Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach

Bainbridge, Ohio · on Pike Lake · Pike Lake State Park

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Spring

About Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach

Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach is an official, designated sand beach on the 13-acre Pike Lake in Pike Lake State Park, near Bainbridge, Ohio. The lake was hand-dug by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and the park became a state park in 1949. The beach is staffed with a beach house offering restrooms, changing areas, and outdoor showers, and water quality is monitored seasonally.

The beach sits on a small (13-acre), CCC-built lake ringed by state forest within a 587-acre state park in the Appalachian foothills of south-central Ohio. Hiking trails such as the Lake Rim Trail and a longer Lake Rim/Mitchell Ridge/Buckeye Trail loop circle the lake and connect into the surrounding forest.

Swimming at Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach

Swimming takes place in a designated roped-off area off a sand beach on the lake; visitor accounts describe the water as clear and clean, suiting families and casual swimmers rather than divers or long-distance swimmers. A separate, informal shallow (about 4 feet deep) stream swimming hole exists near campsite #31 in the campground, distinct from the official beach, but is rain-dependent and can dry out later in summer.

How to get to this swimming hole

The park is located off Pike Lake Road (address 1847 Pike Lake Rd), roughly 5 miles south of the village of Bainbridge, Ohio.

The hike in

No hike is needed to reach the swim beach, it's a drive-up sandy beach with adjacent parking, a short walk (under a minute) from car to water. Optional nearby trails exist for hikers who want to explore afterward: a ~2.2-mile Lake Rim/Mitchell Ridge/Buckeye Trail loop circles the lake, and a longer, more strenuous 7.9-mile Pike Lake Road Loop (about 1,210 ft of elevation gain, ~4 hours) runs through the surrounding state forest. Neither is required for swimming access.

Trails are shared with horseback riders in places, so dogs must stay leashed on them.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

The main attraction is a designated, roped-off sandy beach on a calm 13-acre lake with no gas motors allowed (electric-only up to 4.5 hp), so there's no wake or current; entry is a gradual sandy slope typical of Ohio state park beaches. No lifeguard staffing could be confirmed from sources found. A separate, unofficial creek swimming hole near campsite #31 is about 4 feet deep with an exposed-root tree kids jump from, fun but better suited to close supervision (with_care) rather than toddlers.

Parking

Lot

A parking area sits adjacent to the beach house at the swim beach. Exact lot capacity and whether a day-use fee applies were not confirmed by any source found this pass; Ohio's park website did not return live content during this research session.

Restrooms

Yes

Beach house at the swim beach has restrooms, changing areas, and outdoor showers; additional restrooms and showers are available at the campground (one visitor review noted inconsistent hot water in the campground shower house).

Water clarity

Clear

Multiple sources describe the lake as clear and clean (one account calls it 'one of the cleanest lakes in Ohio'); water quality is monitored via Ohio's BeachGuard program Memorial Day-Labor Day. No firsthand visitor reports on clarity were found, so this read relies on published accounts.

Hours

6:00 AM - 11:00 PM (standard Ohio state park hours, per ODNR)

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsPedal boatElectric motorboat

Restrictions: Gas motors are prohibited; only non-powered craft or boats with electric motors up to 4.5 hp are permitted on the lake.

A feature article describes rentals (kayaks, small boats, pedal boats) available at the park itself, with multiple launch points around the lake, rather than through an outside outfitter.

Rentals nearby

Pike Lake State Park boat/kayak rental (in-park concession)

Kayak, canoe, and pedal boat rentals at the lake

At the lake shore near the beach/boathouse area, with multiple launch points around Pike Lake

What regulars say

Visitor reviews skew toward camping rather than the beach: one long-time visitor said they've 'been coming back' since their early teens, while another flagged that campground showers run inconsistently ('one hot shower and the other two are cold'), a campground-facilities note, not about the beach itself.

Backstory

The lake was hand-dug by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s; the surrounding land became Pike Lake State Park in 1949, and a CCC-era group lodge still stands in the park.

Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach: FAQ

Is Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach?

A feature article describes rentals (kayaks, small boats, pedal boats) available at the park itself, with multiple launch points around the lake, rather than through an outside outfitter.

When is the best time to visit Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach?

Late spring through early fall (Memorial Day-Labor Day beach water-quality monitoring period); water gets too cold for swimming after early fall.

What are the rules at Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach?

Swimming is permitted only in the designated beach area; pets are not allowed on the beach; only non-powered watercraft or boats with electric motors up to 4.5 hp are permitted on the lake; standard Ohio state park hours are 6am-11pm.

What water body is Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach on?

Pike Lake State Park Swimming Beach is on Pike Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.