Dispersed Camping

camping in the woods

Dispersed primitive camping is allowed on National Forest land away from developed campgrounds and anywhere that your camping equipment and/or vehicle do not block developed trails or road right-of-ways. Backpack into camp along the trail or pitch a tent at a trailhead while you ride.

Primitive camping sites rarely have any amenities outside of the occasional stone fire circle. Select an area from the options below and find out more about dispersed primitive camping opportunies on the Forest.

Plan Ahead

Have an idea of where you will be camping ahead of time. Learn more about primitive camping areas from the links below. Look up the weather and trail conditions for that area and pack a map with you before setting out. Plan to bring enough drinking water for the duration of your stay. Leave a clean campsite by packing out all refuse.

Fees and Rules

There is no charge for primitive camping, although a 14 day limitation is in effect. It is not normally necessary to check in with the Forest Service. However, groups larger than 25 people require a permit and prior coordination is required.

Be Respectful

Please practice Leave No Trace principles when camping at primitive sites. Leave the site and trail as you found it.

Dispersed Camping Areas

Athens Ranger District - Athens Area
Located 70 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio, the Athens Unit of the Athens Ranger District is home to the Wayne National Forest Welcome Center. From here you can learn about all that the Wayne National Forest has to offer and plan your trip.
Monday Creek OHV System
The Monday Creek area of the Wayne National Forest provides some excellent opportunities for riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs). This trail system, north of Nelsonville, provides approximately 75 miles of designated trails to OHV riders, mountain bikers, and hikers. Loading ramps are available at the New Straitsville and White Oak Trailheads.

Trailheads
Elm Trailhead
Long Ridge Trailhead
Monday Creek Trailhead
New Straitsville Trailhead
Red Oak Trailhead
Scarlet Oak Trailhead
Sycamore Trailhead
White Oak Trailhead
Stone Church Horseback Riding System
Named for the skeletal ruins of an old stone church nearby, the Stone Church Horse Trail System provides a great opportunity for scenic riding. Various loops for other distances are available. The horse trail winds through the rolling hills of the Wayne National Forest. The trails will lead you through a variety of vegetation- open fields, brushland, mature forest, and new forest. Along the way, you may glimpse wildlife, and will recognize the influence of humans, both now and in the past. You will also pass many of our land management activities.

The trailhead provides a camp specifically for equestrians and 21 miles of scenic riding. The horse camp has ten sites are provided at the campground, each with a 45' long by 15' wide parking space. Two sites are fully accessible for people with disabilities. Each site has a covered paddock, fire pit, grill, and tent pad.
Old Stone Church Trailhead
Wildcat Hollow
Athens Ranger District - Marietta Area
Located in Marrietta, OH, the Marietta Unit serves the southeastern parts of Ohio's Wayne National Forest.

Office Contact Information
- Phone: (740) 373-9055
- Address: 27750 Star Route 7, Marietta, OH 45750
Kinderhook Horseback Riding System
This is the Wayne National Forest's newest trail system which provides 12 miles of scenic riding. Horses, mountain bike riders, and hikers are welcome on this trail.The trail winds through some of the steeper hills on the Wayne National Forest. It will lead you through a variety of vegetation: open fields, brushland, mature forest, and new forest. Along the way, you may glimpse wildlife, and will recognize the influence of humans, both now and in the past. You will also pass many of our land management activities.
Kinderhook Trailhead
North Country Trail
The NCT crosses two administrative units (Athens and Marietta) of the Wayne National Forest. The segment on the Athens Unit is approximately 20 miles in length. The segment on the Marietta Unit is approximately 41 miles. The trail section is laid out over terrain which is surprisingly rugged and includes several special features, such as a natural bridge, a large rock shelter, covered bridges, and an historic rock house.

