Tar Hollow State Park

Tar Hollow State Park The rugged foothills of the Appalachian Plateau surround this magnificent park. Tar Hollow is home to many exciting species of wildlife.

The wooded hollows echo with the gobbling of wild turkey and the drumming of ruffed grouse. The campground is set in a wooded hollow near the lake offering sunny and shady sites to suite every camper. The campground is equipped with showers, laundry facilities, pit latrines and a dump station. The public beach is close by. Pet camping is permitted on all sites. The General Store offers camping sup

plies, bait, souvenirs and much more. There is a minature golf course and bike and boat rentals are available. Camping is permitted in 7 shelters by reservation and can accommodate groups up to 20, go to reserveohio.com

Our park naturalist provides excellent nature programs on the weekends. Friday and Saturday evenings also include the showing of family movies at our outdoor amphitheater, located next to the General Store - don't forget your popcorn! There is hiking opportunities for everyone including:

2.5 mile Homestead Trail - family friendly
3.5 mile Ross Hollow Trail - moderate difficulty
21 mile Logan Hollow Trail - difficult for for experienced hikes

Boating with electric motors is permitted on the 15-acre Pine Lake. A launch ramp is located near the beach. The lake supports a variety of fish including, largemouth bass, blue gill and catfish. A valid Ohio fishing license is required. Excellent hunting opportunities exist for squirrel, whitetail deer and wild turkey in the adjacent state forest. A valid Ohio hunting license is required. Facebook Posting Guidelines for this Page:
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May is one of the busiest months of the year at Tar Hollow for programming as all of our local schools come out for spr...
05/27/2026

May is one of the busiest months of the year at Tar Hollow for programming as all of our local schools come out for spring field trips. This year we hosted Vinton Cty 3rd graders, Chillicothe 2nd graders, Huntington preschoolers, Pickaway Ross, Southeastern 3rd graders, Paint Valley 5th graders, Unioto 3rd graders, Logan Elm 5th graders, Circleville 1st graders, Jasper 3rd graders, Waverly 1st graders, and Vinton Cty 1st graders, and finally an amazing home school group on Friday of Memorial Day weekend!. All in all we had 1,519 students, educators, and parents come out and enjoy a variety of outdoor educational experiences! Our students were able to fish, go creeking, learn about birds and furs and skulls. Some hit the put put course and others learned about our incredible forest while playing some interactive games! It was truly a collaborative effort! We'd like to thank JT Flowers from Soil and Water who came and helped out with our furs and skulls station and anywhere else he was needed! We'd like to thank our very own Terry and Deven who helped out with our fishing station. Hannah and Lexi came from Foresty one day to help out. We had a special visit from Naturalists Kaylin and Jenny to help during our ribbon cutting ceremony. Naturalist Sami hosted a wonderful birding station. Myself Naturalist Amy is incredibly thankful for our entire staff who helps me pull off this crazy month of good times with our amazing kiddos from multiple counties! Enjoy the highlights from field trip season 2026!

Well, this past Memorial Day Weekend was one for the books! From power outages, to endless rain, and downed trees, our c...
05/27/2026

Well, this past Memorial Day Weekend was one for the books! From power outages, to endless rain, and downed trees, our campers gets a gold star for making the most of a less than ideal situation. We visited with critters, broke in our brand new composting station, learned about wild edibles in the dark, and explored the world of tiny natural wonders in the new Educational building. It was a great weekend despite the crazy weather.

05/26/2026

TAR HOLLOW STATE PARK

NATURALIST PROGRAMS

Friday, May 29th- Sunday May 31st 2026

All programs are subject to change. Notify the naturalist if special accommodations are needed for your participation. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Friday, May 29th 2026:

4:00pm-6:00pm- Educational Building Open for Exploration!

*Meet Naturalist Amy at the new Educational Building to visit with critters, enjoy hands-on interactive nature activities, leisurely nature puzzle time for kids and adults, and so much more.

6:30pm- Nature Camp for Kids Kick Off for the 2026 Camping Season!

Calling all Nature Kid explorers! Meet at the end of the Ross Hollow Campground to kick off a new season of outdoor fun. We will start the creation of our new summer fort and have 2 surprise naturalist activities. Bring your sense of adventure!

Movie Time- At Dark- Weekend Movies will be posted at the Generals Store

Saturday, May 30th 2026:

9:00am- Ridge Road Birding!

*DRIVE down to the General Store as we head up to the Fire tower in search of our beautiful warbler and songbird friends. This is a great time of the year to be out in the woods looking for birds, wildflowers, and amphibians too. We will be strolling along the Ridge Rd and past a small vernal pool. Bring your binoculars and your sense of adventure.

11:00am- Amy’s Critters!

