Backpacking Opportunities Available at Several Ohio State Parks and State Forests in Southern Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH -- Several Ohio state forests and state parks offer excellent backpacking opportunities for those who want to escape city life and explore the scenic wilderness areas of the state. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), both the Shawnee and Zaleski state forests and Burr Oak and East Fork state parks in southern Ohio provide a number of trails for brief hikes or overnight backpacking excursions.

More than 60 miles of backpacking trails are available throughout Shawnee State Forest near Portsmouth. Also known as the "Little Smokies" of Ohio, the Shawnee State Forest covers more than 60,000 acres. The Shawnee Backpack Trail is divided into two sections, a 23-mile north loop and a 28-mile south loop. Both trails wind through scenic forested areas, featuring waterfalls, lakes and an abundance of wildlife.

A 22-mile trail at Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County was developed along old logging trails and abandoned roads. The trail, which starts at Hope Furnace in Lake Hope State Park, is one of the most family-oriented backpacking trails with many scenic and historical sites. Along the Zaleski Trail, hikers can see remnants of an old town, the original road from Marietta to Chillicothe, 2,000-year-old burial mounds built by the Adena Indians, old mining areas and the former Moonville railroad tracks thought ny many to be haunted by a ghost. A 10-mile loop is available for day hikes.

The Burr Oak Backpack Trail in Athens and Morgan counties winds along the shore of the 664-acre Burr Oak Reservoir. Operated by the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation, the trail features a 29-mile loop designed to accommodate both novice and experienced hikers. Access sites along the trail allow day hikers to walk a range of distances. The Burr Oak Trail has a number of impressive rock outcroppings and a beautiful variety of wildflowers.

East Fork State Park, located just outside Cincinnati in Clermont County, offers 44 miles of backpacking trails along East Fork Reservoir. The trails can be used for both day and overnight hikes. The East Fork Backpack Trail and the Steve Newman Worldwalker Perimeter Trail wind through diverse landscape including forested hills, rocky cascades, abandoned farmlands, grasslands and swamp forests.

Camping is provided along each of the backpacking trails. Campsites are equipped with fire rings and pit latrines. Drinking water is also available along each trail.

Nearly all of Ohio's 72 state parks and 19 state forests offer a variety of trails for those interested in shorter hiking opportunities. The Mohican Memorial Forest near Mansfield offers ten "park and pack" campsites, where beginners can experience backpacking and camping within a half-mile of the parking lot.

Many of these trails comprise portions of the 1,200-mile Buckeye Trail, which encircles the entire state. A list of maps for the Buckeye Trail is available by writing to the Buckeye Trail Association, P.O. Box 254, Worthington, Ohio 43085.

Maps for any of the backpacking trails operated by ODNR are available by writing to the ODNR Public Information Center, Fountain Square, Building C-1, Columbus, Ohio 43224, or by calling (614) 265-6791.

For further information contact Beth Ruth, ODNR Media Relations, 614.265.6860