7 Overlooked State Parks in Ohio

You know what’s wild? Sometimes the places that restore us most are hiding just out of sight, waiting between the headlines and the Instagrammable waterfalls. You deserve a getaway that doesn’t involve fighting for parking or selfie spots. Let’s talk about seven Ohio state parks that somehow managed to stay off everyone else’s radar, until now.

1. Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

If you’ve ever wanted to channel your inner Indiana Jones (with less snake risk and more picnic options) Nelson-Kennedy Ledges is your place. The park’s narrow labyrinths of rock, carved by centuries of water and wind, feel equal parts ancient and thrillingly alive. In 2025, they added a glass observation bridge, which sounds like a dare, but it actually gives you a killer view of the mossy ledges (and a workout for your knees).

You get to wander through slot canyons and squeeze between boulders that feel like Mother Nature’s obstacle course. The best part? It’s all bite-sized; 167 acres, so you won’t accidentally end up on a survival reality show. Grab a friend who’s not afraid of heights and pack a lunch because you’ll want to linger (and possibly brag on social media).

Here’s the real secret: even though it’s small, the energy is huge. Old trees, the echo of laughter off the rocks, and sunlight streaming through leaves. It’s the magic of feeling tiny in a place that’s quietly monumental.

2. Scioto Trail State Park

There’s something about Scioto Trail that feels like stumbling into Ohio’s secret attic. The hills here rise and fold like old blankets, hiding two little lakes that shine when the light hits just right. This is the park you go to when you want the world to hush for a while.

The trails climb ridge after ridge, and when you finally pop out on top, the views stretch farther than you’d think Ohio could stretch. It’s the kind of place where hawks circle lazily overhead, and you suddenly remember what your lungs can do with real air.

Morning mist hangs low, the kind that makes you feel like you’ve slipped into another century. It’s not flashy, and that’s the point; Scioto Trail doesn’t need to perform for you. It just waits, quiet and patient, for you to catch up.

3. Lake Hope State Park

You know those places that make you nostalgic for a childhood you maybe never had? Lake Hope is like that. It’s got a calm, glassy lake, hills that roll like a gentle sigh, and a sense of quiet that sneaks up and wraps you in a big, mossy hug.

The best part is the Hope Furnace: a hulking, brick reminder that people used to make pig iron here in the 1850s. I dare you to stand next to it and not imagine what life smelled like when fire and steam ruled the valley. You can swim, paddle, fish, or just daydream on the shore without ever feeling crowded out.

Early mornings belong to blue herons, while evenings are for campfires and swapping stories. If you’re feeling ambitious, the hiking trails wind through forests thick with secrets. Lake Hope is for anyone who needs to hear their own heartbeat for a while.

4. Burr Oak State Park

Tucked away like the best kind of secret, Burr Oak feels decidedly unbothered by fame. The lake here is so still in the morning that you almost expect a fairy tale swan to glide by and wink at you. The park’s rolling, wooded hills seem to muffle the modern world; your phone signal might briefly vanish, and you’ll thank it.

The old-school lodge, updated but still charming, sits on the ridge with a view that makes coffee taste better. Hiking trails snake through forests and along the shore, and every once in a while you’ll spot a deer pretending not to see you. The fishing is solid, and the boating is blissfully free of jet ski noise.

Burr Oak is for people who want an unhurried getaway. Bring a book, your favorite snack, or a friend who doesn’t need a constant itinerary. Sometimes, the best memories are made when you just let the day unfold.

5. Beaver Creek State Park

Beaver Creek feels like a history book that someone spilled wildflowers over. You’ve got sandstone gorges carved deep and cool, waterfalls that sneak out of nowhere, and the crumbling remains of an old canal system that once ferried dreams through these woods.

Hike long enough and you’ll run into a pioneer village, cabins and mills standing like time forgot them. The park is big on contrasts: industrial ghosts on one side, unbothered nature on the other. The trails twist you through both, like a reminder that beauty and grit often grow side by side.

This isn’t the kind of place that begs for selfies. It’s the kind that makes you lower your voice without knowing why, the kind where you catch a deer staring back at you like you’re the intruder. And maybe you are, but what a gorgeous place to trespass.

6. Tar Hollow State Park

If you want to prove to yourself that you can handle a little wild, Tar Hollow is your training ground. The park’s ridges and valleys are less forgiving and more rewarding, like nature’s version of a tough-love therapist. Every trail feels like an invitation to get lost and then find something better, maybe even parts of yourself.

Pine Lake sits tucked away, reflecting sky and trees in a way that makes you forget how far you’ve hiked. Don’t expect perfectly manicured paths; roots and rocks keep you humble. Birdsong is everywhere, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a fox darting through the underbrush.

Fun fact: Tar Hollow is Ohio’s third-largest state forest, so don’t panic if you haven’t seen another human in an hour. Solitude is practically guaranteed. It’s a challenge and a comfort, depending on the day.

7. Punderson State Park

There’s something delightfully eccentric about Punderson. Maybe it’s the Tudor-style inn, looking a bit like it teleported in from an English novel, or the way the lake wears a light mist every morning, as if it’s thinking about its day. You’ll find fishing boats drifting lazily, and golfers trying not to curse too loudly at the tricky course.

The hiking trails wind through forests and meadows, sometimes leading you right to the water’s edge. The inn itself is a throwback: cozy, slightly creaky floors, and just enough old-school charm to make you feel like you might bump into a ghost. (Apparently, people say it’s haunted. If you hear footsteps in the hall at night, it’s probably just the building settling. Or not!)

Punderson is for anyone who likes their nature with a little quirk, their history with a side of comfort, and their evenings spent swapping stories around a fire. Bring marshmallows just in case.