Stephen A Forbes State Park

About Stephen A Forbes State Park

Imagine you are staggering through the woods, surrounded by shady oaks and rolling hills, and pulling a fishing line brings you back to the task ahead. A few hundred meters away from you, in the shade of the trees, you can maybe see, but not much else.

You may want to stay at Oak Ridge Campground, but the rest of the day offers plenty of opportunities for swimming when the sun rises, hiking the nature trails, volleyball or softball at the Circle Drive picnic area, or swimming in the river when it's still warm.

The park's largest lake, located south of Oak Ridge Campground on the south side of the river, is only 20 acres, with a two-acre pond being the only water available. A further 1150 hectares include a large lake surrounded by oak and hickory forests, and more are waiting for you. In recent years, extensions have been made, bringing the total area of the park to 3,103 hectares.

The lake was completed in 1963 and has a shoreline of 18 miles, with a maximum depth of 1.8 meters and a depth of over 3.2 feet.

The area is named after Alfred E. A. Bordeaux, one of the most influential scientists in the world, who made his work world famous. His extensive scientific publications, over 400 titles, are still used in scientific literature and in a variety of other publications.

The recently modernised campsite on the north side of the lake, right on the main road, is a great place to stay. There is an outdoor picnic area with picnic tables, picnic benches and a picnic table. A 120-foot floating footpath connects the campsites to the marina area and two flights of stairs allow campers to access the lakes and from them.

If you have a group, there are two Rent-A campsites, each of which can accommodate up to eight people. You just have to bring your people and you get a place offered, but for people of all ages and abilities you can camp in either place.

The other locations have two-room cabins with bunk beds, and you can reserve these locations by contacting the park office.

Separate youth group camps are available in the Persimmon and Whippoorwill areas, and separate youth groups and tents are available for adults. There are 10 hiking and walking trails available if you prefer a more demanding hike, such as the 1.5 km long path from the parking lot to the hiking trail.

In the Rocky Point area, alcoholic beverages are prohibited, and swimming is prohibited in all other parts of the lake. At Rocky Point, there is a public swimming area where visitors can swim and picnic at a table provided. Boat swimming is prohibited in the Persimmon and Whippoorwill areas and on the shore, but swimming by boat is not prohibited anywhere else on the lake except in a small area near the car park. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited outside the Rocky Point areas.

For water skiing, different parts of the lake are characterized by buoys and recovery speeds, and there is no limit on horsepower. The boat ramp provides easy access to the main lake, but there are limits to horsepower and speed on the water.

Bait, fishing, gas, snacks and meals are also available, and fishing boats can be rented at reduced rates. There are buoys on the lake for boating, as well as access to the main lake and the parking lot for boats.

Choose from a variety of camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting and other activities or choose one of the many hiking trails in the park.

The Circle Drive picnic area offers a more open environment and features open lawns that are required for softball, volleyball and other games. Playground equipment is available, as is the Sassafras picnic area, and a rustic parking lot is enriched with picnic tables, picnic chairs, picnic tables and picnic benches. The restaurant serves a variety of picnic meals and drinks, including hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads.

Some of them can be reserved in advance by contacting the building authority, and some are open to the public during the summer months of July and August.

A 21-sided campsite with electricity, located about a kilometer east of Omega, is also available to riders. A 15 km long riding trail surrounds the lake and offers riders a panorama of natural beauty.

The horse trail is open from May 1st to November 1st and there are four designated nature trails for hikers. The Oak Ridge Trail is a 2.5 km loop near the campground, and the Henneman Trail, which leads hikers to an early settlement cemetery, is only a quarter of a mile long. Those who prefer shorter hikes can hike half a kilometer longer on the Marlow Pond Trail and walk down to the creek.