ODNR Hosts Dark-Sky Full Moon Walk at Lake Hope Nature Center

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources led a Dark-Sky Series Full Moon Walk at Lake Hope State Park’s Nature Center on March 3, 2026, inviting the public to experience the park’s comparatively dark skies and learn about light pollution and sky conservation. The Original Report noted the event as part of ODNR’s Dark-Sky Series at Lake Hope State Park’s Nature Center on March 3, 2026.

Vinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau listings for the series emphasize outdoor activity and logistics, noting participants should “Explore the park after dark and enjoy the splendor of the nighttime sky during this moderate 2-mile hike!” The Vinton CVB listing instructs visitors to “Meet at the Nature Center,” wear “sturdy, closed-toe shoes, and dress for the weather,” and says guests may “Feel free to bring any additional equipment to assist with uneven terrain.”

On conservation, the Vinton CVB copy states, “Lake Hope is some of the last remaining dark skies in Ohio. Enjoy them while they are still here and learn why they are important and how to protect them.” The Original Report also frames the program as an opportunity to “learn about light pollution and sky conservation,” language included in the supplied text.

The Dark-Sky Series entries in the Vinton CVB calendar show a separate New Moon Walk listed for Feb. 17, 2026 with a time shown as “12:00 am.” The two sources therefore reference different moon-phase events at Lake Hope Nature Center: the Vinton CVB listing for a New Moon Walk on Feb. 17, 2026, and the ODNR-scheduled Full Moon Walk on March 3, 2026. The Original Report did not provide a start time for the March 3 Full Moon Walk in the material supplied.

Practical details published by the Vinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau include a walk length of about 2 miles, meeting at the Nature Center, and a policy that “Flashlights and headlamps are permitted, but we try to walk as much as we can in the dark.” The Vinton CVB contact phone for the listing is 740-596-7077 for anyone seeking additional information.

The two event listings together underline Lake Hope’s role in dark-sky education and recreation in Vinton County, pairing a New Moon Walk listed by the Vinton CVB and the ODNR-hosted Full Moon Walk on March 3, 2026. For questions about times, registration, or meeting-location specifics, callers can reach the Vinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 740-596-7077.