West Branch State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Snuggled into northeast Ohio, West Branch State Park is 5,379 acres of pure beauty. A beech-maple forest, numerous bogs, and a 2,650-acre lake perfect for water sports enthusiasts make up the park. West Branch State Park sits along the west branch of the Mahoning River, hence the name. The Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir on the river was completed in 1965, and the park formally opened the following year. Today, the area hosts numerous recreational opportunities all year while giving guests a space to relax and enjoy nature.
Spring 46-70 F
Summer 77-81 F
Fall 50-73 F
Winter 34-39 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in West Branch State Park
West Branch State Park features a family campground, a group camp area, and a bridle camp with primitive features. The family campground offers full hook-up and 50-amp electric sites for modern camping. In the campground, guests will find heated showers, flush toilets, laundry facilities, and a trailer dump station. A beach and boat launch in the campground area are saved for registered campground guests only. The camp store sells firewood and other supplies and offers games and sporting equipment on loan.
The group camp area has three campsites, two of which have electrical hookups. Flush restrooms are available nearby. You'll also find picnic tables, fire rings, charcoal grills, and lantern hooks in the family and group camping areas.
What to Do at
West Branch State Park
You'll find all the usual state park activities at West Branch State Park, like swimming, boating, fishing, and watching nature. In addition, the park holds numerous picnic areas, rentable pavilions for group events, and a dog park with a swimming pond for your four-legged family members. Twenty miles of bridle trails wind through the woodlands and meadows of the park, and an extensive network of mountain bike trails gives riders miles of land to explore.
Take a dip, tan on the beach, cast your line in the lake, or venture across the water in your boat at West Branch State Park. More adventures await on the hiking, biking, and bridle trails and at the playgrounds. You can find an 18-hole and a 9-hole disc golf course plus a volleyball court for great ways to get some exercise and have a little fun with your group while visiting the park.
Fishing
Anglers get out on the large lake with many forks and coves during all seasons in search of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and muskellunge. There are numerous shoreline access points for fishing as well as areas near the launch sites and an accessible fishing pier near the marina.
Geocaching
Check out the official Geocache website, bring your GPS, and head out to the park for a treasure-hunting adventure. The Monster Cache at West Branch State Park features a large bucket for giving and receiving fun stuff; it's hidden along one of the walking trails.
Nature Watching
Small critters such as foxes, opossums, and raccoons are often spotted running around the park.
Flora and Fauna
A beech-maple forest covers part of the land of the park with numerous bogs filling in other spots. The bogs feature buttonbush, alder, skunk cabbage, and swamp white oak. In the forestland, you'll find Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, and trillium. Red foxes, skunks, opossums, and raccoons are mammals you're likely to spot in the area. Songbirds and waterfowl are plentiful as well.
Hiking
Hikers have 14 miles of trails to explore in West Branch State Park. Most trails feature natural surfaces. Jay Lake is the shortest trail at 0.6 miles, and Buckeye Spur Trail is the longest with 2.25 miles of nature to explore.
Boating
The 2,650-acre lake is designated for unlimited horsepower with a no-wake zone extending 300 feet from all shorelines. West Branch Marina offers boat rentals, gasoline, ice, food, and other supplies. Seasonal docks near the marina are rented by the park office through a lottery process. The east boat ramp and west boat ramp are paved with plenty of parking and lighting. A life jacket loaner board sits near the west boat ramp. The camp ramp is a paved ramp for registered campers only. The Rock Spring Road and Knapp Road ramps are gravel boat launches.
Swimming
A 700-foot sand beach is available for swimmers and sun-seekers. The beach has restrooms, changing booths, outdoor showers, and vending machines. Picnic tables and charcoal grills are available to the public near the beach. Two boat swimming areas are located at Silver Creek Bay and Jay Lake.
Biking
West Branch State Park features an extensive network of mountain bike trails on the south end of the lake. Parking for bikers is available next to the west boat ramp. Six loops provide about 12 miles of single- and double-rack trails starting at Cable Line Road.
How to Get to
West Branch State Park
West Branch State Park is located in northeast Ohio, less than 25 miles from Akron. From Akron, take Interstate 76 east to Highway 5. Travel north and then east on Highway 5 until you reach Rock Springs Road. Turn into the park to the south on Rock Springs Road.
Entering West Branch State Park
West Branch State Park is open all year from sunup to sundown. Visitors are allowed beyond these hours when engaging in legitimate recreational activities. There are numerous parking lots throughout the park, including those near the boat launches, the beach, and the marina.
As with all Ohio State Parks, there is no fee for entering and enjoying the park. Guests may enter free of charge every day of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions About West Branch State Park
Summers in northern Ohio are warm and great for outdoor recreation such as boating, hiking, and swimming. Visitors may also enjoy the cool and mild temperatures of spring and fall, with brilliant colors adorning the trees in late autumn. During the winter months, guests enjoy cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling.
Songbirds fill the air of West Branch State Park with waterfowl livening up the lake and nearby areas. Red foxes, skunks, opossums, and raccoons are often spotted roaming around the park.
There are more than 90 RV campsites in the campground at West Branch State Park.
Yes. Camping spots may be reserved up to six months in advance. You must have a reservation before setting up your equipment on a site. The nightly fee starts at $27 and increases based on season and hookups.
Pets are welcome at all the campsites in West Branch State Park so long as they are kept leashed and under supervision and control at all times. Pets are not permitted on the swimming beach. However, dogs can play unleashed at the state park's dog park, which has a pond, shady areas, grassy spots, and separate spaces for small and large pooches.