 East Fork State
Park
3294 Elklick Road,
Bethel, OH 45106
(513) 734-4323
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
4870 |
|
|
Water, acres |
2160 |
|
|
Nearby Wildlife Area |
yes |
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
85 |
|
|
Bridle Trails, miles |
55 |
|
|
Backpack Trails, miles |
46 |
|
|
Mountain Bike Trail, miles |
5 |
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelters, # |
2 |
|
|
Swimming Beach, feet |
1200 |
|
|
Summer Nature Program |
yes |
| Boating |
Boating Limits |
UNL |
|
|
Launch Ramps, # |
6 |
| Winter |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Ice Skating |
yes |
|
|
Ice Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Cross-Country Skiing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-electric Campsites |
0 |
|
|
Campsites with
Elec., # |
384 |
|
|
Full Service
Campsites |
7 |
|
|
Cedar Cabin |
4 |
|
|
Camper Cabins |
4 |
|
|
Pet Area |
yes |
|
|
Campground Beach |
yes |
|
|
Showers |
yes |
|
|
Flush Toilets |
yes |
|
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
|
Horseman's
Campsites, # |
17 |
|
|
Backcountry
Sites |
4 |
One of Ohio's largest state parks, East Fork offers a great diversity of
recreational opportunities and natural history only 25 miles from Cincinnati.
The park's terrain includes both rugged hills and open meadows, setting the
stage for a wonderful getaway.
Camping
East Fork has one of the largest camping areas in the state with 399 sites, all
of which have electrical hookups. Seven full-service sites also have sewer and
water hookups.The campground offers showers, flush toilets, drinking water, a
camper's beach, and boat ramp. Pets are permitted in designated areas.
Spacious Cedar Cabins with all the amenities of a fully-equipped RV are
available for daily or weekly rental. Four camper cabins may also be rented
spring through fall. A 17-site horsemen's camp is available as well.
Trails
For the hiker and backpacker, the Backpack Trail traverses
approximately 10 miles of scenic park areas, offering a 20-mile round trip.
In addition, the 32-mile Steven Newman Worldwalker 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.
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 six launch ramps.
Hunting and Fishing
The lake offers quality fishing with excellent catches of largemouth and
smallmouth 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.
Picnicking
Picnic areas with tables, grills and drinking water are located around the
park. Two picnic shelters are available. The Turkey Ridge shelter is reservable.
 Swimming
A 1,200-foot swimming beach features change boots with showers, restrooms and a
vending area.
More To Do
The campground features a mini-golf course, bike rental, basketball and
horseshoe courts, and playgrounds.
Expanded Information
East Fork State Park is leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District at William H. Harsha Lake provides
plenty of information to make your visit more enjoyable.
Nature of the Area
Clermont County's rolling hills and meandering river valleys provide a colorful
backdrop for spacious East Fork State Park. Shaped by the forces of the
Illinoian and Wisconsinan glaciers, the East Fork region is characterized by
beautiful hill country scenery and is noted for the occurrence of remnant
prairie habitats. Illinoian glacial deposits are not common in Ohio but can be
observed at East Fork and the surrounding area.
East Fork's diverse landscape includes dry-forested hills, rocky cascades,
abandoned farmlands, thickly grown floodplains, marshy grasslands and swamp
forests. This diversity lends well to an abundance of plant and animal life.
Woodlands are composed of beech, sugar maple, red and white oak, shagbark
hickory, and wild black cherry. The swamp forests contain silver maple, American
elm, sycamore, and black gum. The meadows and remnant prairies contain big
bluestem grass and purple coneflower 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.
History of the Area
The Little Miami River basin in which East Fork State Park is situated has
been home to many generations of man, dating back to nearly 3,000 years ago.
Moundbuilders, the Adena and Hopewell Indians, occupied this area. The mound
near Elklick Road is thought to have been built by the Adena. The Erie Indians
also lived here much later, though by 1655 this nation was completely destroyed
by the powerful Iroquois. The area was virtually uninhabited through the
remainder of the 17th century.
As the new state of Ohio began to be settled in the early 19th century, the East
Fork region attracted settlers from the east. Grist mills, sawmills, blacksmith
shops, tanneries and stagecoach depots were among the early commercial
activities.
In 1869, two gold mines operated in the vicinity. One mine was located near
Elklick and consisted of a flume for washing gravel containing flakes of gold.
The mine near Twin Bridges tunnelled underground to reach gold deposits encased
in bedrock.
Not far from the present park office, the "Old Bethel Church" on Elklick Road
dates from 1867. It occupies the site of a log church built about 1807 by
Reverend John Collins. Some of the hand-hewn timbers secured with wooden pegs
and hand-forged nails used to construct the 1818 church are still present in the
existing church.
More recently, the area has taken on a new appearance due to the creation of
East Fork Reservoir in 1978. As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood
control program, East Fork Lake and the surrounding region comprise one of
southwestern Ohio's largest recreational areas.
Area Attractions
Overlooking the Ohio River, the town of Point Pleasant is birthplace of
President Ulysses S. Grant. The one-room cottage where the 18th President of the
United States was born is located at U.S. 52 and S.R. 232 just south of East
Fork.
Stonelick State Park is located to the north of East Fork at S.R. 727 and 133.
Camping, fishing, hiking and swimming are just a few of the activities available
at Stonelick.
East Fork's close proximity to the city of Cincinnati makes it easy to combine
the best of the outdoor life with the many activities available in the "Queen
City." Major sporting events, fine dining, shopping, many cultural events and
festivities invite the park's visitors to spend a day in this bustling urban
area. For more information, contact the Clermont County Convention and Visitors
Bureau at (513) 753-7211.
Directions
From Cleveland, Ohio:
I-71 South to I-275 East at Cincinnati. I-275 East East to Exit #63 ( State
Route 32), East- Batavia (Campground) or Exit #65, Beechmont Avenue East- Amelia
( Day Use) Come East 11 miles and follow signs.
From Columbus, Ohio:
I-71 South to I-275 East at Cincinnati. I-275 East to Exit 63 (State Route 32),
East- Batavia (Campground) or Exit #65, Beechmont Avenue East- Amelia (Day Use),
come East 11 miles and follow the signs.
From Cincinnati, Ohio:
From Downtown: take I-471 South into Kentucky to I-275 East. I-275 East to Exit
#65, Beechmont Avenue East - Amelia ( Day Use) or Exit #63
From Toledo, Ohio:
I-75 South to I-275 East at Cincinnati. I-275 East to Exit #63 ( State Route
32), East- Batavia (Campground) or Exit #65, Beechmont Avenue East- Amelia ( Day
Use) Come East 11 miles and follow signs.
From Lexington, KY:
I-75 North, to I-275 East (Near Erlanger, KY) to Exit #65, S.R. 125 - Beechmont
Avenue East- Amelia ( Day Use) or Exit 63, S.R. 32 - East Batavai (campground).
Come East 11 miles and follow signs. |
