Wayne National Forest Visitors Guide
Wayne National Forest, Ohio
Wayne National Forest holds the distinction of being Ohio's only national forest. A "patchwork" of land covering nearly a quarter of a million acres scattered across 12 counties in an 834,000-acre area, Wayne National Forest, Ohio is divided into three separate units. One of these, the Athens district, includes the Hocking Hills within its territory.
Visitors to all three of Wayne National Forest's districts may enjoy exciting opportunities for outdoor recreation including Ohio hiking, biking, fishing, and canoeing. Of particular interest are the 300 miles of trails that lie within Wayne National Forest. Trails are available for hiking in Ohio's national forest, mountain biking, horseback riding and off-road ATV vehicles. Recreational activities at Wayne National Forest Ohio also include fishing and canoeing along the Hocking River and other bodies of water, such as the eight-acre Frogwood Pond in Hocking County. Among the other outdoor pursuits available at Wayne National Forest are hunting, birding and wildlife-watching, picnicking, camping, plant collecting and sightseeing during fall foliage season. Metal detecting is allowed only within Wayne National Forest's developed recreation areas. Arrowheads, other Indian artifacts and items found on old farmland or homesteads may not be removed. Wayne National Forest is truly an ideal spot for Ohio day trips.
If you're hiking in Ohio, some points of interest within the Athens district of Wayne National Forest Ohio include the Shawnee Lookout Tower, the only remaining lookout tower built in Ohio's forests in the 1930s; Tinkers Cave, which is actually a rock shelter; Dand Payne Cemetery, a modern-day reminder of the freed slaves who moved into the Ohio Territory.
Wayne National Forest is located in the foothills of the Appalachians and is great for Ohio day trips. Among the wildlife that has been spotted at Wayne National Forest are 50 species of mammals and 142 species of birds. Trees found within the area include native pine and hemlock. Portions of the land at Wayne National Forest Ohio still bear signs of past strip-mining practices.
Wayne National Forest Fees
Admission to Wayne National Forest, Ohio is free. A permit is
required to use designated trails for horseback riding, mountain biking
and off-road vehicles. Please see our complete information on ORV, ATV, Horse and Mountain Bike Trail guide by clicking here.
Wayne National Forest Hours
The forest is available for year-round recreational use; however,
certain facilities and areas may close during the winter months.
Although hiking is permitted throughout the year, other uses for
designated trails are allowed only from April 15th through December
15th.
Wayne National Forest Contact Information
Supervisor's Office and Athens Ranger District
13700 U.S. Highway 33
Nelsonville, OH 45764
(740) 753-0101
website
Click here for more information on Hocking Hills Attractions!
