1169 N. Buck Road Lakeside-Marblehead, OH 43440-9610 Park Office 419-734-4424 Campground Office 419-734-5857 Marina 419-734-2289 Camping/Getaway Rental Reservations 866-644-6727 Park Map Campground Map Naturalist Programs for the weekend	Located on the shores of Lake Erie, East Harbor State Park has unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. Boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking and camping are popular while nature enthusiasts will enjoy the abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds and other species of wildlife found in the park's scenic wetlands.
Camping ANNOUNCEMENTS Disc golf is now available, thanks to the Friends of East Harbor State Park.  (8/242007) 225 electric sites 126 electric premium sites 23 full hook-up sites 189 non-electric sites 8 non-electric premum sites Showers, flush toilets, dump station, launch ramp and camp store Free WiFi for registered campers Pet camping is permitted on designated sites 10 group camp sites can accommodate up to 100 units 2 Rent-A-RV units on full-service sites are available for weekly rental only 2 deluxe camper cabins are also available for rent Boating Lake Erie offers unlimited horsepower boating opportunities. The park's marina provides seasonal and day-use dock rentals, fuel, launch ramp, full-time mechanic, boat supplies and restaurant. Boats and campers can be stored year-round at the marina in a fenced enclosure. Fishing and Hunting Lake Erie, the walleye capital of the world, provides anglers great catches of yellow perch, channel catfish, smallmouth and white bass in addition to walleye. Both East Harbor and West Harbor are excellent for bluegill, crappie and carp. Hunting for waterfowl is permitted on the eastern side of the offshore islands. Five duck blinds in the park are awarded through a lottery drawing held on the morning of the third Saturday in August, contact the park office for details. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is required. Trails East Harbor's 11-mile trail system leads through the many different habitats within the park. The Middle Harbor Trail skirts the southern edge of the Middle Harbor game sanctuary and includes a stop at a bird observation blind. The short Blackberry Trail near the camp check-in station invites campers to enjoy a pleasant evening stroll. Other foot trails near the swimming beach offer the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna of a beach community. Swimming Thousands of visitors come to East Harbor's 1,500-foot sand beach. Vending machines are available. Picnicking Picnic areas with fantastic views of the lake and marshlands are equipped with tables and grills One picnic area is conveniently located next to the beach Three shelterhouses may be rented by the public, contact the park office for details More To Do Volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts, along with playground equipment , are located in the campground or day use area. Bike rental is available from the camp office and games and sporting equipment are available on loan to registered campers. A fish cleaning building is available for use by campers. 10 hole disc golf course located near the Lockwood Shelter House Area Attractions Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, in the village of Marblehead, is home to the oldest lightouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes. Tours are offered during the summer months. Crane Creek State Park, west of Port Clinton, is one of the state's foremost birding areas and is noted for its spring and fall bird migrations. It is one of the few areas in the state where the endangered bald eagle may be seen. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge borders this park to the west. Encompassing 2,600 acres of wetland adjoining Crane Creek State Park, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area offers outstanding nature study areas and fishing access at Turtle Creek. Controlled public duck hunting is permitted here. The Sportsmen's Migratory Bird Center, located on the main entrance road to Crane Creek State Park is operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and features displays of native wildlife species and information about the area. An observation platform offers a unique perspective on the surrounding terrain. Several other state nature preserves are located in the Sandusky area including Sheldon Marsh, Old Woman Creek and Erie Sand Barrens. Nature of the Area East Harbor State Park is situated on a peninsula of land stretching into the waters of Lake Erie--one of the largest freshwater bodies in the world. The history of Lake Erie began with the glacial period when massive sheets of ice gouged and scoured the bedrock of Ohio. Evidence of the force of the ice is found throughout the lake area. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves are rare but awesome. The deep depressions left by the glaciers were filled with meltwater forming the series of lakes we know as the Great Lakes. East Harbor lies on the fringe of Ohio's prairie marsh zone. These wetlands are remnants of the Great Black Swamp which once covered an area 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide. After a period of intense lumbering and draining in the late 1800s, the swamp was nearly destroyed. Only ten percent of Ohio's original wetlands now remain. These wetlands produce more wildlife than any other type of habitat in Ohio. Reptiles and amphibians are numerous including the green frog, American toad, water snake, fox snake and painted turtle. Large numbers of ducks, geese, gulls, terns and other migratory waterfowl delight birdwatchers. Middle Harbor is a game sanctuary where black-crowned night herons, egrets, great blue herons and other shorebirds find refuge. Furbearers in the park include muskrat and red fox. Hundreds of migrating songbirds rest here before winging north across the lake. History of the Area Before European settlement, the East Harbor region was home to the Ottawa and Wyandot Indians. Ottawa in native tongue means "trader." An east-west trail skirted the southern shore of Lake Erie connecting the Pittsburgh and Detroit settlements, and also linked with the famed Scioto Trail from the south. This important area remained in Indian control until the British and Indians were defeated in the War of 1812 by the Americans. After the Great Black Swamp was eventually drained, the land became highly productive. Fruits, particularly peaches and grapes, were grown extensively. The grape culture became very successful as a result of quality soil, natural drainage and suitable climate. Marblehead Lighthouse was erected in 1821 east of the park on the Marblehead Peninsula to aid navigation in and out of Sandusky Bay. Johnsons Island on the bay side of the peninsula was the site of a prison for Confederate soldiers captured during the Civil War. A Confederate cemetery still remains on the island. The region has long been valued as a recreation area. The unique plant and animal life, sandy beaches, marshland and the lake itself led to the development of East Harbor State Park. The park was opened in 1947 and today is one of northern Ohio's most popular vacation spots. Directions From Cleveland, Ohio: Take State Route 2 West to State Route 269 North. Park is located on State Route 269. From Columbus, Ohio: Take State Route 23 to State Route 4. Go North on State Route 4 to State Route 2. Go West on State Route 2 to to State Route 269 North. Park is located on State Route 269. From Cincinnati, Ohio: Take Route 75 North to S.R. 12 (at Findlay), go North/Northeast on S.R. 12 to S.R. 53 (at Fremont), North on S.R. 53 to S.R. 2, go east on S.R. 2 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on State Route 269. From Toledo, Ohio: Take S.R. 2 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on State Route 269. From Port Clinton, Ohio: Go East on S.R. 163 to S.R. 269 North. Park is located on State Route 269.