Note: When recording in eBird, this is a stationary hotspot covering a 100-foot radius around the shelter house. The Lake Hope SP--Hope Furnace Trail has one end of its 3-mile length nearby (see photo of kiosk map).

The original stone Shelter House and the slight slope to the edge of the lake called The Point behind the shelter is a pleasant place to let the birds come to you. A picnic table is at the bottom of the tree lined slope where you can sit and hear/see the birds that like the trees at the edge of the lake.

Lake Hope State Park is truly a nature lover’s dream. In the forest-draped hills, the observant visitor can discover the abundant natural resources of this wild and scenic park.

Although most of the forest was cut to fuel the iron smelting industry that once flourished here, the land has recovered and supports a magnificent, second-growth forest. Oak and hickory are the dominant trees while the woodland floor harbors a fascinating assemblage of shrubs and wildflowers. The yellow lady’s slipper, one of the rarest and most showy orchids, blooms in secluded hollows. Other spring wildflowers such as blue-eyed mary, bloodroot, and wild geranium can be found in abundance.

Deer and wild turkeys are often seen in a number of park locations. Of the many animals inhabiting the park, none is as popular as the beaver. As nature’s dam builders, the beavers are found in numbers and can be observed near the quiet inlets of the lake.