West Branch State Park Beach
Ravenna, Ohio · on Michael J Kirwan Reservoir · Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About West Branch State Park Beach
West Branch State Park Beach is an official swimming beach on the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir near Ravenna, Ohio, on land leased by the state from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park maintains a 700-foot sand beach at this swimming hole, with a shower house, change booth, and snack bar, plus a separate buoy-marked boat swimming area in Silver Creek Bay.
The beach sits on the shore of the 2,650-acre Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir, a Mahoning River impoundment built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1965, within a roughly 5,000+ acre state park property east of Ravenna in Portage County. The reservoir has about 40 miles of wooded shoreline and includes multiple coves and forks used for boating, fishing, camping, and a disc golf course/dog park elsewhere in the park.
Swimming at West Branch State Park Beach
Swimming is at an official sand beach (about 700 feet long) on the reservoir, backed by a shower house, change booth, and snack bar, making it a developed, family-oriented swim spot rather than a backcountry hole. A second, separate buoy-marked boat swimming area exists in Silver Creek Bay southwest of the main beach for those accessing the water by boat.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located within West Branch State Park east of Ravenna, Ohio, off State Route 5.
The hike in
The beach is drive-up with adjacent parking; no trail is required to reach the swim area. Separately, the park maintains roughly 12-14 miles of hiking trails (Wikipedia; ohiotraveler.com), including a family-friendly ~3.2-mile Lakeview Trail with frequent reservoir views (allstateparks.com) and a spur of the Buckeye Trail that links to the campground (about 2 miles, per ohiotraveler.com) - these are recreational trails elsewhere in the park, not access routes to the beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Official sand beach with buoy-marked designated swim zones (main beach plus a second boat-accessible swim area in Silver Creek Bay) kept separate from boat traffic by a 300-foot no-wake zone, and the surrounding park markets itself as family-oriented (family campground, playground). However, no source found confirms lifeguard staffing at the beach, and the lake carries unlimited-horsepower boat/waverunner traffic elsewhere on the reservoir, so supervision near the buoy line is warranted.
Parking
Free
Parking is listed as a park amenity (allstateparks.com) and the park/beach has no entrance fee (Ohio state parks charge no admission or annual pass), implying free parking, but no source specified the lot's size, surface, or exact location relative to the beach.
Restrooms
Yes
Shower house and change booth at the main beach (per prior enrichment/ohiotraveler.com). Nearby boat ramps also have restrooms: East Ramp has flush restrooms, West Ramp and Camp Ramp have vault latrines, Rock Spring Road Ramp has a non-flush restroom (westbranchmarina.com/lake-information). The campground separately offers heated showers and flush toilets.
Hours
Open daily dawn to dusk (ohiotraveler.com; consistent with prior enrichment's dawn-to-dusk park rule).
On the water
Restrictions: Reservoir is designated for unlimited horsepower, but a 300-foot no-wake zone applies along all shorelines plus the entire area west of the Rock Spring Road causeway (westbranchmarina.com/lake-information). Swimming is restricted to two buoy-marked designated areas (main beach and Silver Creek Bay/Jay Lake), which boats and watercraft must stay clear of. Five boat launch ramps serve the lake (East, West, Camp, Rock Spring Road, Knapp Road).
A Campendium camper review noted being able to "launch a kayak or SUP from some of the sites close to the lake," confirming casual kayak/SUP use on the reservoir; no canoe-specific mention was found but canoes are typically permitted alongside kayaks on multi-use reservoirs like this.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon boats and waverunners (personal watercraft); located within West Branch State Park on the Kirwan Reservoir. No kayak/canoe/paddleboard rentals confirmed on their site.
On-site at West Branch State Park, Ravenna, OH (phone 330-296-9209) · Pre-Memorial Day: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (last departure 5:30 p.m.); Memorial Day onward: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (last departure 6:30 p.m.)
What regulars say
Visiting campers describe the park/campground as popular enough that "other people seem to know it's a great campground as well," recommending early reservations. One camper confirmed launching a kayak or stand-up paddleboard directly from campsites near the lake. Reports also mention limited fresh-water fill spigots at the campground and drainage/mud issues around some sites, plus resident geese providing 'constant amusement.' No visitor reports on this spot's water clarity or beach crowding could be verified, so clarity and crowd-level claims beyond the above are left unconfirmed.
Backstory
The Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir was created in 1965 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the West Branch of the Mahoning River for recreation, water supply, flood control, and wildlife management; Ohio leased the developed land from the Corps and established West Branch State Park in 1966. The surrounding area has earlier history including Native American and settler salt extraction along the Mahoning River and an early-1800s brick land-office building attributed to Captain John Campbell.
West Branch State Park Beach: FAQ
Does West Branch State Park Beach charge a fee?
Ohio state parks charge no entrance fee and have no annual pass; admission to the beach and park is free.
Is West Branch State Park Beach kid friendly?
Official sand beach with buoy-marked designated swim zones (main beach plus a second boat-accessible swim area in Silver Creek Bay) kept separate from boat traffic by a 300-foot no-wake zone, and the surrounding park markets itself as family-oriented (family campground, playground). However, no source found confirms lifeguard staffing at the beach, and the lake carries unlimited-horsepower boat/waverunner traffic elsewhere on the reservoir, so supervision near the buoy line is warranted.
Do I need to hike to reach West Branch State Park Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for West Branch State Park Beach?
Parking is listed as a park amenity (allstateparks.com) and the park/beach has no entrance fee (Ohio state parks charge no admission or annual pass), implying free parking, but no source specified the lot's size, surface, or exact location relative to the beach.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to West Branch State Park Beach?
A Campendium camper review noted being able to "launch a kayak or SUP from some of the sites close to the lake," confirming casual kayak/SUP use on the reservoir; no canoe-specific mention was found but canoes are typically permitted alongside kayaks on multi-use reservoirs like this.
What are the rules at West Branch State Park Beach?
Swimming is restricted to designated/marked swim areas (the main beach and the buoy-marked Silver Creek Bay boat swim area); a 300-foot no-wake zone applies to boats near shorelines. Park hours are dawn to dusk.
What water body is West Branch State Park Beach on?
West Branch State Park Beach is on Michael J Kirwan Reservoir, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
More swimming holes near Ravenna
Craig Beach
Lake Milton, Ohioreservoir
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Mill Creek Day Use Area
Berlin Center, Ohioreservoir
⛺
Big waterfall and swimming hole
Bentleyville, Ohiowaterfall pool
🥾 0.4 mi hike
★ Top verifiedGuilford Lake State Park Beach
Hanoverton, Ohiolake
⛺🛶🚤
★ Top verifiedTurkeyfoot Beach
New Franklin, Ohiolake
🚤
Portage Lakes State Park Beach
New Franklin, Ohiolake
🛶🏄🚤