September 12, 2025 @ 4:00 pm – September 14, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival, in September, celebrates the native tree fruit with pawpaw-inspired food and drinks.

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival is both entertaining and informative. Learn about the rich history and promising future of the pawpaw. Presentations and activities cover topics such as pawpaw cultivation, cooking, genetic research, medicinal applications, and more.

Events include a food vendor pawpaw cook-off, best pawpaw contest, brewers’ round table and pawpaw beer tasting, and a pawpaw eating contest. Throughout the festivities, there will be live music.

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival has a Kids’ Tent with an obstacle course, bouncy houses, and carnival games.

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About the Ohio Pawpaw Festival

This festival is a fun-filled, educational event that highlights the history and future possibilities of the pawpaw, with presentations and activities covering pawpaw growing, cooking, genetics, medical use, and other related topics.

Events include a food vendor pawpaw cook-off, best pawpaw contest, brewers’ round table and pawpaw beer tasting, and a pawpaw eating contest, as well as plenty of live music throughout the weekend.

The Kids’ Tent features an obstacle course, bouncy houses, carnival games, as well as programs and activities to keep the kids busy learning and exploring.

There will be a skate park setup with boards and pads to borrow and staff to give lessons and demos.

You can participate in a 4-mile and 1-mile fun run/walk. Registration is available online.

Please visit the website and/or social media for up-to-date schedules and operating hours for this event

Where is the Ohio Pawpaw Festival Located?

• Address: 5900 US-50, Albany, OH 45710
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc, are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at team@visitohiotoday.com, and we can get it updated.

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About Kayaking in Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills has some lovely places for Kayaking. The Hocking River is a great place to enjoy kayaking, as the currents are very smooth and quite slow.

The slow currents can give your kayak a nudge without having to go too fast. There are two lakes that you can kayak on as well: Lake Hope and Lake Logan.

Map of Kayaking in Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills Adventures

Hocking Hills Adventures offers a variety of trips, whether these are shorter trips or longer runs, they can tailor a trip to your needs.

If you are a first-timer or have younger children, you should consider starting with a shorter trip. Of course, kayaking is a fantastic experience, but it does take a little time to get used to the water. If you have some experience and have done it before, then you can select to go on a longer trip.

Hocking Hills Adventures has a very scenic run on the river. The trip starts at the campground and it terminates at the Canoe Livery.

This part of the river stretches for over seven miles and is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. It is also nicely secluded, and you can see the remnants of the old Hocking Canal.

• Address: 31251 Chieftain Dr, Logan, Ohio 43138
• Phone: 740-385-8685 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Check out our article about Hocking Hills Adventures!

Hocking Hills Fox’s Canoe Livery

Fox’s Canoe Livery is located on the banks of the Hocking River. Hocking Hills Canoe Livery offers a personalized touch regarding their trips as they know the ‘ins and outs’ of Hocking Hills State Park.

Some of the most scenic areas of Hocking Hills are part of their trip portfolio, so if you want a personalized, intimate trip, then Hocking Hills Canoe Livery can offer that.

The two options are the pre-planned trip options, or if you prefer, they can do an hourly rate instead.

If you are a beginner, then the trip will take around 90 minutes. If you have some experience, you can go on a 3-hour trip.

The longer trip is highly recommended as you can see so much of Hocking Hills, and there is the opportunity to stop and take a hike to see the Natural Rock Bridge.

• Address: 12789 OH-664, Logan, Ohio 43138
• Phone: 740-216-4540 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Hocking Hills Kayak Kab

Hocking Hills Kayak Kab offers kayak rentals for the stretch of the Hocking River between Kachelmacher Park and Haydenville.

There are eight adult Sit-In Kayaks and 4 Sit-On Kayaks. This part of the Hocking River is further downstream from the Canoe Liveries, so it is much calmer and more relaxing.

• Address: Kachelmacher Park, Logan, Ohio 43138
• Phone: 614-582-8116 | Website | Facebook

Raccoon Creek Outfitters

This is a small, family-owned business, offering a couple of trips on the river, between the Hocking Hills Region and Athens County, just minutes from Lake Hope State Park.

The livery offers both kayaks and canoes. They will even offer a shuttle service if you have your own equipment. They also have an equipment shop and a campsite.

• Address: 74815 US Highway 50, Albany, Ohio 45710
• Phone: 740-698-0000 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Adventure Pro Outdoors

This location is more about tubing, but kayaking is also catered for. There are over 100 canoes and kayaks available to rent for visitors.

Adventure Pro Outdoors offers a wide variety of outdoor adventures, including off-road driving, Slingshot rentals, and camping.

