Lake Hope State Park

About Lake Hope State Park

For nature lovers, Lake Hope State Park is a dream come true: a rugged, heavily forested region criss-crossed by steep canyons and narrow ridges. You can enjoy scenic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the abandoned mines of Mt. Rainier, and move through rugged and heavily forested areas - steep gorges, narrow ditches, steep slopes and deep valleys.

Although most of the forest was cleared to support the iron smelting industry that once flourished here, the country has recovered and bears magnificent second - growing forests. Oaks and hickory are the dominant trees, while the soils of the woods harbor a fascinating collection of shrubs and wildflowers. In these woods - draped hills - attentive visitors can discover a variety of bird species, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey, as well as wildlife.

Birds, reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey, as well as other wildlife, abound in the park, such as coyotes, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears and wolves.

Deer and wild turkeys are often seen in large numbers throughout the park, and of the many animals that populate the parks, none is as popular as the beaver. A dam - a builder by nature Beavers are abundant and can be seen in Lake Hope State Park and other parks in the area.

Lake Hope State Park reflects the rich history of much of southeastern Ohio and is located just a few miles from the historic hangars of Vinton County. While the roar of the iron furnaces no longer echoes through the hills of Vington County, the park still feels a strong sense of bygone days.

The furnaces at Hope were built to process iron ore extracted from sandstone in the region, and the surrounding slopes were almost entirely stripped of their timber. The charcoal fires were maintained 24 hours a day, so much wood was needed, hundreds of men worked to cut wood while driving oxen to haul the iron ore to the kiln. They worked in and out of the kilns for several months at a time, sometimes even six months. Iron extracted from the smelting process was used during the Civil War to make many different products, including steel, iron, copper, lead, nickel, silver and other metals.

At the height of Hope Furnace production, Ohio was one of the nation's leading iron producers.

By that time, iron ore had been discovered farther west, and Ohio's reputation as a major iron producer had faded over time.

In 1900, Hope Furnace, one of the largest iron mines in the United States, was closed down, and today only the furnace and its foundations are preserved. The chimney is the only remnant of its original structure in Lake Hope State Park and the oldest building in Ohio.

The forest you see today has grown back to where it left off hundreds of years ago, with pieces of pocket - scarred glass that is now part of the forest floor.

At that time, coal was Vinton County's main export, and several mines were dug in the mountains. Large quantities of coal were transported by oxcarts from the coal mines on the east side of the Hope Lake to the west side. Most mines were abandoned at the beginning of this century, but not all of them still exist.

Lake Hope Forest Park was established by the Department of Forestry in 1937, and Lake Hope State Park, a state park in Vinton County, Ohio, was established in 1949.

The 119 pitches are suitable for tents and trailers and 46.6% of the pitches have electricity. Each campsite has a heated shower house and had to have its own kettle, heat pump, hot water tank, shower, toilet and heaters.

Rides on the riding trails in the Zaleski State Forest are offered to participants. Group campsites are available on an organized group reservation basis and group campsites are available in organized groups on a reservation basis.

The rustic pantry of natural stone and wood offers spectacular views of the lake. The dining room has a fully equipped kitchen with a wide selection of food and drinks, and a private dining area.

Reservations for the restaurant and meeting room can be made at 740 - 596 - 0400 or souvenirs and firewood can be purchased at the Lake Hope State Park Store in the park parking lot.

The rustic pantry, built of natural stone and wood, offers spectacular views of the lake. The dining room features an open dining area overlooking Lake Hope State Park and a large outdoor terrace.

Reservations for the restaurant and meeting room can be made at 740 - 596 - 0400 or souvenirs and firewood can be purchased from the Lake Hope State Park gift shop in the parking lot.

There is a beautiful beach at the dam and facilities include a concession building where you can buy food and drinks. The property includes a dining room, changing rooms, a picnic area, picnic tables and a building with concessions where you can buy food or drinks.

Two picnic huts are available, which are served without reservation, and many remote viewpoints in the park have picnic areas with tables and barbecues. Electric-powered boats are only allowed on 120 hectares of the lake, but canoes and rowing boats can be rented for up to 10 days at a time for $5 a day or $10 a week for a year.

More than 17 km of hiking trails criss-cross the park and offer opportunities for photography and nature exploration. Backpackers must register upon arrival, and mountain bikers have free access to the Lake Hope State Park Trail System. More than 1,000 hectares of trails and trails for mountain bikers are available in the adjacent state forests, as well as over 2,500 hectares in the lake.

A 33 - 30 km long network of riding trails is available, as well as a number of Hocks - to - bebe Hock Trails. Blackstone was carved into imposing rock walls, with a variety of different types of boulders and rock formations in the park.

Lake Hope State Park is surrounded by the Zaleski State Forest and includes a number of hiking and biking trails, as well as a variety of camping trails. For information about backpackers, call the Forestry Commission at (265) 614-6694 or call for more information about the park.

Fishing, camping, swimming and picnicking are offered at Lake Hope State Park, as well as a variety of hiking and biking trails. Minutes from the park is the Waterloo Wildlife Area, where the game is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Vermont Department of Natural Resources.