Retreat to the lake for bass fishing and restful camping near Gilboa.
Tucked in Ohio’s scenic countryside, campers headed to Gilboa can find refreshing lakeside camping for the whole family. A half-hour drive northeast of town, Van Buren State Park surrounds its namesake 45-acre lake and provides excellent boating and fishing. Skilled anglers can catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, and yellow bullhead. The pet-friendly family campground at the eastern end of the park offers tent sites and level RV sites with 50-amp hookups. A potable water spigot is at the entrance to the camping circle and the dump station is at the main park entrance. Archery hunting is permitted east of Township Road 229. About 25 miles south of Gilboa in Lima, Ottawa Metro Park offers another scenic camping option. Enjoy a leisurely stroll on the Ottawa Metro Park Loop, take a refreshing swim in the lake, and spend a day out on the disc golf course. Convenient campground amenities here include a shower house, 30-amp and 50-amp electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and pull-through sites for big rigs.