Oak Hill - Lake Vesuvius
OAK HILL - LAKE VESUVIUS
Part of Wayne National Forest
Overview
Oak Hill Campground is one of two camping areas within Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area. It has recently renovated and upgraded with modern conveniences like electric hookups and flush toilets. Lake Vesuvius is very close, providing access to ample recreational opportunities.Facilities
The campground offers dozens of accessible single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Each campsite can accommodate up to eight individuals. A group site can accommodate up to 50 people. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Picnic tables, lantern posts, and campfire rings with grills are provided, as well as electric hookups, accessible flush and vault toilets, showers and water hook-ups. A dump station is located on-site.
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the west side of the 143-acre lake. A mixed hardwood-pine forest with many mature oak trees covers the area.Recreation
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the most popular activities. Anglers may catch bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill.More than 40 miles of trails exist in the area, with trailheads beginning at or near the campground. A spur within the campground connects to the Rock House Trail, which leads to a cave Native Americans used as a hide-out many years ago.
Nearby Attractions
The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.Important Notices
- Camping or the establishment of a campsite within the Wayne National Forest shall be limited to a period of time not to exceed 14 days in any 30 day time period.
- Campers may not occupy an individual developed campsite with more than eight persons at one time.
- Campers may not occupy more than three developed camping units at one time (one RV and two tents sites).
- Pets are permitted within recreation areas, but must be caged, on a leash not longer than six feet, or under other physical restrictive control.
- Click here for more information on the Wayne National Forest
- Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.
Reservation Cut-Off Window: Reservations must be made 4 days prior to arrival. Any unreserved campsites within the 4 day cut-off window are no longer reservable and only available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
State of Ohio Buckeye Pass is not accepted at any Wayne National Forest recreation sites that charges a fee.
Notifications and Alerts
Wayne National Forest closes Lake Vesuvius; surrounding recreation area remains open
PEDRO, Ohio (Sept. 18, 2025) — The Wayne National Forest has closed Lake Vesuvius in Lawrence County, Ohio, for public safety in order to repair the lake dam’s gate.
The closure area covers Lake Vesuvius’s normal maximum pool level only. The recreation area surrounding the lake remains open, including trails, campgrounds, and most other facilities. The Boat Launch is closed and will be dredged this fall and winter to clear sediment accumulated during heavy spring rain runoff.
“Visitors should observe the closure and be aware of personnel working in the area,” said Forest Supervisor Lee Stewart. “We appreciate your cooperation during these essential maintenance procedures, and we will do our best to minimize recreation impacts and maintain other operations normally.”
Dam conditions remain stable and safe, and there is no cause for concern as long as visitors observe the closure. The lakebed may be wet and hazardous as it emerges and dries, and the public should not attempt to walk on it to avoid getting stuck in thick mud. The full closure order and map are posted on the Forest’s Alerts webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/alerts.
Forest employees opened the dam’s gate valve on August 13 to perform standard annual maintenance. However, the dam gate is unable to close due to malfunction or debris obstruction, and personnel must access the gate shaft to determine repairs. The lake will be drawn down 31 feet below normal pool levels in order to assess and fix the pool gate; increased water flow downstream of the dam is expected during this time.
While water levels are low, staff will also take the opportunity to conduct a full infrastructure assessment at Lake Vesuvius. In addition to dredging the Boat Launch, they will evaluate the Boardwalk, remove hazard trees, and repair portions of the NF 1955 road that was damaged by ice storms in 2021.
Available Activities
- SWIMMING SITE - Swimming
- WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
- HIKING - Hiking
- FISHING - Fishing
- CAMPING - Camping
- BOATING - Boating
Directions
From U.S. Highway 52 at Ironton, take State Route 93 north for 9 miles to the Lake Vesuvius Road (County Road 29). Turn east toward Lake Vesuvius and travel 1 mile to the recreation area.
Contact Information
Phone: 740-534-6500
916 COUNTY ROAD 29PEDRO, OH 45659
Rental Options
Available Campsites
- Site 005, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 027, Loop Pine Knob, Type Rv Electric
- Site 026, Loop Pine Knob, Type Rv Electric
- Site 015, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 031, Loop Pine Knob, Type Standard Electric
- Site 018, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 006, Loop White Oak, Type Rv Electric
- Site 024, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Rv Electric
- Site 020, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 009, Loop Post Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 010, Loop Post Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 021, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 004, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 014, Loop Post Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 008, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 002, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 030, Loop Pine Knob, Type Standard Electric
- Site 017, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 032, Loop Pine Knob, Type Standard Electric
- Site 003, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 012, Loop Post Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 025, Loop Pine Knob, Type Rv Electric
- Site 001, Loop White Oak, Type Rv Electric
- Site 029, Loop Pine Knob, Type Rv Electric
- Site 016, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 007, Loop White Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 028, Loop Pine Knob, Type Rv Electric
- Site 022, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Rv Electric
- Site 019, Loop White Oak, Type Rv Electric
- Site 011, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 023, Loop Scarlet Oak, Type Standard Electric
- Site 013, Loop Post Oak, Type Standard Electric
