West Branch State Park is a popular Ohio state park that offers an excellent range of leisure activities. Its vast reservoir is perfect for boating and fishing, while the surrounding trails offer a great opportunity for hiking and mountain biking. Read on for some ideas.
Situated on the glaciated plateau of northeastern Ohio, the park’s 5,379 acres of meadows and woodlots provide an ideal backdrop for camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Natural features include numerous bogs filled with buttonbush, alder, skunk cabbage, and swamp white oak.
Camping
The park’s large lake with its many forks and coves is extremely popular with fishermen, boaters, and swimmers. The meadows and woodlots provide an excellent backdrop for camping, hiking, horseback riding, and other outdoor recreation.
The 103 campsites are located in sunny, shady areas by the lake or in the creek. There are also a handful of lakeside sites that offer boat tie-ups.
A large group camp is available for groups of fifty or more. The park’s 700-foot sand beach has a shower house, a change booth, and a snack bar. A boat swimming area is also available in Silver Creek Bay, southwest of the beach.
The park is also home to a number of interesting features, including a 2,650-acre lake and a collection of kettle lakes that were formed when ice blocks broke off of glaciers. The lakes contain unique assemblages of plants such as buttonbush, alder, and skunk cabbage. There are more than twelve kilometers of trails at West Branch State Park that provide access to nature.
Fishing
Whether you prefer fishing from the shore or from the boat, West Branch State Park Ravenna OH has plenty of fishing opportunities for you to enjoy. The lake is stocked with fish year-round, and you can catch bass, walleye, crappie, and bluegill here.
Located east of Ravenna in Portage County, the 2,650-acre lake is an excellent destination for boating and fishing. Small and large boats glide, ski, and float up and down the length of the lake or enter rocky coves (don’t be surprised to find a few “no wake” zones along the way).
There are three boat ramps for launching your watercraft, and the park also offers rental boats. You can also purchase a fishing license at the park’s office. Discover more exciting places here.
Hiking
Hiking is a popular activity at West Branch State Park. Visitors can choose from several hiking trails and loops that offer scenic views of the lake.
This state park is located on a glaciated plateau in northeastern Ohio. Huge ice blocks broke off from the glaciers and formed kettle lakes, which later filled with sediment and left boggy wetlands with unique plant collections.
There’s also a large stand of beech-maple woodlands. These trees harbor a variety of plant and animal life, including red foxes, skunks, possums, and raccoons.
The landscaped park is dotted with wildflower meadows and maple forests, providing scenic backdrops for mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. During the winter, snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails are open under permits.
Campers can choose from 103 campsites in sunny and shady locations, ranging from near the lake to along the creek. There are even group campsites for organizations of up to 50 people.
Mountain Biking
West Branch State Park is home to Northeast Ohio’s oldest legal public mountain bike trail system. Handbuilt by CAMBA volunteers over the years, these 11 miles of dedicated trails are great for beginners and intermediate riders alike.
One of the most popular rides here is an 11-mile trail that starts at the main parking lot and runs directly into the woods. This is a great way to practice and gain experience before moving on to more difficult trails.
The other popular ride is a 3.5-mile loop that begins at the Cable Line Rd trailhead and follows a road that has been allowed to be taken over by nature. This provides amazing scenic views of the lake.
There are also many other hiking and horse riding opportunities at this beautiful park. The northern side of the park features 20 miles of bridle trails that traverse woodlands and meadows. Next blog post.
Driving directions from Pally Roofing to West Branch State Park
Driving directions from West Branch State Park to Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
