This year, get a strong start on keeping your New Year’s resolution to get fit!

Getting outdoors and getting some exercise can be daunting on a frosty winter day, if you head out on your own. There’s fun in numbers, so why not join the hundreds (even thousands) of hikers who brave the cold to stretch their legs and enjoy spectacular scenery on guided treks at our state parks? See the calendar of events for dates and details. Hiking with friends and family, any season of the year, is a healthy habit, and we offer more than 1,000 miles of trails in all lengths and levels of difficulty to suit your hiking group.

Keep earning your rewards!

Be sure to use your Ohio State Parks Rewards Card when making a reservation or registering for a campsite or getaway rental at any of our state parks, or reserving a cottage at Buck Creek, Cowan Lake, Dillon, Hocking Hills, Lake Hope, Mohican, Pike Lake or Pymatuning. You can also earn rewards points for shelter house rentals, rounds of golf, and purchases from state park camp stores. Rewards points add up fast, so keep tabs on your account balance on our website, ohiostateparks.org! Don’t have an Ohio State Parks Rewards Card? Sign up online today, or by calling 1-866-644-6727.

Looking for holiday gift ideas?

An Ohio State Parks gift card is a great choice for family, friends, neighbors, business associates, even door prizes for holiday parties. The gift cards are available in any denomination, and can be used for all kinds of outdoor fun in our state parks, including camping and getaway rentals, cottage or lodge stays, and rounds of golf. It’s easy and convenient to purchase your gift cards on-line, in person at most state park offices, or by calling toll-free 1-866-644-6727. 

Spruce up your vehicle, and sport your support for our state parks and state nature preserves!

Next time you renew your license plates, pick a nature preserve or state park plate design. A portion of the license plate fee goes to support programs at Ohio’s most amazing natural places. Click here for more information.

Want to give yourself a little boost while preparing your taxes?

Consider donating a portion of your Ohio income tax return to the Natural Areas check off fund. It’s as easy as marking the “natural areas and endangered species fund” check off box on your 1040 form, and writing in the amount you want to give - every little bit helps!

Green Tip:

Still burning those old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs? Take a tip from our state parks, and use energy and cost efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, instead. Compact fluorescent bulbs are 5 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and cost about one-third as much per hour burned. On average, you can save $40 in electricity costs and 691 pounds of carbon dioxide over the 10,000 hour life of your compact fluorescent bulb. Compact fluorescent bulbs contain a trace of mercury, so be sure to recycle them when they finally burn out. (Popular home improvement chain stores offer recycling programs).

Nifty new LED lights are even more efficient. Their intensely bright, tiny bulbs make great lightweight flashlights for greener camping!