An RVer’s Guide to Wayne National Forest

The Wayne National Forest offers visitors a patchwork of 244,000 acres of scenic rolling foothills in the Appalachian Mountains of southern Ohio. The Forest is within a few hours’ drive of several metropolitan areas including Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Pittsburgh, yet it retains an air of nostalgia, with covered bridges, rock shelters, and rugged hills covered with hardwood and pine to explore. 

The Wayne National Forest has a wide variety of recreational activities. There are over 300 miles of trails available for hiking, off-road vehicle riding (ORV), mountain biking, and horseback riding, and there are three canoeable rivers ideal for a family paddle. 

The historic Covered Bridge Scenic Byway follows State Route 26 from Marietta to Woodsfield, Ohio. The Scenic Byway is a 35-mile, self-guided tour through some of Ohio's most beautiful and historic countryside along the Little Muskingum River. Markers guide visitors along the tour’s ten stops including four covered bridges and two historic homes. The Ohio River Scenic Byway creates a circular loop back and offers great views of the Ohio River. 

Other popular attractions in the area include: 

• Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area 
• Shawnee Lookout Tower (Note the tower is closed to climbers, but can still be admired from below) 
• Irish Run Natural Bridge 
• Payne Cemetery 

From wetlands to lakes, wooded trails to wildflowers, Wayne National Forest is the perfect reprieve from busy modern life.

Sandy Fork Wetlands

While there are several types of wetlands in Ohio—such as bogs, marshes, swamps, and vernal pools—the dominant type of wetland in this forest is the floodplain wetland. Beavers, mallard ducks, great blue herons, painted turtles and spring peeper frogs call the wetlands home, meaning there are ample opportunities to enjoy the Wayne's abundant wildlife.

Wildcat Hollow Trail

From ridge tops to stream bottoms, explore the land by foot on the Wildcat Hollow Trail. A short 5-mile loop trail for day hikers, this trail is easily accessible and will have you soaking in the sights of tall pine forests, open meadows, quiet streams and rock outcroppings. Most notable are the wildflowers that sprawl the forest in spring.