East Harbor State Park
c/o 1169 N. Buck Road
Lakeside-Marblehead, OH 43440-9610
Park Office (419) 734-4424 Park Office
Camp Office (419) 734-5857
Marina (419) 734-2289
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, East Harbor State Park has unlimited
opportunities for outdoor recreation. Boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking and
camping are popular while nature enthusiasts will enjoy the abundance of
waterfowl, shorebirds and other species of wildlife found in the park's scenic
wetlands.
Camping
The campground at East Harbor is the largest in the Ohio State Park system with
365 electric sites and 205 non-electric sites. The campground is equipped with
showers, flush toilets, dump station, launch ramp and camp store. Pet camping is
permitted on designated sites. A group camp can accommodate 120 units. Two
Rent-A-RV units on full-service sites are available for weekly rental only. Two
deluxe camper cabins are also available for rent.
Boating
Lake Erie offers unlimited horsepower boating opportunities. The park's marina
provides seasonal and day-use dock rentals, fuel, launch ramp, full-time
mechanic, boat supplies and restaurant. Boats and campers can be stored
year-round at the marina in a fenced enclosure.
Fishing and Hunting
Lake Erie, the walleye capital of the world, provides anglers great catches of
yellow perch, channel catfish, smallmouth and white bass in addition to walleye.
Both East Harbor and West Harbor are excellent for bluegill, crappie and carp.
Hunting for waterfowl is permitted on the eastern side of the offshore islands.
Five duck blinds in the park are awarded through a lottery drawing held in
August. Contact the park office for details. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting
license is required.
Trails
East Harbor's 7-mile trail system leads through the many different habitats
within the park. The Middle Harbor Trail skirts the southern edge of the Middle
Harbor game sanctuary and includes a stop at a bird observation blind. The short
Blackberry Trail near the camp check-in station invites campers to enjoy a
pleasant evening stroll. Other foot trails near the swimming beach offer the
opportunity to observe the flora and fauna of a beach community.
Swimming
Thousands of visitors come to East Harbor's 1,500-foot sand beach. A beach
concession is available.
Picnicking
Picnic areas with fantastic views of the lake and marshlands are equipped with
tables and grills. One picnic area is conveniently located next to the beach.
Two spacious shelterhouses may be rented by the public. Contact the park office
for details.
More To Do
Volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts, along with playground equipment
, are located in the campground or day use area. Bike rental is available from
the camp office and games and sporting equipment are available on loan to
registered campers. A fish cleaning building is available for use by campers.
Nature of the Area
East Harbor State Park is situated on a peninsula of land stretching into the
waters of Lake Erie--one of the largest freshwater bodies in the world. The
history of Lake Erie began with the glacial period when massive sheets of ice
gouged and scoured the bedrock of Ohio. Evidence of the force of the ice is
found throughout the lake area. Small scratches in the rock surface known as
glacial striations are common while major grooves are rare but awesome. The deep
depressions left by the glaciers were filled with meltwater forming the series
of lakes we know as the Great Lakes.
East Harbor lies on the fringe of Ohio's prairie marsh zone. These wetlands are
remnants of the Great Black Swamp which once covered an area 120 miles long and
30 to 40 miles wide. After a period of intense lumbering and draining in the
late 1800s, the swamp was nearly destroyed. Only ten percent of Ohio's original
wetlands now remain. These wetlands produce more wildlife than any other type of
habitat in Ohio. Reptiles and amphibians are numerous including the green frog,
American toad, water snake, fox snake and painted turtle. Large numbers of
ducks, geese, gulls, terns and other migratory waterfowl delight birdwatchers.
Middle Harbor is a game sanctuary where black-crowned night herons, egrets,
great blue herons and other shorebirds find refuge. Furbearers in the park
include muskrat and red fox. Hundreds of migrating songbirds rest here before
winging north across the lake.
History of the Area
Before European settlement, the East Harbor region was home to the Ottawa and
Wyandot Indians. Ottawa in native tongue means "trader." An east-west trail
skirted the southern shore of Lake Erie connecting the Pittsburgh and Detroit
settlements, and also linked with the famed Scioto Trail from the south. This
important area remained in Indian control until the British and Indians were
defeated in the War of 1812 by the Americans.
After the Great Black Swamp was eventually drained, the land became highly
productive. Fruits, particularly peaches and grapes, were grown extensively. The
grape culture became very successful as a result of quality soil, natural
drainage and suitable climate.
Marblehead Lighthouse was erected in 1821 east of the park on the Marblehead
Peninsula to aid navigation in and out of Sandusky Bay. Johnsons Island on the
bay side of the peninsula was the site of a prison for Confederate soldiers
captured during the Civil War. A Confederate cemetery still remains on the
island.
The region has long been valued as a recreation area. The unique plant and
animal life, sandy beaches, marshland and the lake itself led to the development
of East Harbor State Park. The park was opened in 1947 and today is one of
northern Ohio's most popular vacation spots.
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