Birding at Salt Fork State Park

General Information

Address

14755 Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH 43755

County/Counties

Guernsey

DeLorme Page Number and Coordinates

(7th Edition and earlier) p. 61, D6&7

Nearest Town or City

About 4 miles northeast of Cambridge, Ohio.

Directions from Nearest Town or City

To reach the park from I-77, travel east on 22 to the main park entrance. A map is available at the nature center.

About Salt Fork State Park

The area consists of forests, streams, valleys, meadows and reservoirs. This is Ohio’s largest state park. There are 17,229 land acres and 2,952 water acres, 14 miles of hiking trails and a small nature center. There is a bird list available, but, unfortunately, it is not of any great value. The main roads are paved, but a few of the small ones are gravel. Those are usually not accessible in the winter. Birding is usually good at the area behind the nature center, at the marinas and the beach road as well as along the various gravel roads.There is a lodge, which has 148 guest rooms and 37 two-bedroom cottages.

Visiting Information

Closed hours/season

Open all year during daylight hours.

Parking Areas

Paved areas at the Lodge, Beach, Marinas, Picnic Shelters, and Nature Center. Gravel areas down the side roads.

Fees/Permits

None.

Restroom Facilities

Indoor areas at the Lodge, Nature Center, Beach and all Picnic Shelters.

Harmful Insects, Poisonous Plants, or Animals

Poison ivy and stinging insects on the hiking trails.

Restaurants in the Area

Dining room at the Lodge; various dining places in Cambridge.

Other Useful Information

Camping in the park: 212 sites, all with electricity, 18 sites are wheelchair accessible. Group camp and horsemen’s camp are available. There is an 18-hole golf course. The rangers hold Summer Nature Programs. Swimming, fishing, boating and hunting all take place in the park.

Other Birding Spots in the Area

Seneca Lake, Wolf Run State Park, and The Wilds are all within a short driving distance of Salt Fork.