Forked Run State Park
Forked Run State Park at a Glance
Date established:1952
Acreage: 791 acres (320 hectares)
Water acreage: Forked Run Lake 102 acres (41 hectares)
Miles of trails: 4.4 miles (7 kilometers)
Campsites:79 electric sites
64 non-electric sites
Hunting:Designated areas only, also in adjacent Shade State Forest
Adjacent natural area: Shade River State Forest
Nearby natural areas: Desonier State Nature Preserve (18 miles)
Official park website:http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/forkedrun
Forked Run is the only state park in Meigs County. It was carved out of Shade River State Forest. Forked Run has a well-developed and very nice hilltop campground that serves as a great resource for people going on a boating vacation on the nearby Ohio River, using the Army Corps of Engineers Ohio River Access boat ramp that’s almost in front of the park (to reach the Ohio River boat ramp from the park entrance, leaving the park, turn left on the state highway and it’s the second left). Forked Run Lake has a small swimming beach with an adjacent picnic area. There’s also a nature center and a boat ramp in the lake. There's also a popular disk golf course. Hiking trails are not extensive, but can occupy an afternoon.

Trails at Forked Run State Park:

  • Honeysuckle Self-Guided Nature Trail: 0.5; access just west of beginning of campground road
  • Riverview (with no view of the river): 1.0 mile; access from end of campground road; connects with Deer Run
  • Deer Run Trail: 0.7 mile; access from end of campground road (through playground); connects with Riverview
  • Lakeview Trail: 2.2 miles; access from swimming beach parking lot and from end of campground road

Also see Shade River State Forest.

To reach Forked Run SP, take US-50 east 20.8 miles from US-33 to OH-144, just past Coolville. Turn right on OH-144, and go south 4.7 miles to Hockingport and OH-124. Turn right on OH-124 and go 8.2 miles to the park entrance. Total driving distance from downtown Athens: 35.1 miles.