Vinton County Parks & Nature Preserves

The following list of parks and preserves includes those managed by federal, state, county, and non-governmental agencies (such as the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, various historical societies, etc.).

We have tried to collect information on the activities and facilities available at various parks, but things may change without us knowing about it. So please double-check the information at the official site.

Gallia County Hike & Bike Trail (Bike Path)

• Visitors Bureau
• TrailLink.com
• Trail information:
  • 8.5 miles of trail now
  • 28 miles of trail when complete
• Miscellaneous info: Extends from Depot Road at SR 554 (Bidwell) to Haskins Memorial Park (Gallipolis)

Lake Alma (State Park)

• Official Site
• Campground Map
• Park Map
• Location:
  • 422 Lake Alma Road, Wellston, Ohio 45692
  • GPS coordinates: 39.1486148, -82.517799
  • View on Google Maps
• Area:
  • 292 acres in all
  • 60 acres lake
• Trail information:
  • 2.25 miles of hiking trails
  • 1 miles of paved, multi-use trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Bringing your dog
  • Paddling
  • Low-horsepower boating (depending on the park, this may mean boats with electric motors, boats whose motors do not exceed a specific horsepower, or boats with any horsepower motor as long as no wake is generated; check the official site for details)
  • Ice skating
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Swimming beach
• Miscellaneous info: Dog swim area

Lake Hope (State Park)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Campground Map
• Park Map
• Restaurant
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Dining Lodge
• Location:
  • 27331 State Route 278, McArthur, Ohio 45651
  • GPS coordinates: 39.3278905, -82.3519143
  • View on Google Maps
• Area:
  • 2,983 acres in all
  • 120 acres lake
• Trail information:
  • 10.5 miles of hiking trails
  • 25.2 miles of mountain biking trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Camping
  • Mountain biking
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Sledding
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
  • Paddling
  • Low-horsepower boating (depending on the park, this may mean boats with electric motors, boats whose motors do not exceed a specific horsepower, or boats with any horsepower motor as long as no wake is generated; check the official site for details)
  • Ice skating
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities
  • Archery range
  • Nature center
  • Swimming beach
• Miscellaneous info: Boating, Hocking Valley Birding Trail. Adjacent to Zaleski State Forest which has a 29-mile backpack trail.

Moonville Rail Trail (Multi-use trail)

• Posts at TrekOhio
• Wikipedia
• West-most end in Zaleski:
  • GPS coordinates: 39.286111, -82.390000
  • View on Google Maps
• East-most end in Mineral:
  • GPS coordinates: 39.324722, -82.265000
  • View on Google Maps
• 16 miles of trail when complete
• Supported activities:
  • Mountain biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
• Miscellaneous info: Hiking / Mountain bike / Equestrian trail.

Raccoon Ecological Management Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Area Map
• 15,857 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting

Richland Furnace SF (State Forest)

• Official Site
• Brochure
• Richland Furnace State Forest- ATV Parking:
  • 839 Loop Rd., Wellston, Ohio 45692
  • GPS coordinates: 39.1690123, -82.6126661
  • View on Google Maps
• 2,524 acres in all
• 8 miles of APV trail
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
  • Mountain biking
• Miscellaneous info: Remnant of old iron furnace

Superior Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• Parking area at end of Township Route 13:
  • Twp-13, McArthur, Ohio 45651 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.209366, -82.596980
  • View on Google Maps
• 2,442 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting

Tar Hollow (State Forest)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Bridle Trail Map
• Brochure
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Location:
  • 51054 Clark Hollow Rd,, Londonderry, Ohio 45647
  • GPS coordinates: 39.3466923, -82.7320261
  • View on Google Maps
• 16,354 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 22 miles of hiking trails
  • 33 miles of bridle trails
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
  • Camping
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Part of the Buckeye Trail passes through the area
• Miscellaneous info: There is a 46-site primitive horse camp within the forest. The area is a popular site for morel mushroom hunting.

Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• Location:
  • State Route 328, New Plymouth, Ohio 45654 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.3299821, -82.3970779
  • View on Google Maps
• 377 acres in all
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting

Vinton Furnace State Experimental Forest (State Forest)

• Official Site
• Brochure
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Parking area leading to Forest Headquarters:
  • Experimental Forest Rd., Wilkesville, Ohio 45695 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.191171, -82.405472
  • View on Google Maps
• Parking near footbridge to furnace ruins:
  • Township Hwy 8 (also known as Stone Quarry Road), Albany, Ohio 45710 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.215917, -82.404434
  • View on Google Maps
• 12,089 acres in all
• Unspecified mileage of trail (forest access roads)
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
• Miscellaneous info: For hikers, points of interest include a natural arch, the ruins of an iron furnace, and the ruins of Belgian coke ovens.

Wayne NF – Athens Unit (National Forest)

• Official Site
• Trail Map
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Other external links of interest:
  • North Country Trail
  • Wayne NF – Camping Brochure
  • Wayne NF Trail Map
  • Burr Oak Cove Campground
  • Monday Creek ATV/OHM Trail (ATV/Motorcycle/Mtn Bike/Hike)
  • Monroe Outlook
  • Ora Anderson Nature Trail
  • Stone Church Horse Camp & Trail
  • Wildcat Hollow (Camping, Hiking)
  • Wayne NF Athens Unit – Hiking & Backpacking Brochure
• Monroe Outlook:
  • 7946 Irish Ridge Road SE, Glouster, Ohio 45732 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.590626, -82.054943
  • View on Google Maps
• Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail:
  • Co Rd 58, Glouster, Ohio 45732
  • GPS coordinates: 39.5740114, -82.0663771
  • View on Google Maps
• 67,224 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 84.5 miles of ATV / hiking / mountain biking trail in Monday Creek area
  • 15 miles of loop trail for backpacking in Wildcat Hollow
  • 5 miles of loop trail for day hikes in Wildcat Hollow
  • 0.5 miles for the Ora E. Anderson Nature Trail (ADA accessible)
  • 21 miles of bridle / hiking trails in the Stone Church Horseback Riding System
  • 51 miles for the North Country Trail
  • 1 miles for the Lake View Trail
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Camping
  • Mountain biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Restroom facilities

Wellston Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Official Site
• Wildlife Area Map
• Parking near boat launch on west side of lake:
  • OH-684, Hamden, Ohio 45634 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.1882561, -82.5258425
  • View on Google Maps
• 1,414 acre in all
• Supported activities:
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Low-horsepower boating (depending on the park, this may mean boats with electric motors, boats whose motors do not exceed a specific horsepower, or boats with any horsepower motor as long as no wake is generated; check the official site for details)

Zaleski (State Forest)

• Official Site
• Bridle Trail Map
• Backpacking Map
• Brochure
• Posts at TrekOhio
• Parking for backpacking / hiking trails:
  • OH-278, New Plymouth, Ohio 45654 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.331500, -82.339861
  • View on Google Maps
• Hope Schoolhouse:
  • 27961 Wheelabout Rd., McArthur, Ohio 45651 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.316000, -82.352389
  • View on Google Maps
• Parking for Moonville Tunnel:
  • Hope-Moonville Rd., McArthur, Ohio 45651 (estimated using Google Maps)
  • GPS coordinates: 39.308444, -82.324528
  • View on Google Maps
• 28,614 acres in all
• Trail information:
  • 28.8 miles of backpacking trail
  • 31 miles of bridle trails
  • 10 miles of loop trail for day hikes
• Supported activities:
  • Hunting
  • Good site for bird watching
  • Horseback riding
  • Bringing your dog
• Facilities:
  • Firearm range
• Miscellaneous info: Zaleski Backpacking Trail | 16-site horse camp

Last Update: Jun 23, 2018