A. W. Marion State Park in Ohio, USA - map and visitor information

A.W. Marion State Park centers on Hargus Lake near Circleville in Pickaway County, Ohio. Visitors can combine a lake walk with fishing or a campground stay. Choose the correct arrival point for the day-use area or campground, and confirm seasonal services before bringing camping or boating equipment.

Highlights

• Follow the Hargus Lake Trail for a longer outing around the lake landscape.
• Plan a fishing visit using the lake’s official map and current posted instructions.
• Choose electric or non-electric camping, with a separate group-camp option shown on the campground map.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

Do not plan a beach-swimming visit. The park map prohibits swimming except from a boat in the designated boat-swimming area. That exception does not establish safe water conditions or supervised swimming. Check local restrictions before going onto the lake, and select walking routes according to their difficulty and your group’s ability.

Visit responsibly

Keep dogs leashed except when supervised in the designated dog area. Remove pet waste and other trash, leave natural objects in place, and obey posted restrictions. A map showing a path or facility does not override a closure at the site.

Reservations and permits

Arrange campsites through ReserveOhio or call 866-644-6727. Obtain valid campground registration and a camping permit before occupying a site. Check the selected site’s current price, electrical service, and booking terms. Visitors entering a controlled campground should ask about the required visitor permit.

Maps, location, and access

The campground’s official address is 8498 Township Highway 77, Circleville, OH 43113. Use the park map to distinguish camping from lake and day-use access. The campground map labels its connection toward Hargus Lake; the campground address should not be assumed to identify the boat ramp.

Nearby parks

• Deer Creek State Park is another local road-trip option near Mount Sterling. Its campground address is 20635 State Park Road 20; choose the entrance for the facility you intend to visit.
• Tar Hollow State Park is near Laurelville, with campground access at 16396 Tar Hollow Road. Plan a separate drive rather than using a straight-line distance from Hargus Lake.

Things to do

• Lake walk: The Hargus Lake Trail is shown as five miles on the older lake map. Check current trail signs and conditions before committing to the full route; the lake map is an older planning resource.
• Fishing: Use the fishing map for background, then confirm current regulations. Its surveyed depths are not a navigation chart or a report of today’s lake level.
• Camping: Select an electric, non-electric, or group site according to the current reservation listing, rather than assuming every site has the same services.

Facilities and accessibility

The campground map lists restrooms, a shower house, drinking water, a dump station, a playground, and parking. These are mapped facilities, not confirmation that every service runs in every season. Call about water and sanitation before an off-season stay.

About this park

History

The park commemorates Alonzo W. Marion, the first director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Appointed in 1949, he led the newly formed department until 1957. An employee memorial at the park records this connection to Ohio’s conservation administration.

Wildlife and habitat

The lake map identifies marshland as part of the setting around Hargus Lake. Observe from established routes and keep pets from disturbing animals.

Contact

For park management questions, call the Deer Creek office at 740-869-3124. The seasonal A.W. Marion camp office is 740-477-9500. Confirm which office can help with your visit dates.