Barkcamp State Park in Ohio, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Barkcamp State Park centers on Belmont Lake in the wooded hills of eastern Ohio. It offers a choice of short walks, paddling, swimming, horseback riding, and camping, with an accessible hard-surface interpretive trail for visitors who want a brief woodland outing.

Choose your lake or woodland outing

• A quieter boating lake: 117-acre Belmont Lake permits hand-powered boats and electric motors.
• A short interpretive walk: the 0.4-mile Pioneer Trail has a hard surface and passes through Pioneer Village into mature woodland.
• Longer riding routes: more than 24 miles of bridle trails extend around both sides of the lake.

Before a day trip or overnight stay

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Water and seasonal hunting

Swim only in the designated beach area; swimming from boats is prohibited. Check the beach-advisory link on the official park page before entering the water. Hunting is permitted in designated parts of the park from October 15 through February 28, so consult the park's hunting map when choosing an outing during that period.

Use the right area for your activity

Pets are prohibited on swimming beaches. The walk-through archery range has ten 3D targets; bring your own equipment and use field points only, with no broadhead tips. Use the designated trail network for your activity rather than treating every footpath as a bridle or bicycle route.

Campsites, cabins, and shelters

Use the park's linked Reserve Ohio booking page for overnight options. Three shelterhouses can be reserved online or by calling 866-644-6727.

Location and access around Belmont Lake

The park address is 65330 Barkcamp Road, Belmont, OH 43718-9733. The official Barkcamp page provides the park and hunting maps, current activity guidance, and beach-advisory access.

For trailered boats, use the concrete ramp at the lake's west end. The east side has a gravel carry-in launch for hand-powered boats and paddleboards, near the beach and pit latrines.

Nearby protected areas

• Egypt Valley Wildlife Area lies west of Morristown in Belmont and Guernsey counties, with primary access from I-70 and State Route 800.
• Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area is southwest of Cadiz in Harrison County, reached from State Routes 22 and 519 and local township roads.

Walking, paddling, and fishing

For an easy lake-oriented hike, consider the 1.7-mile Lakeview Trail. The half-mile Storybook Trail presents a children's story along the route. The 8-mile Blue Trail serves several uses, including hiking, biking, and horseback riding; it is a different outing from the short walking paths.

Paddle from the east launch or fish Belmont Lake. Fishing requires a valid Ohio license for anglers age 16 and older. An accessible fishing area is near the boat launch. For a simpler stop, picnic areas provide tables, grills, water, and latrines.

Camping and accessible choices

The campground offers full-hookup, electric, and tent-only sites, as well as equestrian camping, Sherman Cabins, and a group camp. Some sites are ADA compliant. Match the individual site to your requirements when booking.

The hard-surface Pioneer Trail and the fishing area near the boat launch provide specific accessible options. The trail reaches the Antique Barn, which houses the seasonal nature center.

A park in the Appalachian Plateau

Sandstone hills and forested valleys frame Barkcamp's lake. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park as part of the state's public state park system.

From land acquisition to a public park

Ohio began acquiring land for the park in 1955. The Barkcamp name was adopted in 1962, and the park officially opened to the public in 1965.

Forest habitats

Second-growth woodland supports songbirds, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey. Spring wildflowers include bloodroot and hepatica. These are parts of the park's habitat, rather than a promise of sightings on any particular walk.

Park office

Call 740-484-4064 for park questions and seasonal program details. The park is at 65330 Barkcamp Road, Belmont, OH 43718-9733.