Field NotesOhio
Upper Falls in the Old Man's Cave gorge, Hocking Hills, with visitors on the rocks

An independent field guide · 365 places

The field guide to outdoor Ohio

Parks and forests, ancient mounds, caves, waterfalls and back roads, with the story behind each place and where to eat and fuel up nearby.
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Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Lake ErieWest Virginia36 places368 places813 places135 places523 places2321 places2124 places2416 places1613 places134 places418 places182 places217 places1710 places1014 places142 places27 places76 places613 places133 places34 places414 places143 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places22 places22 places26 places64 places4

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Parks, forests & wildlife areas

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117 parks in 7 regions

South Bass Island State Park Beach

Put-in-Bay · Ottawa County · Lake Erie
State park
A small stone beachbeach
Free entrycost

A small stone beach on South Bass Island's cliffs, a few miles from the village of Put-in-Bay, reached by ferry.

Beach
A small stone beach; swimming is permitted in designated areas at your own risk
Facilities
A picnic shelter, playground, launch ramp, fishing pier, camping and showers
Season
About April to mid-October
Getting there
By ferry or boat; the park is a few miles from Put-in-Bay

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial is in the village of Put-in-Bay.

Before you swim

Check for algal bloom and bacteria advisories before you go; the Ohio Department of Health posts them for Ohio beaches. Swim in designated areas, and stay out of the water when the surf is rough.

Visiting information you can trust

Primary official source
ODNR park finder (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Within 1.5 miles of the park's verified entrance
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Beach advisory
Ohio EPA BeachGuard — current water-quality advisories

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

Visiting

Lifeguards
None listed; swim at your own risk
Cost
Free entry; camping fees apply
Address
1523 Catawba Ave, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456
DirectionsShow on the map

The park

South Bass Island State Park
The state park this beach is part of, with camping and trails.
Open

Nearby history

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
A 352-foot column for the Battle of Lake Erie
Open

More on this stretch of coast

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.

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