*Meet at the NEW Educational Building to get up close and personal with Amy’s favorite Tar Hollow creatures. Learn the real facts about our local reptiles and amphibians. Stick around to touch or hold the real thing with Naturalist Amy.

1:00pm- Creeking Fun!

*Meet at the New Educational Building to explore a beautiful creek ecosystem in search of cool aquatic critters, crayfish, salamanders, and more. Wear your water shoes and bring your sense of adventure.

2:00pm-4:00pm- Educational Building Open for Exploration!

*Meet Naturalist Amy at the new Educational Building to visit with critters, enjoy hands-on interactive nature activities, and more!

4:30pm- Wild Edible and Medicinal Plant Stroll!

*Meet at the General Store to stroll the campground in search of the best cure for a mosquito bite, nature’s band aid, and more. Stick around to sample a local wild edible. Yum!

7:00p.m- Travel Back in Time for America’s 250th !

*Meet at the new Educational Building to step back in time and listen to the tales of the Tar Hollow region- the people, the land, and the wildlife! Enjoy a special native treat while relaxing and taking in the history of Ohio’s third largest state forest and fabulous park that lies within.

Movie Time-At Dark- Weekend Movies will be posted at the General Store

Sunday, May 31st 2026:

10am-12pm- Tiny Treasure Time!

*Found a cool feather, fossil, rock, bone, wing this weekend? Bring your tiny treasures down to the new Educational Building for further exploration at our microscope station. It’s the perfect wrap up to a fabulous weekend. Naturalist Amy will have some of her own tiny treasures to share.

05/19/2026

Open Interviews for store positions at Tar Hollow and Scioto Trail.
These interviews are being held only at Tar Hollow.
Friday May 22nd
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tar Hollow Education/Nature Building
16396 Tar Hollow Rd
Laurelville, Ohio 43135

Get ready for a summer full of outdoor fun, creativity, and exploration! 🌞🌿 Our Nature Play programs are back with hands...
05/18/2026

Get ready for a summer full of outdoor fun, creativity, and exploration! 🌞🌿 Our Nature Play programs are back with hands-on activities, games, crafts, and adventures designed to help kids connect with the natural world. Check out the summer schedule below and join us for a season of discovery, imagination, and play in the great outdoors! 🦋🌳

Today is Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day as we get ready to kick off National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) by celebra...
05/15/2026

Today is Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day as we get ready to kick off National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) by celebrating one of the simplest ways to stay safe on the water: wearing a life jacket.
It’s a reminder to always wear a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard‑approved life jacket whenever you’re on or around the water. It only takes a moment to put one on—yet it can make all the difference.

05/13/2026

Explore one of Ohio’s earliest state parks as part of our year-long America 250 celebration with a visit to Tar Hollow State Park! Join us at the new Education Center on Saturday, May 30, at 7 p.m. to dive into the rich history of the Tar Hollow region, from its earliest inhabitants to the way the forest and wildlife have evolved over time.

📍 16396 Tar Hollow Road, Laurelville, Ohio 43135

Come and discover why Tar Hollow, established in 1949 as one of Ohio’s first state parks, remains such a special place today.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio, The Heart of it All
America 250-Ohio

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who make Ohio’s great outdoors even greater!!
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who make Ohio’s great outdoors even greater!!

Warblers and Wildflowers was so much fun last weekend that we are doing it again tomorrow! Meet at the Firetower at 8am ...
05/08/2026

Warblers and Wildflowers was so much fun last weekend that we are doing it again tomorrow! Meet at the Firetower at 8am to stroll along the Ridge Rd in search of orchids and warblers! Bring your binoculars and your sense of wonder and awe! Here's scenes from last Saturdays adventures!

Tar Hollow State Park Naturalist ProgramsSaturday, May 9th 2026:8:00 am - Birding at the Fire Tower!* Meet at the Fire T...
05/07/2026

Tar Hollow State Park Naturalist Programs
Saturday, May 9th 2026:

8:00 am - Birding at the Fire Tower!
* Meet at the Fire Tower as we take a gentle stroll along the Ridge Rd and parts of the Logan Trail in search of spectacular migrating warblers! Bring your binoculars and sense of wonder!!

10:00 am - Flower Planting!
* Meet at the office to help Naturalist Amy plant the flower beds for our upcoming camping season.

2:00 pm - Hike to the Fire Tower!
*Meet at the spillway parking lot to hike a 2.5 Mile stretch of the scenic Logan Trail in search of wildflowers, amphibians, and other signs of spring. This is a moderately difficult trail with some steep inclines. Wear your hiking shoes and pack drinking water.

Address

16396 Tar Hollow Road
Laurelville, OH
43135

Telephone

+17408874818

Website

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