There are dozens of excellent campgrounds in the American state of Ohio and that often surprises people who think of the region as just being the home to big cities such as Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati, etc.
One of Ohio’s most popular camping and hiking areas is Tar Hollow State Park, which is located near the town of Laurelville.
The park sits in the middle of the Appalachian Plateau’s rugged foothills and is home to a wide variety of interesting wildlife. This includes amphibians and reptiles, and colorful birds.
Six hundred acres of dense woodland
The scenic park offers just over 600 acres of dense woodlands and deep ravines with plenty of colourful wildflowers. The scenery in the falls is simply amazing when the leaves decide to turn color.
Have your choice
The park has shady and sunny campsites to choose from as there are 71 electric camp sites and 11 non-electric ones. There are also several excellent primitive sites on the backpack trail. Hot showers, latrines and laundry facilities are also provided.
The beach nearby
There’s a nearby beach and the store sells supplies and snacks. Campers may also borrow sporting equipment and games from the general store. Pets are welcome too.
The Pine Lake
The park is next to a 15-acre lake, called Pine Lake, which is ideal for boating, swimming, and fishing. If you’re camping with a group you can cook your day’s catch at one of several picnic areas spread around the park.
Hiking trails
There are several hiking trails to choose from when you want to explore the area, with parts of famous Buckeye Trail passing through the park. There are miles of bridle trails and a horse camp in the forest land and there’s a mountain bike trail called Pine Run, which starts at the general store. You can also try out the 4.9 miles long Ross Hollow hiking trail near the camp which leads to the Tar Hollow hills.
Other activities at the park
Other activities at the park include basketball, miniature golf, boat and bike rentals, table tennis, foosball and air hockey.
Local attractions
There are many local attractions to check out, such as Tar Hollow State Forest, Great Seal State Park, Scioto Trail, Hocking Hills, Conkles Hollow nature preserve, Ross Lake wildlife area, Mound City Group National Monument, prehistoric burial mounds, Adena State Memorial, the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater, the Ross County Historical Society, and several museums.
