Recreation

The Wayne National Forest is within a few hours’ drive of several metropolitan areas such as Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh. Yet it retains an air of nostalgia, with covered bridges, rock shelters, springs and rugged hills covered with hardwood and pine, visitors to the Wayne are welcome to camp, hike, hunt and fish. There are over 400 miles of trails on the forest for hiking, off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding, mountain biking or horseback riding.

Know Before You Go

Take a Map

Passes and Permits

Closures and Notices

2025 Seasonal Recreation Closures

All motorized/off-highway vehicle trails will close the morning of December 8, 2025. The last full day of riding is December 7. Non-motorized trails, including horse trails, will close January 5, 2026.

Developed recreation sites on the Athens Ranger District will close the morning of January 3, 2026. These include: Burr Oak Campground, New Stone Church Campground, Lane Farm Campground, Ring Mill Campground, Lamping Homestead Campground, Hune Bridge Campground, Sand Run Picnic Area, and Utah Ridge Picnic Area. Leith Run Campground closed for the season on October 12, 2025.

Pine Knob Campground on the Ironton Ranger District will remain open through December 22, 2025 to support winter camping and hunting activities. Kinderhook Horse Trailhead on the Marietta Unit will remain open through January 2, 2026.

All of our trails remain open to hikers year-round even if gates are shut. Paddle Creek Horse Camp also remains open year-round.

North Country Scenic Trail Junior Ranger Adventure Guides Available

North Country Scenic Trail Junior Ranger adventure guides are now available at the Wayne National Forest! The activity booklets can be collected for free at the Forest's Welcome Center in Nelsonville, Ohio, during normal business hours. The guides allow children to learn about Lave No Trace Principles, hiking preparedness, and map-reading skills through worksheets and hands-on activity ideas. The guides also have instructions on how to redeem a Junior Ranger badge once complete. While the North Country Scenic Trail is operated and maintained by the National Park Service, several hundred miles run through the Athens Ranger District and Marietta Unit.