Field Notes Ohio

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117 parks in 7 regions

Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground

Freeport · Harrison & Belmont Counties · Eastern Ohio
Managed by Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
4,416acres
—trail miles
—established

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Piedmont Marina, 32281 Marina Rd, Freeport
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Reservations or tickets
ReserveOhio — camping and cabin bookings
Hunting or permits
Hunting is permitted in non-restricted areas of district land under Ohio Division of Wildlife rules; a valid Ohio hunting license is required.

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.

The story of this land

Piedmont Lake is one of the reservoirs of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, the chain of flood-control lakes built in the 1930s. It has 2,270 acres of water, 4,416 acres of land and a 38-mile shoreline, and a 10-horsepower motor limit that keeps it quiet. Two Ohio camps sit on its shore, Eastern Ohio 4-H Camp (Camp Piedmont) and Camp Presmont.

The marina and campground are on Marina Road near Freeport. The Buckeye Trail's Bowerston Section passes through the Muskingum lakes country here, and the lake is one of several the trail touches on its way south toward Belle Valley.

Things to do in the park

  • Camp on a full hook-up site
  • Rent a cabin, kayak or paddle boat
  • Fish for muskie and saugeye
  • Use the kayak launches and fishing pier
  • Hike the short lakeside trail

Trails

Maps, reviews and recent trail reports for Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground.

Find trails on AllTrails →

Things to do nearby

  • Tappan Lake Park and Clendening Lake, the other Harrison County lakes
  • Salt Fork State Park to the southwest
  • Clay's Drive In in nearby Piedmont

Hiking trails

Short lakeside nature trail at the marina; the Buckeye Trail runs through the Muskingum lakes country nearby.

Wildlife you might see

  • Muskie, bass and saugeye in the lake
  • Waterfowl and shoreline birds
  • Deer and small game on district land

Fishing

  • Piedmont has long been counted among Ohio's best fishing lakes, with muskie, bass and saugeye. A 10-horsepower limit applies. Catch reports are posted at the marina. Ohio fishing license required for ages 16 and up.

Hunting

Hunting is permitted in non-restricted areas of district land under Ohio Division of Wildlife rules; a valid Ohio hunting license is required.

The Camps on the Shore

Most people come to Piedmont for the fish, but the lake has a quieter history along its banks. Two summer camps sit on its shore: Eastern Ohio 4-H Camp, known as Camp Piedmont, and Camp Presmont. Generations of Ohio kids have learned to paddle and swim on the same water where anglers now chase muskie.

The lake itself is an accident of flood control, built to hold back the Muskingum River basin's water, and it turned out to be one of the state's best fishing lakes.

Behind the legend

The two camps are listed on the MWCD's own page for the lake, and the fishing reputation is repeated by Ohio Magazine. The flood-control purpose is the district's own story: the lakes were built in the 1930s to protect the Muskingum valley.

The 10-horsepower limit is a district rule that shapes the whole lake, keeping speedboats off it.

If you go

Camp at the marina, rent a kayak from the marina and paddle along the quiet shore, and stop at Clay's Drive In in Piedmont for a burger and a soft-serve cone.

Road trips through Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground

Scenic byways and heritage drives that pass this park or run close to it.

Tappan-Moravian Trail Scenic Byway

Eastern Ohio (Harrison County)
Full hook-up camping nearby.
Scenic byway55 miles
Half a day · Harrison County to Harrison County

The Buckeye Trail at Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground

Ohio's 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop passes through or beside this park. Tap a section for its route, camping, water and resupply.

4 Bowerston Section

64 miles · Carroll, Harrison, Belmont
Full hook-up camping and cabins on a quiet lake
4 parksTrail towns

Campsites

Full hook-up campsites
About 90 sites with 50-amp power, water and sewer; picnic tables and fire rings; 14-day maximum stay
See MWCD

Cabins

Vacation cabin
Rental cabin at the marina; pets welcome
See MWCD

On site

  • Marina with seasonal docking and boat rentals
  • Shower house and laundry
  • Playground, basketball court and picnic shelters
  • Free Wi-Fi at the marina building
  • Two public boat ramps and two kayak launches
Reserve at MWCD →
Field Notes Ohio isn't connected to Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, so it can't hold a site or take payment. Tapping through opens it in a new tab — search "Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground" there to finish reserving.
Prefer the phone?740-433-4847

Piedmont has a 10-horsepower limit, so expect a quiet lake.

Restaurants nearby

Clay's Drive In
Burgers and big soft-serve cones; open daily
Directions

Gas stations nearby

Freeport's Gas N Go
Fuel plus pizza and sandwiches
Directions

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