Lake Vesuvius Rec Area, OH - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map

Lake Vesuvius Rec Area is located in the Ironton Ranger District, Wayne National Forest (39 min northwest of Huntington, WV) with an elevation of 739 feet. There are a total of 3 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $35.00 to $52.00. Some amenities include boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports, archery.

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Wayne National Forest closes Lake Vesuvius; surrounding recreation area remains open

PEDRO, Ohio (Sept. 18, 2025) — The Wayne National Forest has closed Lake Vesuvius in Lawrence County, Ohio, for public safety in order to repair the lake dam’s gate.

The closure area covers Lake Vesuvius’s normal maximum pool level only. The recreation area surrounding the lake remains open, including trails, campgrounds, and most other facilities. The Boat Launch is closed and will be dredged this fall and winter to clear sediment accumulated during heavy spring rain runoff.

“Visitors should observe the closure and be aware of personnel working in the area,” said Forest Supervisor Lee Stewart. “We appreciate your cooperation during these essential maintenance procedures, and we will do our best to minimize recreation impacts and maintain other operations normally.”

Dam conditions remain stable and safe, and there is no cause for concern as long as visitors observe the closure. The lakebed may be wet and hazardous as it emerges and dries, and the public should not attempt to walk on it to avoid getting stuck in thick mud. The full closure order and map are posted on the Forest’s Alerts webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/alerts.

Forest employees opened the dam’s gate valve on August 13 to perform standard annual maintenance. However, the dam gate is unable to close due to malfunction or debris obstruction, and personnel must access the gate shaft to determine repairs. The lake will be drawn down 31 feet below normal pool levels in order to assess and fix the pool gate; increased water flow downstream of the dam is expected during this time.

While water levels are low, staff will also take the opportunity to conduct a full infrastructure assessment at Lake Vesuvius. In addition to dredging the Boat Launch, they will evaluate the Boardwalk, remove hazard trees, and repair portions of the NF 1955 road that was damaged by ice storms in 2021.

NOTE: These alerts were current on the reservation website as of 5 hours ago.

Campsite Reviews (14)

3.1 out of 5

5 star		36%
4 star		14%
3 star		14%
2 star		0%
1 star		36%

@bradm5543734 · Camped on Apr 11, 2025 at Campsite #1

A wonderful experience at the Two Point Group Campground. The site was in great shape with plenty of flat spots for pitching a tent. Vault toilet was perhaps the cleanest one I've ever seen. There are tons of fire rings and the shelter has quite a few picnic tables. The site is also located a bit off the main road, so you do get that isolated and remote feel

@RobH2162186 · Camped on Aug 19, 2023 at Campsite #3

Calab Butcher and Bob Webb were very instrumental in making this a great event The Vesuvius Challenge 4 mile race Our 70 runners this year love the park trees lake and shelter houseour numbers are increasing

@LisaM4653823 · Camped on May 21, 2023 at Campsite #4

The place was absolutely disgusting. I was so embarrassed to have my guests see the shelter like it was. There was trash everywhere including a full bag onto of the picnic tables when we arrived. The tables had melted marshmallows, night crawlers and dirt all over the benches so there was very limited seating. There was bugs everywhere do to food being left behind on the tables. The reservation paper hadn't even been changed in 2 days so we had to keep telling people we had it reserved while we were cleaning it. There was no trash bags to put in the cans so there was a huge mess inside the trash bins. Very disappointed

@AndreaF2529950 · Camped on Sep 15, 2022 at Campsite #3

It’s beautiful at lake Vesuvius! My husband and I got married there in 2013. My daughter wanted her wedding there and she got it on September 15, 2022! I love the view from the furnace shelter!

@AlexaC9662510 · Camped on Aug 13, 2022 at Campsite #1

Rode about 6 hours on a motorcycle and we camped out here, a group of 12 of us. It was a great time! Bathroom was clean, everything was well kept. We will definitely be back

@FreddieK599758 · Camped on Jun 26, 2022 at Campsite #3

This is a great place for family reunions.

@AshleyE6498171 · Camped on Jul 11, 2021 at Campsite #3

Tree fell on my aunt's brand new car they didn't do anything but tell me it was a act of god. One of the kids or adults could have been under the tree when it fell.

@AshleyE131 · Camped on Jul 11, 2021 at Campsite #3

Tree fell on my aunt's brand new car they didn't do anything but tell me it was a act of god. One of the kids or adults could have been under the tree when it fell.

@LawrenceS372 · Camped on Jun 5, 2021 at Campsite #3

We try to have our family reunion here every year. I like the privacy

@LawrenceS18229 · Camped on Jun 5, 2021 at Campsite #3

We try to have our family reunion here every year. I like the privacy

@mikel7503834 · Camped on May 21, 2021 at Campsite #1

The campsite was poorly maintained, there was no water available at any of the sites, and the campground was unmonitored and unsecured. we constantly had to defend the site from unwanted visitors all through the day and night. We felt very unsafe. We will never return to camp here again!

@MikeL579 · Camped on May 21, 2021 at Campsite #1

@JudyT874 · Camped on Sep 15, 2019 at Campsite #3

You need bring your own water or a container to carry it up. We was missing a table. At least grass was cut and it was clean.
We had a very good time otherwise.

@JudyT9392011 · Camped on Sep 15, 2019 at Campsite #3

You need bring your own water or a container to carry it up. We was missing a table. At least grass was cut and it was clean.
We had a very good time otherwise.

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Lake Vesuvius Rec Area, OH - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map

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