Last Minute Summer Trip to Salt Fork State Park

This post was written in partnership with Ohio. Find It Here. As always, all opinions and pictures are my own unless noted otherwise.

If you have a few more days to enjoy some summer fun before school starts, here is an idea that takes very little planning and is guaranteed to create great memories, ending the summer with a fun trip.

A Stay at Salt Fork State Park Lodge near Cambridge, Ohio

Have you stayed at any of the Great Ohio Lodges? I haven’t, and until I started researching more about them, I had no idea how amazing they are. We have nine properties throughout Ohio state parks. Paired with the natural beauty of surrounding rolling hills, lakes, and wildlife, as well as each location offering amenities such as large pools indoor and out, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, nature centers, and so much more – they make for a beautiful Ohio vacation. The best part is that everything is in one location. All you have to do is pick the park, book your reservation, park your car, check-in, and you’re set for a weekend of fun.

For our first visit, we chose Salt Fork State Park. I had seen a few friends visit, and it looked like they had a great time. Plus, it was an easy drive from Columbus, just under two hours. Within the state park, they have cabins, as well as a lodge and camping. We opted for the lodge because, logistically, it made more sense with toddlers. Mostly we wanted to be close to the pools, arcade room and restaurant – all which are located in the lodge.

Salt Fork Lodge offers 148 guestrooms full of rustic charm, including king, double, bunk and hospitality rooms. The Salt Fork Lodge rooms have a balcony or patio overlooking either the outdoor pool or the scenic hills and woods of southeast Ohio. We stayed in a cozy bunk room, which are great for families. In the room are two queen beds and one set of bunk beds, plus a patio walkout or balcony. We had a perfect view of the lake, which included many visits from our deer friends.

If you prefer, you can stay in one of their two-bedroom chalet, lakeside, and hillside cabins right in the heart of Salt Fork State Park. They are tastefully decorated, fully furnished and include the modern amenities you need for a comfortable stay. Amenities available in every cabin include WiFi, central air conditioning, cable television, full kitchen, fire ring, two parking spaces, a view of the serene lake, and much more! And, enjoy gas fireplaces and hot tubs in the chalet cabins.

You wouldn’t want your pet to go on vacation without you, so why go on vacation without your pet? They offer five pet friendly cabins so that no one has to be left behind.

I love that their were fires going throughout the lodge making it very cozy.

Things to Do at the Lodge

Swimming – They have incredible pools. We probably could have spent our entire stay at the pools. You’ll find a large heated swimming pool and hot tub indoors, a large heated outdoor swimming pool, and a small children’s pool outdoors. Select cabins have private hot tubs. At the outdoor pool, they have a snack shack with adult-friendly beverages, slushies for kids, and the option to order food from the on-site restaurants. If you order food, they will bring it out to your table – major plus with kids.

Their pools are awesome. We were truly impressed by all three of them. The kids pool is one foot deep and completely gated in.

Play in the Game Room – In the basement, near the indoor pool – the game room is filled with classic arcade style games, a pool table, ping-pong and more.

Watch a Movie or Play a Game – You can check-out complimentary board games and DVDs during your stay. The rooms do offer cable, however there aren’t any movie channels.

Explore the Activity/Nature Room – Scheduled Children’s Activities and Naturalist Programs are hosted in this space. The activity room also houses the in-house turtles, snakes and salamanders.

Outdoor Games – Basketball hoops, sand beach volleyball, shuffleboard , giant jenga, jumbo checkers, cornhole and more!

Make S’Mores – There are multiple spots for bonfires at their fire rings, they even offer a bonfire + s’mores package so you don’t have to remember to bring anything! You can add that on to your reservation or at the front desk during your stay.

They also have special events, which you can find on their website or when you check-in.

Things to do in the state park

Swim at the Public Beach – At 2,550 feet, it is one of the largest inland beaches in Ohio. At the beach, which I have to say is one of the cleanest beaches I’ve seen in Ohio, they have a Nature Center (check hours), a small shop with snack and drinks and putt-putt.

Gem Mining – Located near the campground, this is a great activity for the kids. Purchase a bag of gems and stones from the campground store and then take it to the water sluice to sift and find your gems.

The campground store has fun souvenirs, ice cream treats and typical things you might forget while camping or having a weekend away.

There is a playground and covered picnic tables right next to gem mining, as well as easy parking.

Hiking Trails – This is one of the most popular activities and it’s easy to see why. The park is beautiful. They have 14 hiking trails including a portion of Ohio’s famous Buckeye Trail. Learn more about the hiking trails here.

We didn’t do a lot of hiking because we weren’t too familiar with the trails and with the girls and hiking, I like to be overly familiar with trails. We did do a morning hike down the path behind the lodge. A short trail that leads you to the cabins. Keep in mind, it is pretty steep and there are a few stairs.

Search for Bigfoot. Wait, what? Yes, I said Bigfoot. Bigfoot is rumored to be living within the boundaries of Salt Fork State Park. Spend the day (or night!) searching for this elusive creature. Pick up a sightings map at the Front Desk, grab supplies from the Gift Shop and start your own search!

Visit the Kennedy Stone House. In 1837, the Irish and Scottish ancestors of Benjamin Kennedy purchased an 80-acre tract of land in Guernsey County and commissioned the construction of a large two-story house from native sandstone quarried nearby. Don Kennedy, great-grandson of the builder, occupied it until 1966. The State of Ohio purchased the Kennedy property and surrounding lands to create Salt Fork State Park. Today, the house is nestled in the woods, overlooking the lake. The Kennedy Stone House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Get more information here.

Bring your Pup along for fun. Dogs are allowed at the park, including on the hiking trails and in the campgrounds. While they’re not allowed on the beach, they have a great dog park fenced in just to the right of the main beach. If your dog loves to swim, he will be in heaven because they have their own section of the lake to swim in. There is also plenty of grass for your dog to run.

There are many things to explore throughout the park. However, one of our favorite things was the simplest – driving around, taking in the scenery and enjoying the quietness of the park.

Where to Eat

Located in the Lodge, there are breakfast, lunch, or dinner opportunities at Timbers Restaurant and Wildlife Lounge. Timbers Restaurant is where we got most of our food. While we chose to carry out back to the room, the space is gorgeous with high ceilings, rustic ambiance, historical murals, and beautiful views. You can order food from Timbers at the pool. They will deliver it out to you, too.

The Wildlife Lounge is the perfect spot to sit back and relax during the evening, more geared towards adults. You can have your favorite drink and enjoy their famous pizza.

The Salt Fork Golf Course Pro-Shop and Sugartree Marina also serve food if you’re out exploring the park and build up an appetite. You’ll find a mix of breakfast sandwiches, pizza, sandwiches, and sharable items on the menu, such as deep-fried pickles and pretzel bites.

There are several delicious dining options throughout Cambridge/Guernsey County, Ohio, you can find here. However, keep in mind that you might not want to leave once you’re in the park, and if you do, it is a bit of a drive. I suggest stopping in Cambridge on your way to pick up a few things to stock your in-room fridge. Riesbeck’s Food Market has an incredible deli with sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, and a delicious bakery with homemade treats. Kennedy Bakery is a must-stop for morning donuts and special treats. Between the restaurants on-site and your quick trip before checking in, you’ll be all set for a delicious weekend.