Lake White State Park is a 337-acre lake in Pike County, Ohio, free to visit, with unlimited-horsepower boating, a swimming beach, and strong fishing for bass, crappie, and saugeye. It sits about 5 minutes from Skyline Retreat near Waverly. If you are spending a weekend at Skyline and want to mix in a day on the water, this is your spot.
Bring the boat. Or do not. Either way, you are good.
Boating: one of the few unlimited-horsepower lakes in Ohio
Lake White is one of the few Ohio state park lakes that allows unlimited horsepower boating. There is a public launch ramp right at the park, so whether you are towing a bass boat or tossing a kayak on the roof, you can be on the water in minutes. Skiing, tubing, cruising, paddling: it is all fair game.
No boat? No problem. The shoreline is accessible, the scenery is worth the drive on its own, and there is plenty to do on land too.
The fishing is legit
This is not one of those lakes where you sit all day staring at a bobber. Lake White holds solid populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, saugeye, and catfish. The Ohio state record for Kentucky Spotted Bass was pulled out of this lake back in 1978, and anglers still talk about it.
You will need a valid Ohio fishing license. Beyond that, just pick a spot and cast. Shore fishing works fine, or launch and find your own cove. Early mornings and late afternoons tend to be best, especially for bass and crappie.
There is a swimming beach, and it is free
When it warms up, the designated swimming area at Lake White is exactly what you want after a morning of hiking or an afternoon of fishing. Nothing fancy, just a beach, clean water, and the kind of simple summer day you remember from when you were a kid. And like everything else at Ohio state parks, there is no entrance fee. Just show up.
The setting is pure Pike County
The park sits in the Appalachian foothills, so the landscape is all rolling hardwood forest: oak, hickory, tulip, ash, and maple. In spring, the dogwoods and redbuds light up the hillsides. If you know where to look, you might find morel mushrooms along the trails. Wildlife is everywhere. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, red fox.
The practical stuff
- Address: 2767 State Route 551, Waverly, Ohio 45690
- Phone: (740) 493-2212
- Cost: Free. No entrance fees at Ohio state parks.
- Boating: Unlimited horsepower. Public launch ramp on-site.
- Fishing: Bass, crappie, bluegill, saugeye, catfish. Ohio fishing license required.
- Swimming: Designated beach area, open seasonally.
- Facilities: Picnic shelters (reservable and first-come), picnic tables with lake views.
- Winter: Ice fishing, sledding, and ice skating when conditions allow.
Note: Lake White is a day-use park. No overnight camping at the park itself. Sleep at Skyline Retreat, drive 5 minutes in, spend the day at the lake.
How to stack it with a Skyline weekend
Most guests do Friday and Saturday at Skyline, then a Sunday morning at Lake White before the drive home. If you want a bigger trip, the Hocking Hills comparison post covers the famous gorges (about 1 hour northeast). The drive-time post shows you how the routes work from the major Ohio cities.