Hook Lake Campground

While heading south I came across the AEP ReCreation Land. In addition to 6 free campgrounds (4 - AEP, 2 at Jesse Ownes), it also has hunting, hiking, The Wilds and MTB trails. This part of Ohio is much more southern than midwestern so it is very disorienting. The rollercoaster backroads will thrill the kids as well as Big Muskie. I explored the camping areas - each has its own personality and layout. What they have in common is that they are very nicely maintained with a lined waste can for nearly every campsite, and very clean. There is an assortment of characters at each campground, from hermits in sagging mossy tents to tarp covered hunters cabin campers. There are serious outdoorsmen here due to hunting season but I'm sure warmer weather brings out recreational 'comfort campers' like myself. I ended up at Hook Lake as it was the most developed of all the campgrounds, right off of Hwy 83, with a large open camping area around the lake plus many sites in the wooded loop above the lake. The sites aren't numbered so wherever there is picnic table and a fire ring is available. Registration is nothing more than signing the form at the bulletin board in each campground, though I noticed several people had printed out the registration form online (link provided in the description area above). Campsites are basic, some more suited for car and truck camping, but others good enough for a medium-sized rig. All had vault toilets, but water is hit or miss. The antique spigots appeared to be in working order at only some of the campgrounds, so bring water to be on the safe side. Considering this is an old strip mining region might be a good reason to bring water. Nearly all these campgrounds had loop roads for easy turn arounds but scout ahead if you can't see as some roads end up being a one way out to narrow or gravel roads. I posted additional photos for this and some of the other campgrounds in the area so I hope they help. With a booster and AT&T Spark I had a fairly good signal while camped near the entrance. But with the wet weather is tended to drop out a good bit. Few of the other campgrounds are as open as Hook Lake, so as other reviewers have noted, there isn't much of a signal. If in a pinch, the visitor center at The Wilds has pretty robust WiFi.

Beautiful quiet spot by the lake. Neighbors are within shouting distance but not right up on you. Not that there were that many in November, but there were a few hearty souls out and some boy scouts. Perfect fall camping for us.

Site was mildly sloped but plenty of room for our small camper and the car. Tent would be no problem. Other sites had more room for larger vehicles. Cell service out by the fire, but not in the camper.

Camped here July 2017
This is an AEP property (American Electric Power) and the campsites are very clean.
Fire ring, table and trash cans. There is pumped well water for drinking and a fishing pond for kids only. However there are 100's of fishing spots all over the place and canoeing, not motors.
This camp ground is very quiet. It's 9 miles outside McConnellsville, OH. Cell service was shakey but great camping for sure. Will be back very soon.