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Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail

McArthur, Ohio

Details

Distance

25 miles

Elevation Gain

250 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Mitchell Zombek

This is a great hike that leads through 25 miles of pristine Hocking County forest. It is a quick hour and a half southeast of Columbus.

The trailhead parking area is safe and frequently visited by patrols and other hikers alike. The trail is well-blazed, rugged, and scenic all in one. There are many steep inclines along the trail, but these lead to rewarding hill-tops with great views. Spring and summer are good times to hike, but there is normally a generous amount of bugs, rainfall, and humidity. Also, with the dense vegetation, it is hard at times to take in all the available scenery. I highly recommend going during late fall and winter, as the scenery is unobstructed. On the weekends, the camping spots can get crowded, so I recommend going during the week sometime.

There are three campsites with areas for camping and fires; there is an out-house at every camp as well.

For directions and info click hereFor map and general info click here

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Features

Camping
Backpacking
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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