• Address: 1299 E. Canal St, Nelsonville, Ohio 43130
• Phone: 740-856-7848 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Places to Stay in Hocking Hills

After a day of messing about on the River, there are some outstanding places to stay in the heart of Hocking Hills. Here are some of our favorites.

Let’s Go Hocking Hills Kayaking!

Have you been kayaking at Hocking Hills? What is your favorite kayaking trip? We’d love to know what you think about the area! Let us know by leaving a comment and sharing your experience!

Some more activities in Hocking Hills include Hocking Hills Horseback Riding, 7 major hiking areas of Hocking Hills, and a trip to Cantwell Cliffs.

We have mentioned a few places here, but do you know of any more in the area? We would love to hear about your experiences if you’ve visited any of the places here!

Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc, are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at team@visitohiotoday.com, and we can get it updated.

To be updated and stay connected, subscribe to our newsletter.

The post Hocking Hills Kayaking appeared first on Visit Ohio Today.

About Lake Snowden

Located in Southeast Ohio, Lake Snowden is a popular destination for many reasons! The lake covers over 130 acres and offers camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, and swimming. Lake Snowden is about 6 miles from Athens, Ohio. 

Not only does Lake Snowden provide an outlet for recreational activities, but it also helps to provide flood control and water supply. The land is managed by Hocking College.

The maximum depth of Lake Snowden is approximately 42 feet. The shoreline varies from silty clay loam to loam soils. 

Today, Lake Snowden has many features that the public can enjoy such as a swimming beach, boat ramp, campgrounds, horse camp, horse trails, picnic grounds, and more.

Things to Do at Lake Snowden

Camping

Camping is available daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. There is a total of 125 campsites. Of those campsites, 95 have electricity and 30 are for primitive camping. When it is just my husband and I, we usually like to have a 3-person tent for extra room. I’ve recently been searching for the best 3-person tent.

The campsites are divided into four areas:

• Locust Grove: the ideal spot for those who bring their horses and want to use the bridle trails.
• Hickory Camp: more off the beaten path but still close to the camp shelter.
• Hilltop Camp: with hot showers and flush toilets.
• Big Oak: with lakefront sites and a play area.

Typically, campsites are first-come, first-served, however, reservations are accepted with advance payment. About half the sites are set aside for seasonal use. 

Fishing

Fishing is one of the big draws to the lake. It has everything from bluegill to largemouth bass, which makes the fishing great for both beginners and experienced fishermen.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has helped the largemouth bass population at Lake Snowden. Currently, bass measuring 12-15 inches must be returned to the lake, however, bass measuring less than 12 inches can be kept. 

Fishing is free at Lake Snowden and open to the public, however, the Ohio Division of Wildlife does require people over the age of 16 to have a valid fishing license. Be sure to bring that with you. 

Boating

Boat rentals are available at Lake Snowden. You can rent canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, and kayaks.  There is a no-wake, idle-only rule for the lake. This helps to protect the calm setting and shoreline. 

There is no cost to boat on Lake Snowden and it is open to the public. Make sure that your watercraft has a valid registration if you bring your own boat. 

Swimming

Lake Snowden offers a grass and sand beach area. There is an inflatable water park that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year.

Waterpark guests must sign a waiver. The beach is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm. It is free to swim, but there is a charge for the inflatable water park.

Bridle Trails

There are 12.5 miles of trails that are designated for horseback riding. As well as a 25-site horse camp. The camp handles RVs as well as trailers. It has electric and water hookups. 

There is a daily cost to use the horse trails as well as a seasonal pass for those who use them frequently. 

Shelter Rental

There are two shelter houses available for rent at Lake Snowden. Both shelters have a 75-person capacity. The shelter houses are available only by reservation. Both shelters have electricity and are near fields where you can play softball or other games. 

Where is Lake Snowden Located?

• Address: 5900 US Highway 50, Albany, Ohio 45710
• Phone: 740-589-9930 | Website

Location Map for Lake Snowden

Let’s Visit Lake Snowden!

Have you been to Lake Snowden? We want to know about your visit! Drop us a comment below telling us about your experience.

A few more places to stay in Ohio include Columbia Woodlands Dreamcatcher Cabin, Hocking Hills Treehouse Cabins, Frankie’s Waterfront House, and Luna Cottage (a tiny house in Hocking Hills).

Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc, are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at team@visitohiotoday.com, and we can get it updated.

To be updated and stay connected, subscribe to our newsletter.

The post Lake Snowden – Fishing, Camping, Boating appeared first on Visit Ohio Today.