The NCT is co-located with the Ohio Buckeye Trail, which provides the link between the NCT trails on the Athens and Marietta Unit. In some places, the trail follows roads. This National Scenic Trail, once completed will extend 3,200 miles, through seven states, from New York to North Dakota. The trail will eventually link the Appalachian Trail, the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Ironton Ranger District - Ironton Area
The Ironton Ranger District is located in Lawrence, Scioto, Gallia, and Jackson counties. Total acreage is 107,090 acres. Visitor information can be obtained from the Ironton Ranger Station located north of Ironton, Ohio in Pedro, Ohio.
Hanging Rock OHV System
The Hanging Rock area of the Wayne National Forest provides some excellent opportunities for riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs). This system has 26 miles of trail available for off-highway vehicle, mountain bike, and hiking use.

These trails wind through an area strip-mined in the 1960's and 1970's. Much of the upland area was badly scarred, and some areas are left with steep slopes providing challenging trails to riders. The area is also known for its fishing ponds, 51 of which are available for fishing. The ponds which are scattered along the OHV trail, lend a picturesque backdrop to an OHV ride.

Trailhead
- Hanging Rock Trailhead
Hanging Rock Trailhead
Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
The Lake Vesuvius horse trails wind through some of the most striking landscapes in Ohio. They will lead you through a variety of vegetation where many species of wildlife live. You will ride along rock cliffs, water falls, streams and along ridge tops. The trails will lead you through a variety of vegetation where many species of wildlife live. Expect to see open fields, brushland, mature forest, and young forests. Along the way, you will notice man's influence and land management activities.

The Lake Vesuvius horseback trails system isapproximately 46 miles long and is composed of 9 trails, 4 trailheads, and one horse campground.
Balancing Rock Trailhead
Bluegrass Trailhead
John's Creek Trailhead
Paddle Creek Horse Camp
Sand Hill Trailhead
Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail and Backpacking Trail
Pine Creek OHV System
Trail Advisory-Wayne National Forest Supervisor Anthony Scardina has issued a Closure Order for a portion of the Telegraph Trail, located on the Ironton Ranger District in Lawrence County. The order is necessary to prevent unlawful access to private property and to protect national forest property and resources. The order includes a 3.2-mile section of trail located between the Telegraph Trailhead and the intersection of Brushy Fork Road. The Forest Service has determined that the section of trail is on private property and will need to be rerouted.

The order does not include the Telegraph Trailhead near State Route 93. Off-highway vehicle riders will need to find another option to access the Pine Creek OHV Trail System. Riders can access the trail system from the Lyra and Wolcott Trailheads.

The order will remain in effect until it has been terminated by the Forest Supervisor. An order violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than (6) months, or both.

The Pine Creek area of the Wayne National Forest provides some excellent opportunities for riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-highway motorcycles (OHMs).

This trail system provides approximately 20 miles of trails for off-road vehicle, hiking, and mountain bike use.

Trailheads
Lyra Trailhead
Telegraph Trailhead
Wolcott Trailhead
Superior Trailhead
Symmes Creek/Morgan Sisters Trail
This trailhead is part of the Symmes Creek/Morgan Sisters Trail System. These 6 trails are located in Gallia County, Ohio near Patriot. The trails travel through dense vegetation and over hilly rough terrain with elevation changes of 280 feet. The lowest elevation is 650 feet at Symmes Creek and the highest point is 934 feet on the School House Loop.

Symmes Creek Trails

Symmes Creek North and Symmes Creek South Trails are on the east side of the creek and form a 4.53 mile loop. The trails wind through a variety of young and old forests, along ridgetops, and with occasional overlooks. Along Symmes Creek there are large rock outcroppings and natural wetlands that are reminders of past uses of the land.

Morgan Sisters Trails

The Morgan Sisters Trail System is made up by the Coal Branch, Ridge, and School House loop trails and is located on the west side of Symmes Creek. The Morgan Sisters Trails wind through mature woods with old building sites along the trail. These trails are linked to the two Symmes Creek trails by a short connector trail.

All trails in this trail system are marked with white.
Morgan Sisters Trailhead
Symmes Creek East Trailhead
Symmes Creek West Trailhead
Timbre Ridge Lake