Ohio’s Salt Fork State Park lies near the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77, close to Cambridge. The largest state park in Ohio, Salt Fork features a host of outdoor activities, highlighted by a beautiful golf course that is the jewel of all Ohio’s state park golf layouts.
The Salt Fork State Park golf course is a great layout featuring copious wildlife. Photo by Angela Williams.
Salt Fork’s resort lodge is managed by Xanterra, who also manages other Ohio State Park resorts, including Hueston Woods and Mohican. The lodge features a quality restaurant which is standard among Xanterra-managed resorts.
Salt Fork State Park and Lodge Features
- Lodge with Restaurant and 148 Rooms
- 54 Cottages
- 8 Conference Rooms
- Two Marinas for Boating and Fishing
- 18-Hole Championship Golf Course
- Miles of Hiking and Bridle Trails
Salt Fork is Eastern Ohio’s Vacation Destination
Driving the long and winding access road to the Salt Fork Lodge, natural beauty abounds. Some of Salt Fork Lake’s many coves and fingers are visible from the road. The park’s beautiful championship golf course comes in to view just before arriving at the lodge.
The lodge features 148 guest rooms which are all nicely appointed. Activities in and around the lodge include a game room, tennis and basketball courts, and shuffleboard. There is also a gift shop with a nice collection of locally-themed items.
The swimming pool inside the lodge at Salt Fork State Park. Photo by Angela Williams.
The lodge’s Timbers Restaurant features quality food typical of a Xanterra-managed resort. There are menu options for every taste in the family. The restaurant sports a large mural of Confederate John Hunt Morgan’s Civil War raid giving a bit of local history flavor.
Hiking, Fishing, and Golfing at Salt Fork
Being Ohio’s largest state park, there are a multitude of outdoor activities at Salt Fork. The 15 miles of hiking trails are highlighted by the Stone House trail which leads to the historic Kennedy Stone House, built by Scottish immigrants in 1830. The Hosak’s Cave trail can be quite treacherous, as the memorial to Aubrey Parsons, a teenager killed in a fall from the trail, tragically illustrates.
Salt Fork’s famous Kennedy Stone House. Photo by Angela Williams.
The nearly 3,000 acre Salt Fork Lake sports two marinas and thus a ton of boating and fishing options. Boat rentals are possible at either marina, with power boats, sail boats and canoes all available. The fishing options include Catfish, Bluegill, and both Large and Small Mouth Bass. In Ohio, a fishing license is a requirement. Conveniently, they are available at the Sugartree Marina.
Finally, Salt Fork’s 18-hole championship golf course is arguably the jewel of the park. While its length is only 6,000 feet, the hilly layout and undulating greens will challenge even the most experienced golfer. Having a gallery made up of the local wildlife is included in the green fees.
Salt Fork State Park and Resort is one of Ohio’s top state parks and a perfect destination for a family vacation, a quick romantic getaway, or even a summer golf weekend. Its lodging options and abundance of outdoor activities make for a fun time for all.
Check out this cool book about Salt Fork, plus we never travel Ohio’s back roads without our Gazetteer!
Great place.