East Fork State Park

This beautiful lake offers fishing and boating.

Wood ducks visiting one of the many park ponds.

Enjoy four seasons of natural beauty at East Fork.

Covering more than 7,000 acres of rolling forests, meadows, lakes, prairie and swamp, East Fork is one of Ohio's largest state parks.

Located in the state's southwestern corner, the park reflects the region's multifaceted history. A burial mound is attributed to the Adena Indians, active 3,000 years ago.

The 1867 Old Bethel Church, near the park office was built with materials from an 1807 log church. President Ulysses S. Grant's maternal grandparents are buried here.

Outdoor activities dominate the park, which includes 85 miles of hiking trails, over 55 miles of bridle trails, a five-mile mountain bike trail, 2,160 acres of water, 416 campsites, cedar cabins and camper cabins, a 17-site equestrian camp and, along the 32-mile Steve Newman Worldwalker Perimeter Trail, four primitive campsites.

Sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail, American Discovery Trail and Buckeye Trail all cross the park.

The East Fork of the Little Miami River runs through the park and empties into Harsha Lake, where boaters can choose from several launch sites and paddlers find peaceful backwaters. The lake offers excellent fishing for large- and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and hybrid striped bass.

Shaped by ancient glaciers, the hilly landscape includes remnant prairie habitats. These meadows support a variety of birds, including ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, various raptors, song sparrows and eastern meadowlarks.

Rare in this part of the country and known for its high-pitched call, the Henslow's sparrow also frequents the park's meadowlands.