Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System

Area Status: Open

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.

At a Glance

Current Conditions:
Operational Hours:	Trails are seasonally closed to horseback riding use from winter to early spring. Visit our Recreation page to see seasonal open and close dates for the current year. Day and night (with lights) access is permitted. Open year-round for hiking.
Fees:	No fees required.
Usage:	Light
Closest Towns:	Ironton, OH
Water:	None
Restroom:	Vault only at Paddle Creek Trailhead
Operated By:	Ironton Ranger District

General Information

Directions:

The trailheads for the Lake Vesuvius Horse Trail system are located off State Route 93. Directions for each trailhead are maintained on each trailhead's page.

General Notes:

Routes can be planned using a map of the trail system and our chart of loops, distances, trail markers and start/end points.

All of the Vesuvius horse trail is marked with gray diamonds though the diamonds have different color dots depending on the loops.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Dispersed Camping

Recreation areas with activity Dispersed Camping:

Camping is allowed at the trailheads on the Lake Vesuvius Horseback Trails Sytem, but only during the horseback riding open season.

Fire Information	You can build a campfire as long as you have a 10 foot clearance around it and put a ring around it with rocks. Fires must be extinguished before leaving camp. No bonfires are allowed. No standing or green trees may be cut. Check the bulletin boards to ensure no fire bans are in effect.
No. of Sites	Primitive camping is dispersed at trailhead.
Reservation Info	Sites are not able to be reserved.
No. of Accessible sites	0

Difficulty Level:	Easy

Backpacking

Recreation areas with activity Backpacking:

Though this trail system is designed primarily for horseback rides, hikers are welcome. 46 miles of trail wind through some of the most striking landscapes in Ohio, but loops of a variety of lengths offer hikers many different distances depending on the time they have available.

Fire Information	You can build a campfire as long as you have a 10 foot clearance around it and put a ring around it with rocks. Fires must be extinguished before leaving camp. No bonfires are allowed. No standing or green trees may be cut. Check the bulletin boards to ensure no fire bans are in effect.
Difficulty Level:	Intermediate

Horse Camping

Recreation areas with activity Horse Camping:

Camping is allowed at all of the trailheads for the The Lake Vesuvius Hoseback Trail System, but only during the horseback riding open season. Please do not limit others' use of the area with your campsite.

No. of Sites	Not designated
Reservation Info	No
Size Restrictions	Yes
Fire Information	You can build a campfire as long as you have a 10 foot clearance around it and put a ring around it with rocks. Fires must be extinguished before leaving camp. No bonfires are allowed. No standing or green trees may be cut. Check the bulletin boards to ensure no fire bans are in effect.
Corrals	Yes
Loading Ramp	Yes
Watering Tank	No
Hitching Rails	Yes
Difficulty Level:	Intermediate

Horse Riding

Recreation areas with activity Horse Riding:

This 46-mile trail system winds through some of the most striking landscapes in Ohio. It has been developed for horse use, but hiking is allowed.

Size Restrictions	Yes
Corrals	Yes
Loading Ramp	Yes
Water Availability	No
Hitching Rails	Yes
Difficulty Level:	Difficult

Viewing Wildlife

Recreation areas with activity Viewing Wildlife:

This trail travels through some of the most striking landscapes that Ohio has to offer with a variety of vegetation, rock outcrops, and many species of wildlife.

Species	Woodland songbirds, deer, beaver, and turkey are commonly seen. Soaring above the lakes or perched in shoreline trees you may also see hawks and osprey.
Difficulty Level:	Intermediate