The Buckeye State
Ohio
Wayne National Forest, the Hocking Hills sandstone canyons, and Appalachian foothills rising from the plains.
Ohio at a Glance
Hocking Hills
Ohio's Hocking Hills region features dramatic sandstone gorges, caves, and waterfalls carved over thousands of years in the sandstone bedrock
Wayne National Forest
Wayne National Forest covers 237,000 acres in southeast Ohio's Appalachian foothills, the only national forest in the state
Little Muskingum River
The Little Muskingum River in Wayne National Forest is one of the few undammed rivers in Ohio, offering excellent canoe camping
Buckeye Trail
The Buckeye Trail circles the state of Ohio for 1,444 miles, with a significant portion passing through Wayne National Forest
Wild Turkey Recovery
Ohio's wild turkey population, near zero in the 1950s, has recovered to over 300,000 birds, with Wayne National Forest hosting some of the best hunting
Fall Color
Southeast Ohio's Appalachian foothills produce some of the best fall color in the state, peaking mid-October in Wayne National Forest
When to Visit
April through June and September through November. Hocking Hills State Park is spectacular year-round, with frozen waterfalls in January and February drawing photographers. Spring ephemeral wildflowers peak in April.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Athens
Ohio University town near Wayne National Forest's Athens, Ironton, and Marietta units, with access to the Little Muskingum River canoe trail.
Logan
Hocking Hills gateway city surrounded by state parks, state forests, and easy day access to multiple waterfall and canyon trail systems.
Did You Know?
Wayne National Forest is named after Revolutionary War General 'Mad Anthony' Wayne, who defeated a Native American confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
Ohio's Hocking Hills was carved by glaciers at the edge of the Wisconsin glaciation, creating unusually dramatic terrain for such flat surrounding land.
Ohio once had over 14 million acres of old-growth forest. Less than 2,000 acres of old-growth remain today, with the best remnants in Mohican State Park.
The Arch Rock formation in Hocking Hills State Park contains what may be the largest natural arch in Ohio, spanning over 100 ft.
Ohio's Zaleski State Forest contains a 23-mile backpacking trail that is often cited as one of the best backpacking loops in the eastern Midwest.