State Park Location

East Fork State Park Box 119, 2505 Williamsburg-Bantam Bethel, Ohio   45106-0119

Google Map Directions

This diversity lends well to an abundance of plant and animal life. Woodlands are composed of beech, sugar maple, red and white oak, shag bark hickory, and wild black cherry. The swamp forests contain silver maple, American elm, sycamore, and black gum. The meadows and remnant prairies contain big blue stem grass and purple cone flower among others.

Animals of the area include eastern plains garter snake, fence lizard, red fox, deer, raccoon, Canada geese, song sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and the barn swallow.

Camping: East Fork has one of the largest camping areas in the state with 416 sites. The campground offers electrical hookups, showers, drinking water, camper's beach, flush toilets and boat ramps. Pets are permitted in designated areas. A 17-site horsemens camp is available as well. Six Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months. Six Rent-A-RV units are also available.

Trails: For the hiker and backpacker, the 12-mile Backpack Trail transverses many scenic park areas. In addition, the 37-mile Steven Newman World walker Perimeter Trail circles the park and is available for hikers, backpackers, and horsemen. Four primitive campsites are located along these trails. Permits for their use are available through the park office. For those less adventuresome, shorter trails are easily accessible. A 5-mile mountain bike trail begins just west of the park entrance on S.R. 125.

Picnicking: Picnic areas with tables, grills and drinking water are located around the park. Two picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Boating: Those who enjoy water sports will find East Fork Lake very accommodating. There are 2,160 acres of water and unlimited horsepower boating with access available at five launch ramps.

Swimming: A 1,200-foot swimming beach with a concession and picnic area provides the perfect setting for a fun family outing. The beach has some sand mixed with a lot of small pebbles so its a little rough on the feet. No Life Guard on Duty

Fishing and Hunting: The lake offers quality fishing with excellent catches of large mouth and small mouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. For the sport fisherman, East Fork is stocked with the Hybrid Striper. Hunting is permitted in designated areas only. Valid Ohio hunting and fishing licenses are required. 

DNI Insight:

One thing really stood out and that would be the amount of trash on the beach even though they have plenty of trash cans all over the place that were far from being full and they also have a dumpster so not sure why people have so little respect for a public beach.

They have Picnic areas with tables, grills and drinking water are located around the park. Two picnic shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The beach has lots of small pebbles and sand mixed so its a little hard on the feet if you are not use to going bare foot.

The rest rooms could have been a little cleaner but they have plenty of stalls and an outside changing room but I never seen any showers.

We have a few picture of our day at East Fork Lake.

More pictures coming this week.