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Winter Camping in Ohio

Most of Ohio's state park campgrounds are open through the winter, offering brave souls a slice of peaceful beauty. Take a winter hike, go sledding or ice skating and then head back to a fully-equipped cabin in the middle of the woods. It has become a tradition in my family to take winter camping trips for my sons birthdays.

The following campgrounds are winter wonderlands in January, February and early March, and offer something a little different for adventurous types.

Hocking Hills State Park

19852 State Route 664 S

Logan, Ohio 43138

866-644-6727

Hocking Hills offers your choice of 40 gas-heated, family housekeeping cottages that sleep up to six people. These well-maintained facilities include a bath with a shower, two bedrooms, a cozy gas-burning fireplace and full kitchen with microwave. In addition to the cottages, there are 156 non-electric sites with a paved pad for a unit up to 50 feet. Hocking Hills also maintains heated showers throughout the winter, flush toilets and laundry facilities.

The scenic features of Hocking Hills include the caves and incredible Blackhand sandstone. If the conditions are favorable, ice fishing is also a possibility.

Salt Fork

14755 Cadiz Road

Lore City, Ohio 43755

866-644-6727

Salt Fork offers a unique setup. Salt Fork Lodge is situated overlooking the lake and includes 148 guest rooms, as well as a dining room, coffee shop, snack bar, gift shop, lounge and indoor game area. If that isn't for you, there are 37 two-bedroom cottages throughout the hillside with fully furnished living, dining and kitchen areas, a bath with shower and screened porch. If you want to upgrade, try one of the 17 chalet cottages featuring gas log fireplaces and hot tubs. Pets are even permitted in some cottages.

Salt Fork offers a host of winter activities such as sledding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and ice boating.

Dillon State Park

5265 Dillon Hills Drive

Nashport, OH 43830-9568

Not as flashy as Salt Fork, Dillon State Park is my family's favorite. The 29 cottages are nestled up in the woods overlooking the lake shore and feature gas heat, all-electric kitchen, two bedrooms and a full bathroom. There is one fully accessible cottage and pets are permitted.

The Woodchuck Ridge DGC disc golf course has nine holes with par set at 34. It is designed for beginners and no fee is charged to play. Pick up maps and score sheet at the camp store as well as rental discs, if necessary. The first tee starts behind the camp store. Other winter fun activities at Dillon State Park include sledding and ice skating on the pond.

More by Sylvie Branch:

Snow Tubing in Northeast Ohio

Best Sledding Hills on the West Side of Cleveland, Ohio

Ice Skating Lessons in Cleveland, Ohio

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Updated Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011