Trails & Ales Redux! Salt Fork State Park / Wildlife Lounge

History

Salt Fork State Park, located in Guernsey County near Cambridge, stands as Ohio's largest state park, encompassing 17,229 acres of land and 2,952 acres of water with 75 miles of coastline. The park derives its name from Salt Fork Creek, where Native Americans historically gathered salt from natural mineral deposits. Established amid the rolling hills of the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau, it offers a diverse landscape of forests, meadows, and valleys. The area was once dotted with small farms and communities before state acquisition began in the mid-20th century. Today, it serves as a premier destination for outdoor recreation in eastern Ohio.

The geologic history of the region traces back to the Pennsylvanian Period, about 300 million years ago, when sediments from ancient rivers and swamps formed layers of sandstone, shale, and coal. These interbedded rock formations create the park's rugged topography, with sandstone cliffs and outcrops visible along trails. Differential weathering has led to features like detached boulders and small caves, such as Hosek's Cave. Coal mining was prominent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leaving remnants like old shafts in the surrounding area. The lack of glaciation preserved these ancient bedrock structures, unlike northern Ohio parks shaped by ice ages.

Anthropologically, the Salt Fork region holds evidence of human presence dating to the Paleoindian era, including a Clovis tool assemblage discovered in the park. Native American groups, likely including Shawnee and Delaware, used the salt licks for hunting and resource gathering, as salt attracted wildlife. Prehistoric artifacts, such as stone tools and points, have been found, indicating seasonal campsites. The area's natural resources supported these early inhabitants for millennia before European contact. Bigfoot lore, tied to Indigenous stories, persists in local folklore since the 1700s.

European settlement began in the early 19th century, with pioneers drawn to the fertile valleys and mineral resources. The Kennedy Stone House, built in 1837 by Irish immigrant Benjamin Kennedy, represents early homesteads and is preserved as a museum within the park. Salt production from brine wells peaked in the 1870s, supporting local industry. Farming and timber harvesting dominated until the mid-1900s, when population decline and land erosion prompted conservation efforts. The region saw Revolutionary War land grants to veterans, shaping ownership patterns.

Planning for Salt Fork State Park started in 1956 as part of Ohio's push for water reservoirs and recreation areas. The state acquired land through eminent domain, displacing farms to create the reservoir. The earthen dam across Salt Fork Creek was completed in 1967, forming the lake by flooding valleys. Recreational facilities began construction in 1968, with the park officially opening in 1972. The lodge, a key feature, was added that year to boost tourism. This development reflected broader state initiatives to preserve natural spaces amid growing urbanization.

Salt Fork offers an extensive array of activities, including hiking on 15 trails, boating, fishing, hunting in designated areas, camping, swimming at a large beach, golfing on an 18-hole course, and archery. It also features bridle trails, disc golf, and a nature center for educational programs. Compared to other Ohio state parks like Hocking Hills or Burr Oak, Salt Fork's vast size allows for a broader combination of pursuits, such as equestrian camping and a full marina, which not all parks provide. While specialized features like extensive cave systems are unique to places like Hocking Hills, Salt Fork encompasses most common outdoor options found across the system. Winter activities include snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, mirroring offerings at parks like Alum Creek or Mohican.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Salt Fork.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Shadbush and Storybook Trails. This will be about a five-mile hike. The Shadbush is moderately strenuous, mostly at the front and back ends of the trail. It's perhaps a bit more strenuous than Deer Creek at these ends, with the Storybook Trail being no more than minimally strenuous. The hills along this hike I find redolent of those at Mohican.

After the hike, we'll head to the Wildlife Lounge for drinks and food.

Where We'll Meet

We'll meet just outside the main entrance to the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center. You can use the map pin I've provided here, or you can type "Salt Fork Lodge" into Google Maps, and it should come right up. I usually get pretty good cell service here.

After the Hike

Wildlife Lounge is a separate lounge facility within the Lodge. The Lounge serves drinks, food, and pizza that I find comparable to Marco's. We should be there by 4:30 if you live in the area and can't make the hike but want to join us for drinks.