Shawnee State Park, State park in Scioto County, Ohio, US.
Shawnee State Park is an Ohio state park in Scioto County, set in the forested hills of the Appalachian foothills with a lake and a network of hiking trails. The grounds also include a lodge, cabins, and access to water activities on Turkey Creek Lake.
Ohio acquired the land in the 1920s and set it aside as a public park, opening it to recreation for residents across the state. Before that, the Shawnee people had used and traveled through this forested region for generations.
The park takes its name from the Shawnee people, who lived and traveled through this part of Ohio long before European settlement. Visitors walking the trails today move through land that carries a long human story beneath its forest cover.
The park is open year-round, and the best time to visit depends on what you want to do, whether hiking in fall foliage, swimming in summer, or fishing in spring. Overnight options range from tent camping to cabins and a full lodge, but booking ahead is a good idea during warmer months.
Shawnee State Park sits in a part of Ohio sometimes called the "Little Smokies" because the ridges here give off a faint blue haze on warm days, similar to what you see in the Great Smoky Mountains. Many visitors are caught off guard by how hilly and forested this corner of Ohio turns out to be.
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