East Fork State Park Backpack Trail

East Fork State Park, Ohio State Parks (Clermont County, east of Cincinnati)

East Fork State Park is in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati. Its Backpack Trail, marked with red blazes, is a 16-mile route that ODNR calls “a challenging hike through oak-hickory forest and old fields.”

The trail is an out-and-back with a loop at the far end, and two backpack camps with Adirondack shelters make an easy one- or two-night trip.

The hike

BackpackOhio, describing a March 2021 hike, starts from a gravel trailhead with parking, a map, and a latrine, reached from Old State Route 125 and Elklick Road; restrooms are at the park office about a quarter mile away. ODNR lists the South Trailhead and the Administration access lot near the park entrance for parking. The trailhead is shared with mountain bike routes, and BackpackOhio says it can be busy in season.

A wildlife viewing shelter is visible from the start, and the trail crosses wet sections on a low boardwalk before the first well-marked intersection, where the route turns right. Blazes sort out the shared pieces: red for the Backpack Trail, faded but generally visible, yellow for a mountain bike trail, and blue for the Buckeye Trail, which BackpackOhio says follows the Backpack Trail all the way to Camp 2. ODNR adds that mountain bikes are permitted on the trail but horses are not.

East Fork Lake is often in view, and several seasonal streams cross the route, per BackpackOhio. The loop at the far end brings you back to the out-and-back stem for the return.

The park also has a separate Perimeter Trail, a multi-use route with heavy horse traffic that BackpackOhio describes as rough and muddy and does not recommend for backpacking. ODNR says the two backpack camps are also used by the Perimeter Trail and have horse tie-offs, so you may share camp with riders.

ODNR’s rules are simple: dispersed camping isn’t permitted, the primitive overnight sites are limited to one night for transient hikers, and leashed pets are welcome everywhere except beach sand. Mountain bikers must yield to hikers.

Water is the main thing to plan for. BackpackOhio says potable water is at the park office and nowhere on the trail, so most hikers will fill up before starting and treat lake or stream water if they need more.

For a longer backpacking trip in southwest Ohio, see the Twin Valley Trail near Dayton.

Tips

Get your permit first from the Administration Office or by emailing eastfork@ohio.gov.
Fill up at the park office. BackpackOhio reports no water on the trail.
Follow the red blazes; blue (Buckeye Trail) and yellow (bike) blazes share some sections.
Expect mountain bikers. ODNR says they must yield to hikers.
Plan one night per camp. ODNR limits each site to one night.

Camping

Backcountry camping at East Fork is free but requires a permit, and all backpackers must register for the overnight areas, per ODNR. Permits are available at the Administration Office or by email. Camping is allowed only at the designated overnight areas; dispersed camping is not permitted, and the sites are limited to one night for transient hikers. The Backpack Trail has two camps, Camp 1 and Camp 2, each with an Adirondack shelter, a designated fire ring, and horse tie-offs. BackpackOhio says each also has flat tent areas, and that older latrines were removed.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site were found.

Trail facts

Distance: 16 miles round trip
Route type: Out and back with a loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: Camp 1 and Camp 2, each with an Adirondack shelter and fire ring
Water: Park office only; treat stream or lake water
Permits: Free, required; one night per site
Dogs: Leashed
Trailheads: South Trailhead or the Administration access lot
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Adirondack shelters at East Fork's Camp 2:

Both East Fork camps have an Adirondack shelter plus flat tent areas. Side sleepers on hard floors can try a thicker or wider pad and a foam pad underneath.

Get the side-sleeper tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.