9800 North Shore Drive
Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
(937) 393-4284
1-866-644-6727 for camping reservations

Park Map | Campground Map

Park Events Site

Mowing permits are required, download the form

Rocky Fork State Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Unlimited horsepower boating allows for excellent skiing on the lake which also provides catches of bass, muskellunge and walleye for skilled fishermen.  A scenic gorge, dolomite caves and natural wetlands add to the popularity of this recreation area.

Recreation	Facilities	Quantity
Resource	Land, acres	1384
	Water, acres	2080
Activities	Fishing	yes
	Hunting	yes
	Hiking Trail, miles	1.3
	Picnicking	yes
	Paddle Boats	yes
	Disc Golf	yes
	Swimming Beach, feet	800
	Summer Nature Center	yes
Boating	Boat Rental	yes
	Boating Limits	UNL
	Fuel For Sale	yes
	Seasonal Dock Rental	800
	Launch Ramps	6
Winter	Sledding	yes
Camping	Full Service Campsites	44
	Campsites with Elec.	96
	Non-Elec. Campsites	31
	Pets Permitted	yes
	Showers	yes
	Flush Toilets	yes
	Camp Commissary	yes
	Dump Station	yes
Rentals	East End Overlook	yes
	Group Activity Area	yes
	Activity Center	yes

Camping

• 171 campsites suitable for trailers and tents at the northwest corner of the lake
• Equipped with showers, flush toilets, laundry facilities, dump station, camp store and campers' beach
• Electric hookups are available at 96 sites, with an additional 44 sites offering full-service hookups
• Pet camping is permitted on all sites.
• A launch ramp and docks are provided for campers with boats.
• Free WiFi for registered campers
• Paddle Boat rentals are available at the campground
• Miniature golf course, basketball court and corn hole are available
• Camp office loans games and sporting equipment to registered campers
• A separate group camp may be reserved by contacting the park office

Boating

• Motors of unlimited horsepower are permitted at Rocky Fork.
• Six boat launching ramps are located around the lake.
• Rental docks are available at the Marina.
• A designated area is available for boat camping.

Marina

• The marina provides fuel, docking space and parking.
• Boat rentals, fishing and boating supplies, ice and snacks are available.

Swimming

• Two large public beaches
• Restrooms are available nearby.
• A boat/swim area is available for boaters
• Check for water quality advisories

Fishing and Hunting

• Anglers will enjoy excellent catches of bass, bluegill, crappie, saugeye, white bass, and catfish.
• A wheelchair accessible fishing pier is located on the southeast side of the lake.
• Hunting is permitted in designated areas.
• A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required.

Trails

• Bird Observation Trail- Hiking- .33 Miles, Easy
• Deer Loop Trail- Hiking- 1 Miles, Moderate 

Picnicking

• 6 Picnic areas are located on the north and east shores in wooded areas overlooking the lake.

More To Do

• Volleyball and playground equipment can be found at both the campground and day-use areas of the park.
• All park visitors are invited to enjoy the nature center near the campground.
• Disc Golf course located at South Beach
• Special events, call the park office for information

Area Attractions

• Fort Hill, south of Bainbridge off State Route 41, is the site of a complex of Hopewell Indian mounds. These mounds are more than 1,000 years old and the site includes a museum.
• Serpent Mound, in northeastern Adams County, is one of the most spectacular Indian earthworks in Ohio. Built by the prehistoric Adena Indians, Serpent Mound is a 1,000-foot snake effigy mound. Both of these sites are operated by the Ohio Historical Society.
• Adena State Memorial, the restored home of Thomas Worthington is one of The Ohio Historical Society's premier sites. It includes Worthington's newly-restored 1807 mansion and a 13,000 square foot Museum/Visitor Center.
• Paint Creek and Pike Lake state parks are located within a short drive of Rocky Fork. Both parks offer excellent camping, fishing and hiking opportunities.
• Oldaker, Fallsville and Hillsboro Reservoir are areas operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and offer fishing and hunting.
• For more information on area attractions, contact the Highland County Convention & Visitors Bureau (937-393-4883) or the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism (800-BUCKEYE)

Nature of the Area

Rocky Fork State Park nestled in Highland County derives its name from the stream flowing through the park. This stream, winding over dolomite limestone, has eroded spectacular gorges and caves which we can enjoy today.

Present-day Rocky Fork Creek flows through an ancient valley. Blocked by glacial ice more than 12,000 years ago, the stream reversed direction and rapidly cut the 75-foot gorge seen today. Caves in the region formed as rainwater, trickling through the limestone, dissolved the bedrock. Dolomite limestone is particularly vulnerable to this type of weathering. Sullivantia, extremely rare in Ohio, blooms in the gorge. The small white flowers can be seen from the moist cliff face in mid-summer. Other wildflowers include wild geranium, jewelweed, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace.

Rocky Fork provides habitat for numerous waterfowl, songbirds, raccoons, skunk, red fox and white-tailed deer. The wetlands in the park are home to the green frog, bullfrog, opossum and muskrat.

History of the Area

Rocky Fork State Park is an area steeped in the rich Indian history of Ohio. The land provided abundant game and a ready transportation system in the nearby creeks and rivers. These same streams provided access to the Rocky Fork area for the first settlers.

Plentiful water attracted a number of millwrights to the Highland County region. During the 1800s and the early 1900s, at least six different mill sites were established along Rocky Fork's banks. These mills not only ground flour, but also cut lumber, carded wool and even wove blankets. Water-powered industry was instrumental in the early development of the locale.

In 1897, surveyors for a proposed railroad came to the countryside that would one day be the park. Local people had high hopes that the new "Black Diamond" rail line would bring prosperity to the area. The addition of rail transportation would enable the local mills to ship flour and other mill industry goods all over the country. There was to be a depot built in Rainsboro with a stockyard and telegraph office. Meetings were held by railroad officials to secure a right-of-way from nearby landowners. A town was planned near McCoppin's (at that time Costello's) Mill. Unfortunately, the "Black Diamond" never got past the planning stages, and the new town of Lodore never came to be.

The eastern part of Highland County has been a resort location for many years. The "Seven Caves" and nearby Rocky Fork gorge attracted visitors even in the mid 1800s. At the turn of the century, Colonel Walter H. Hutchins, a regular visitor to the area from Cincinnati, first dreamed of building a dam near McCoppin's Mill. He was the lake's biggest promoter and saw construction begin in 1949.

Rocky Fork became a state park in 1950 and the first water spilled over the dam in April 1953. Since that summer, thousands of people have visited Rocky Fork State Park. The lake has become a favorite of fishermen and water sports enthusiasts.