Barkcamp State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Barkcamp State Park is in the central-eastern part of Ohio, and the main attraction is the 117-acre Belmont Lake. The park was established in 1955 and got its distinctive name from Barkcamp Creek, the former site of a lumber camp where logs were stripped of their bark in preparation for delivery to the mill. Today, the hills and valleys of the area are covered with a second-growth forest that resembles what the state's original woodlands may have looked like. Once in the area, you can visit the nearby Egypt Valley and Jockey Hollow Wilderness Areas to experience more of Ohio's regrowth forests. If visiting in the fall, you can attend the park's September Cast-iron Cooking Festival, where you can join the competitive fun, eat at the potluck, and listen to live music. Or check out the Fall Festival in October, which includes a hay wagon ride, pumpkin carving, and art and food vendors. Nearby Cities: St. Clairsville, OH Wheeling, WV Martins Ferry, OH Barnesville, OH
Spring 32-73 F
Summer 59-84 F
Fall 35-77 F
Winter 22-43 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Barkcamp State Park
Barkcamp State Park Campground Water hookup: 15 sites Electrical hookup: 120 sites Sewer hookup: 15 sites Wi-Fi: Yes Pet-friendly: Yes Max RV length: 35 feet Other amenities: Dump station, boat ramp, fire rings, and picnic tables
Barkcamp State Park Campground
Barkcamp State Park Campground has 150 RV campsites that offer electrical access. Fresh drinking water is dispensed through water stations placed around the park, and there are restrooms with flush toilets and warm showers. A dump station is available to empty the tanks in your RV. Belmont Lake provides fishing and swimming opportunities, and boats are limited to electric motors. Multiple trails wander through the forest and around the lake. The maximum length of RV accommodated at Barkcamp is 35 feet.
Water Hookup: No
Electric Hookup: 30 amp
Sewer Hookup: No
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Fee: $22 to $45 per night
Zion Retreat and RV Park
Zion Retreat and RV Park sits 11 miles north of Barkcamp State Park, in Flushing, OH. The park has 60 RV campsites with full hookups available year-round. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and the sites are lined with trees. Some are full-sun sites, while others are shaded. All RV campsites have a 10-foot-wide cement pad, guaranteeing your rig will be level. The campsites are spacious, with some accommodating rigs up to 80-foot in length. There are no pull-thru sites, however, as all sites are back-in. There are several small ponds to which all RV guests have access. The largest lake is Lake Zion, which provides most of the park's fishing opportunities, though the small ponds are stocked as well. Fishing is catch and release, making the park an excellent place to train young anglers on various fishing methods. A hiking trail runs around Lake Zion and along the rolling hills that make up the park. A kid’s playground, a sand volleyball court, and a swimming beach are within easy walking distance of every campsite.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 15/20/30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Fee: $50 per night
Tappan Lake Park
Thirty-five miles northwest of Barkcamp State Park sits Tappan Lake Park. One of the largest parks in Ohio, Tappan Lake offers 550 RV and tent campsites for visitors to enjoy. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. The park covers 5,000 acres of land that lies alongside 2,350-acre Tappan Lake. Boats are welcome and are allowed motors up to 399-horsepower. Kayaks, canoes, and paddle rafts often ply the edges of the lake, and anglers come long distances to fish Tappan Lake. The park supports a marina where visitors can rent a boat and purchase fishing supplies. Other water-related amenities include a swimming beach, water pavilions, water tubes, and a sunbathing area. An activity center is the focus of ground activity. It includes a camp store, a laundry facility, and a nature center. Several hiking trails lead through the hills, with most of these classified as moderate to difficult.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 15/20/30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Fee: $31 to $65 per night
What to Do at
Barkcamp State Park
Belmont Lake at Barkcamp State Park is the perfect place for a fishing and boating adventure. You can also test your accuracy on three-dimensional targets at the walk-through archery range or play through 18 holes on the mini-golf course. For history buffs, you can learn more about the area's past at the park's Antique Barn, which features presentations by park staff during the summer. The park is popular in winter for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.
Inside Barkcamp State Park
Barkcamp State Park provides visitors with an array of activities throughout the year. The 117-acre lake serves as the center of the park. Angling and swimming are among the favored activities during the spring, summer and fall months. In the winter, the lake freezes and provides an excellent surface for ice boating, ice skating and ice fishing. The area surrounding the lake is hilly and rocky. Trails wander through the densely packed forest, providing plenty of exercise for hikers and bicyclists. During the winter, these trails serve as cross-country ski routes, and the icy slopes offer plenty of sledding surfaces.
Fishing
Anglers can fish in Belmont Lake year-round. You can often catch channel catfish, largemouth bass, and sunfish.
Geocaching
Barkcamp State Park has one of Ohio State Parks' Geocache Challenge geocaches. It is off one of the bridle trials you can access from the parking lot.
Nature Watching
Visitors to Barkcamp State Park often see squirrels, songbirds, skunks, raccoons, white-tailed deer, and opossums. Occasionally, you may also spot a flock of wild turkeys. In addition, park rangers lead nature walks in the park during the summer months.
Stargazing
The east side of Belmont Lake is less developed, making it a great place to go stargazing. There are three picnic areas, so you can rest at a picnic table while looking at the night sky.
Flora and Fauna
Mature woodlands cover most of Barkcamp State Park. The state intends for the flora and fauna at this park to resemble the landscape when the first pioneers arrived in the area shortly after the American Revolution.
Hiking
There are numerous hiking trails at Barkcamp State Park. One unique hiking trail that your children will love is the Storybook Trail. As your family hikes along this half-mile trail, they can read the pages from a favorite children's book on signs along the trail's edge. Blue Trail is the longest at the park and is 8 miles long. Most of the rest of the routes are less than a mile long and offer lake views.
Boating
The Belmont Lake is an excellent place for a boating adventure, so bring your rowboat or one with an electric motor. There is a one-lane boat ramp and a kayak launch.
Swimming
The 700-foot beach at Barkcamp State Park is a terrific place for a day of water play. It is on the southeast side of the lake and has picnic tables and grills nearby.
Biking
There is an eight-mile mountain biking trail at Barkcamp State Park. The single-track trail starts near the lake's parking area. It is a good trail for people with some riding experience, with a few steep sections to practice your technical skills.
How to Get to
Barkcamp State Park
Getting to Barkcamp State Park from Belmont, Ohio is easy as you follow Ohio 149 east for about one mile. After you cross Lake Road, look for the entrance on your right. If you get to Spillway Road, you have gone too far.
Entering Barkcamp State Park
There is no fee to enter Barkcamp State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barkcamp State Park
Summer is an ideal time to visit Barkcamp State Park because it is warm enough to swim in the lake, and you will love having an outdoor meal at one of the three picnic areas. Another terrific option is to come in the fall when the Fall Festival occurs because there are many family-friendly activities, and the colorful foliage is stunning.
Visitors to Barkcamp State Park often see squirrels, wild turkeys, songbirds, rabbits, and white-tail deer. Seasonally, squirrel hunting is a popular activity at this state park.
There is a spacious campground at Barkcamp State Park. All the sites have electrical hookups, and there are 15 with water and sewer. Some sites are ADA-compliant. Equestrian sites are also available for horse lovers, and you can use the horse wash station after your ride.
Reservations are highly recommended at Barkcamp State Park. Camping spots start at $27, with prices varying depending on amenities. Note that the shower house and dump station are closed during winter.
Dogs on a leash are allowed at Barkcamp State Park and can accompany you on most trails. When making a reservation, make sure to mention that you are bringing your pet because they are only allowed in designated campsites. They are also prohibited at the designated swimming areas.
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