Mohican State Park
Loudonville, Ohio
Mohican State Park is one of the top visited state park in Ohio. There are three camping areas, the main park, which has full hook ups, electric only and primitive tent only area. This is the larges, easiest and most visited campground of the three. It is just off S.R. 3 south of Loudonville. The facilities in this campground are some of the best in Ohio. There are numerous flush toilet restrooms, quite a few very clean shower houses, a very nice modern playground, well maintained in ground pool and a well stocked camp store. The biggest negative to this campground is cell/data/tv signal - there are none! Don’t plan on watching the news in the morning. But on the other hand, you won’t see everyone walking around with their face down looking at their phones!
The second campground is primitive, walk in only, but can be used for tents and small campers. It is along the river in a narrow gorge. I would not recommend taking anything larger than a 30 bumper pull into the area as there are quite a few low hanging trees. However, this is arguably the most serene campground in the area. There are two entrances to this campground, but both require a pretty good windy downhill trek. You will find a picturesque covered bridge among the hemlocks and pines. There are a number of picnic tables with grill along the river before you get to the entrance of the campground for day use. Weekends this area is quite busy with families gathering for a picnic and walk along the river.
The third camping area is for group camps. It is at the top of the hill coming out of the gorge. It is a busy area for families, college groups and Scout troops.
The only dump area is in the main campground, but water can be found in both the primitive and main areas.
The hiking at Mohican is spectacular and varied. One of the trails on the side of the river in the gorge is flat, allowing anyone to enjoy the view of the river. The other side is challenging with steep inclines and declines the will take you along some beautiful scenery and captivating waterfalls. There is a gorge overlook that you can drive to if you are not up to one of the more challenging hikes. There is also a series of easy hikes called the ‘Song Bird Trails” within the campground that are often used by the kids on bikes and people walking their dogs. One of the favorite hikes allows for views from the main campground all the way to the primitive campground along the river in the gorge. I suggest taking a snack and plenty of water for that trip and you will be looking for pizza delivery at the end if you don’t.
Besides the campground, the area surrounding Loudonville is what makes this a popular destination. There are numerous organized opportunities to float down the river in a kayak, canoe or inner tube. In addition, you have the opportunity to go horseback riding or swing down a zip-line.
As mentioned previously, Mohican State Park is one of the busiest parks in Ohio. So, if you do not have a reservation, pretty far in advance, chances are you will have a difficult time getting a spot in the summer, especially on a weekend. But, there are many private campgrounds in the area, one on S.R. 3 and many off of a busy road called Wally Road, just off S.R. 3.
If RV or tent camping is not what you enjoy, there are many different opportunities to rent a cabin, both in the park and on surrounding private areas.
The town has a small grocery store that will have just about anything you need, and there is also a wonderful little market on the main drag that has a deli, ice cream stand, dry goods and fruits and vegetables. I suggest a quick stop for some homegrown tomatoes or lunch meat to make a quick lunch.
So - do I suggest a visit to Mohican? That is a definite yes, especially if you have kids. There is so much to do that they will never be board. If you do not have kids and you enjoy camping in a quieter area, I suggest reserving one of the first 20 spots. They are the furthest from the pool and playground. There is a forested area that include the “Song Bird” trails across from this area and only has a single line of sites on either side of the drive. We stayed here for a long weekend in the summer and found it to have the largest sites and be very enjoyable. In the fall and the spring any area of the campground is enjoyable. There are sites along the river that allow you to open your window and listen to the water running by. We have camped often Thanksgiving week and although we have enjoyed many years of wonderful weather during that time, we have also experienced some very wet and cold weather during that week, so come prepared for both as it can switch quickly.