Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

Sand Play

Recreation areas with activity Sand Play:

• Big Bend Swimming Beach

The sandy beach at Big Bend Beach offers children and adults a place to play in the sand. The beach is generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Campground Camping

Recreation areas with activity Campground Camping:

• Iron Ridge Campground
• Oak Hill Campground
• Pine Knob Loop

Vesuvius Recreation Area has four campgrounds for visitors. Each offers a slightly different experience for those who come to stay at the Vesuvius Recreation Area.

RV Camping

Recreation areas with activity RV Camping:

• Iron Ridge Campground
• Oak Hill Campground

Two of the campgrounds at Lake Vesuvius accomodate RVs.

Group Camping

Recreation areas with activity Group Camping:

• Oak Hill Campground
• Two Point Group Campground

Lake Vesuvius has a group campground that accomodates up to 100 people.

Lake and Pond Fishing

Recreation areas with activity Lake and Pond Fishing:

• Lake Vesuvius Boardwalk Trail
• Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail and Backpacking Trail

This 143-acre lake is stocked by ODNR and has a boat ramp.

Day Hiking

Recreation areas with activity Day Hiking:

• Iron Ridge Campground
• Lake Vesuvius - Roadside Picnic Area (not shelter)
• Lake Vesuvius Boardwalk Trail
• Balancing Rock Trailhead
• Bluegrass Trailhead
• John's Creek Trailhead
• Paddle Creek Horse Camp
• Sand Hill Trailhead
• Lake Vesuvius Picnic Areas - Roadside Shelter
• Oak Hill Campground
• Rock House Trailhead

Several hiking trails are available at Lake Vesuvius

Backpacking

Recreation areas with activity Backpacking:

• Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
• Balancing Rock Trailhead
• Bluegrass Trailhead
• John's Creek Trailhead
• Paddle Creek Horse Camp
• Sand Hill Trailhead
• Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail and Backpacking Trail

Lake Vesuvius includes a 16 mile backpacking trail. Downloadable Map.

Horse Camping

Recreation areas with activity Horse Camping:

• Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
• Balancing Rock Trailhead
• Bluegrass Trailhead
• John's Creek Trailhead
• Paddle Creek Horse Camp
• Sand Hill Trailhead

There are two trailheads, one of which has ample room for camping with horses.

Horse Riding

Recreation areas with activity Horse Riding:

• Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
• Balancing Rock Trailhead
• Bluegrass Trailhead
• John's Creek Trailhead
• Paddle Creek Horse Camp
• Sand Hill Trailhead

46 miles of trails offer riders many loops and options on this trail system.

Viewing Wildlife

Recreation areas with activity Viewing Wildlife:

• Lake Vesuvius Boardwalk Trail
• Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
• Balancing Rock Trailhead
• Bluegrass Trailhead
• John's Creek Trailhead
• Sand Hill Trailhead
• Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail and Backpacking Trail

This large lake nestled in the wooded hills is encircled by over 25 miles of hiking trails. These trails travel through some of the most striking landscapes that Ohio has to offer with a variety of vegetation, rock outcrops, and many species of wildlife.

Viewing Plants

Recreation areas with activity Viewing Plants:

This large lake nestled in the wooded hills is encircled by over 25 miles of hiking trails. These trails travel through some of the most striking landscapes that Ohio has to offer with a variety of vegetation and spectacular array of spring wild flowers and fall color.

Viewing Scenery

Recreation areas with activity Viewing Scenery:

• Rock House Trailhead

This area is scenic for many reasons. It's topography lends itself to panoramic views from the roads, trails, and overlooks. The lake is a beautiful backdrop to the forested rolling hills and the furnace and historic Civilian Conservation Corps era buildings lend an air of nostalgia to the site. There is even the famous "Indian head" rock near the entrance - which is a giant rock formation which looks like the profile of a Native American overlooking the lake.

Target Shooting

Recreation areas with activity Target Shooting:

• Longbow Archery Trailhead

This area has a 1/2-mile barrier free trail with eight archery field targets.

Picnicking

Recreation areas with activity Picnicking:

• Lake Vesuvius - Roadside Picnic Area (not shelter)
• Lake Vesuvius Picnic Areas - Furnace Shelter
• Lake Vesuvius Picnic Areas - Roadside Shelter

The Vesuvius Recreation area has a large day use picnicking area plus two picnic shelters.

Group Picnicking

Recreation areas with activity Group Picnicking:

• Lake Vesuvius - Roadside Picnic Area (not shelter)
• Lake Vesuvius Picnic Areas - Furnace Shelter
• Lake Vesuvius Picnic Areas - Roadside Shelter

There are two picnic shelters at the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area.

Boating - Non-Motorized

Recreation areas with activity Boating - Non-Motorized:

Only boats with electric motors are allowed on Lake Vesuvius. Kountry Kayaks is a local vendor who rents canoes and kayaks from May through September. Contact this vendor for more information.

Swimming

Recreation areas with activity Swimming:

• Big Bend Swimming Beach

The Big Bend Beach is closed till summer 2012 due to road landslides. Once opened in 2012, the beach area has a bath house and offers swimming opportunities in season. No life guards are present but the site has picnic tables, sand, and is an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon in the water.