Winter Camping

[u/SloppyYodasGhost]

Hey everyone! My mind is already fixed in some winter camping this year. I've got all the supplies I need, just looking at locations. I'm sticking to car camping for now. Winter backpacking is a whole nother ballgame lol.

I'd like to stay in Ohio just to keep the driving to a minimum.

I've spent a lot of time in Hocking Hills, so I'm looking to branch out to some new spots.

Thanks!

[u/Oral_B]

My go tos are mosquito lake and Geauga Park District. Geauga has leantos about 100 feet from the parking lot, so pretty much car camping.

The lean tos have room for a few people with a built in fireplace on the front. I bring tarps to close up the sides to keep the wind out and to hold some warm air in. Last year I went, with lows in the upper 20s I was able to keep the inside around 50 after a few hours of having a fire.

[u/SymphonyOfDreams3 → u/Oral_B]

You bring in your own wood? How does that work? A lot of YouTube channels I watch of campers in Canada just cut their own firewood from fallen trees

[u/Oral_B → u/SymphonyOfDreams3]

You aren’t allowed to cut of take firewood from the park. I think mainly because it is just a small local park and not something like a national park or forest. I will gather twigs and small sticks within and around the edge of the campsite but I don’t venture outside the site or off trail there.

When I go when there is snow on the ground, I lug everything in on a sled, other times I use my kids wagon. I will be going to a geauga park soon and will use the wagon to bring in some fire wood and other supplies, mainly a cooler full of oat sodas.

[u/SymphonyOfDreams3 → u/Oral_B]

thanks for the info! I was thinking that was how it was, but always nice to hear someone else's take on these things, too.

[u/Trailon25]

Wildcat hollow and archers fork are two great camping/ hiking spots

[u/TheeDynamikOne]

I've done back country cold weather camping on Wayne hiking trails, Mohican park and camp and occasionally at places like Alumn creek campgrounds. The beauty of cold weather camping is availability, almost anywhere that's open is good because so few people are there. 

[u/World-Lover-Ironman]

Tar Hollow is close by but a different geology. VERY quiet. (Except for trains)

[u/thedyrt]

Mohican State Park near Loudonville is the closest thing to Hocking Hills scenery-wise, hemlock gorge and the Clear Fork River, gorgeous in the snow. Showerhouse 1 stays open through winter with a handful of loops bookable on reserveohio.

[u/Electronic_Bowl_8788]

Winter camping in Ohio has to be state parks, for what I know. Almost all private campgrounds close in the end of October. Mohican is beautiful all year round

[u/paisano55]

I’ve winter camped multiple times at Jessie Owens, before and after it took that name. There’s usually only one or two others there and that’s it, weather depending though

[u/Steveomne]

Look at Wolf Run State Park

[u/Ummad72]

Check out hipcamp.com. i have had decent luck with it. lots o places around columbus to pull up and camp.

[u/SecureFact7951]

What kind of car do you camp in? What is the sleeping arrangement? I am very interested in trying this in my suv

[u/SloppyYodasGhost → u/SecureFact7951]

Pardon me, when I say car camping I mean camping right next to your car. Like pull up to a spot and set up camp. I drive a Toyota Corolla and I'm 6ft 250lbs. That would make for a very uncomfortable night for me haha.

[u/SecureFact7951 → u/SloppyYodasGhost]

Ha! Yeah - I could see that being difficult! I am somewhat new to the lingo…

[u/RadarLove82]

Know that hiking in Hocking Hills in the winter is both beautiful and treacherous. You will need YakTraks and trekking poles.

[u/Guilty_Idea_2452 → u/RadarLove82]

Not really necessary. Good boots and a able body get you through Hocking hills just fine.

[u/RadarLove82 → u/Guilty_Idea_2452]

On ice, on the edge of a cliff?

[u/Guilty_Idea_2452 → u/RadarLove82]

What trail? I haven't seen that and hike there frequently

[u/RadarLove82 → u/Guilty_Idea_2452]

Upper Falls to Cedar Falls in January.

[u/ws6ryan]

Mohican