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Lake Hope State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 513 Google reviews · Running trail in McArthur, Ohio · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Lake Hope State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Swimming, boating, trails, camping & a lodge lure visitors to this 3,000-acre forested park.
What runners say about Lake Hope State Park
“The rental fee is very reasonable as well as the pontoon boats very clean and easy to navigate around Lake Hope.”
“Even though it was cloudy and rainy when we were here, it will still beautiful!”
“It is scenic, relaxed, friendly and peaceful.”
We stayed in one of the camper cabins and will make sure to do so from here on out. The cabin was clean and the perk of the a/c and the mini fridge was amazing to have. The cabin itself had 4 beds, a table, and a mini fridge. Outside on the covered porch was another picnic table.
One of my favorite spots. The cabins are affordable, the food at the lodge is excellent, and there's plenty of opportunity for boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Also, it's not far from Hocking Hills, so you can drive up there and spend the day.
We really enjoyed our visit to Lake Hope State Park. Lake hope is an approximately 160-acre lake great for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. There is a small beach as well for swimming. The park is comprised of just less than 3,000 acres and is located in the Zaleski State Forest, in Vinton County.
I had an amazing time here! It is 20 minutes from Hocking Hills and the cabins are 125 compared to 200 and up ! The lake was nice with lots of hiking tails and exploring to do. I had an amazing time .
Trail conditions & character
“Even though it was cloudy and rainy when we were here, it will still beautiful!”
“It is 20 minutes from Hocking Hills and the cabins are 125 compared to 200 and up !”
“It is scenic, relaxed, friendly and peaceful.”
“The cabins were located next to water and bathrooms (which were super clean BTW).”
“It was clean but crowded and we had to walk a bit to find parking.”
Plan your run at Lake Hope State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websiteohiodnr.gov
- Phone(740) 596-4938
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near McArthur
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Zaleski State Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,063 reviews
Backpacking & horse-riding trails, plus a landmark sawmill & the reputedly haunted Moonville Tunnel.
Woodcock Nature Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 5 reviews
Fox Lake Wildlife Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 111 reviews
Relaxing lake and wildlife area featuring boating, hiking and fishing.
Dorr Run-Sycamore Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
National forest offering color-coded and well-maintained trails suitable for all-day riding.
Ash Cave
4.9 ★★★★★ 4,230 reviews
Enormous natural cavern with a waterfall surrounded by woodlands with hiking trails.
