Run State Park covers 1,266 acres near Caldwell, Ohio, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Of that total, 1,046 acres are land and 220 acres are water. The park sits in the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau of southeastern Ohio, where meltwater from glaciers that never reached this region cut the valleys and sandstone ridges visible today.

It suits visitors looking for a quiet, remote retreat rather than a high-traffic destination. Fishing, boating, and swimming center on the lake, while hiking and camping cover the wooded hills around it. Winter brings cross-country skiing and ice fishing when conditions allow.

Plan your visit

Trails

1 named routes 3.51 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

3.51 Buckeye Trail

Camping & lodging

6 mapped camping locations

Wolf Run State Park Campground offers Electric and Non-electric sites. Reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance.A primitive, fly-in camping area on the north side of the lake, within walking …

Know before you go

Address: 16170 Wolf Run Road, Caldwell, OH, 43724
Phone: (740) 732-5035
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

Wolf Run Dam impounds the lake and stands as the park's noted historic feature. Around the water, the Cherry Tree Trail offers a short 0.3-mile out-and-back loop beginning at the nature center near the park entrance, while the Lakeview Trail runs 1 mile between the campground and the beach, tracing the shoreline. A 3.5-mile section of the Buckeye Trail follows the west side of the lake, giving hikers a longer route through the park's woodlands; mapped ways near the park total 3.51 miles overall.

The lake is known for catches of bass, bluegill, crappie, trout and catfish, and anglers 16 and older need a valid Ohio fishing license. Boats with motors of up to 10 horsepower are allowed, with a launching ramp and tie-ups on the south side near State Route 215. A 200-foot public swimming beach sits nearby on the south side of the lake, with vault latrines and changing booths, though pets are not permitted there. Campers can choose electric and non-electric sites at the Wolf Run State Park Campground, reservable up to six months ahead, or use a primitive, fly-in camping area on the north side of the lake, within walking distance of the 4,700-foot runway at the Noble County Airport, which requires no reservations. The Wolf Run Shelter, a 24-by-30-foot structure seating up to 75 guests, stands off Wolf Run Drive near the Lakeview Trail and can be reserved for group use.

Practical notes

Park hours run from 6am to 11pm daily, and visitors engaged in legitimate recreational activities are permitted outside those hours. The park is located at 16170 Wolf Run Road, Caldwell, OH, 43724, and the park office can be reached at (740) 732-5035.