Contact Us

The Wayne has three offices to serve visitors. 

Office hours are 8 - 4:30 Monday through 

Friday. 

Athens Ranger District

13700 U.S. Hwy 33

Nelsonville, OH 45764

Phone: 740-753-0101

Marietta Unit - Athens District

27515 State Route 7

Marietta, OH 45750

Phone: 740-373-9055

Ironton Ranger District 

6518 SR 93

Pedro, OH 45659 

Phone: 740-534-6500

Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing 

impaired: 1-800-877-8339

More information on the Forest website: 

fs.usda.gov/wayne

or visit us on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/waynenationalforest

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.

A Guide for Landowners 

living near the Wayne NF

with a cash payment less than 25% of the 

value of the Federal land. 

Boundary Management and Land Lines

The most valuable advice we can give you 

is to have your property surveyed by a 

licensed land surveyor. The fence you think 

is on the property line may not be. The site 

where you’d like to build your dream home 

may be partially on the Wayne. If you construct a building on the Forest, 

it will have to be removed. 

Check your boundaries well in 

advance of your timber harvest 

as well. Avoid costly mistakes 

by knowing where your property lines are located!

The Wayne administers approximately 

241,000 acres of land within 12 southeastern

Ohio counties. There are approximately 

2,000 miles of boundary lines on the Wayne. 

Many Forest boundary lines are not marked, 

but are described by deeds on file and 

shown on USGS Maps. Boundary lines are 

marked and maintained as funding permits. 

Please contact your nearest Forest Service 

office to request Forest boundary information.

Who Maintains the Fence?

Fences are the responsibility of the private 

landowner. If you own livestock, it is your 

responsibility to build a 

fence to keep livestock off 

Forest land. It is imperative you first ensure the 

property lines are accurate before constructing 

your fence. 

Welcome to the Neighborhood

For many people, having a piece of property 

next door to a national forest is the fulfillment 

of a dream. Living next to a national forest 

allows a homeowner to enjoy the beauty 

of the forest, abundant wildlife, spectacular 

scenery, and a sense of solitude. 

At the same time, it is important for property 

owners to understand what it means to live 

next door to public lands. National Forests are 

“working” forests managed for multiple uses 

like wildlife, timber, water quality, and recreation. We offer opportunities for you to get 

involved and participate in project planning 

and have input in these decisions during a 

process called “scoping.” Along with the many 

benefits of being a national forest neighbor, 

there are also responsibilities. 

This brochure provides information on many 

topics that property owners should find useful.

For additional information, contact a Forest 

Service office or check the Forest website.

Selling and Exchanging Your Land

The Wayne National Forest was established 

in 1935 and land acquisition continues to 

“grow” Ohio’s only National Forest. The Forest

Service buys land from willing sellers as 

funding is available. Properties that provide 

important wildlife habitat, protect endangered 

species, improve access to public lands, and 

improve the Forest ownership pattern are 

considered for purchase. 

Land Exchanges 

Although there is no authority to sell Forest 

land, the Forest Service may convey land 

through land-for-land exchanges when it is 

clearly in the public’s interest. The lands to be 

exchanged must be of equal value or equalized

Typical corner

boundary 

marked for 

National Forest 

land.

Wayne National Forest

Living Next 

Door to a 

National Forest

Forest

Service

FS-R9-035

05/2015
Who Manages the Roads?

Road systems within the 

Forest include State Highways, County, Township, 

and Forest Service Roads. 

The roads maintained by 

the Forest serve as access 

for recreation use, hunting, 

fishing, fire control, vegetation management projects, 

and other activities.

Some roads that access the Forest cross 

private land on easements acquired from 

the private landowners. When the Forest 

Service acquires an easement across private property, the Forest Service regulates 

the use of the road. The public has the right 

to use the road unless the Forest Service 

has closed the road to public use. 

Access by permit across the Forest to private

lands may be granted under some circumstances, if other access is not available. 

Permits for Utilities, Events, etc.

Private uses on the Forest, such as private 

road rights-of-way and construction of public 

utilities, require a special use permit. These 

permits are issued if the use is compatible 

with Forest purposes and if it is in the public 

interest. Payment of an annual special use 

permit fee is required. 

Uses on the Forest such as recreation 

events and commercial services also require

a special use permit, as do gatherings of 

over 75 people. Not all permit requests are 

approved. For example, permits are not 

granted when the activity can be reasonably 

accommodated on private land. Processing 

an application for a special use permit does 

take time and certain fees may be billed to 

the applicant. Please contact your local 

Forest Service office for more information. 

What about Fire?

The Wayne is responsible 

for protecting the Forest 

from wildfire. Through cooperative agreements, the 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), local Volunteer Fire 

Departments, and the Wayne suppress fires 

on state, private, and federal lands. The Forest Service suppresses fire on private land if 

it poses a threat to Forest land or when their 

assistance is requested during initial attack.

If a property owner allows a fire to escape 

onto Forest land, the landowner may be 

billed for suppression and restoration costs 

and damages.

The Forest Service sometimes uses prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat, stimulate healthy ecosystems, or reduce hazardous fuels. Prescribed fire operations can 

reduce the hazard of wildfire occurence and 

severity to national forest and private land. 

Minerals

The Wayne is rich in mineral deposits. More 

than 65% of the mineral rights underlying the Wayne are privately owned. The 

Wayne must cooperate with private mineral 

operations. There are some 2,500 oil and 

gas wells on the Wayne, most are privately 

owned. Mineral operators are allowed privileges others are not, such as using ATVs to 

access their wells on Forest land.

When private sub-surface minerals are developed on Forest land, the mineral owner 

must coordinate with the Wayne and ODNR. 

Operating plans, Forest Service permits and 

State permits are required to occupy Forest 

land, even when the minerals are privately 

owned. Federal minerals are managed by 

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 

On lands leased by the BLM, the role of the 

Wayne is to manage the surface estate, 

provide consent to lease and input for environmental documents. 

Who Provides Law Enforcement?

The county sheriff has the primary responsibility for protecting residents and personal 

property. The Wayne has cooperative agreements with a number of county sheriff’s 

departments.

The Forest also has its own law enforcement 

officers who are responsible for the protection 

of the public and our natural resources. Fish 

and wildlife regulations are enforced by the 

ODNR. 

Violations should be reported to the district 

offices or local sheriff’s offices. 

Recreation 

Some popular national forest recreation 

activities include off-highway vehicle riding, 

camping, mountain bike riding, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and horseback riding. 

Private landowners may NOT ride their offhighway vehicles, horse, or bicycle from their 

property across Forest land except on designated trails designed for that use. Please 

obtain a trail permit and map before riding. 

Permits may be purchased from a number of 

participating vendors or any Wayne offices. 

Visit the Forest website for a list of vendors. 

Permits are only valid on the Wayne from 

4/15 through 12/15. All trails are closed to all 

riding (except hiking) from 12/16 to 

4/14. 

Collecting Plants and Firewood

The Forest Service may issue permits for 

collecting items such as firewood (dead and 

down wood) and plants. The public should 

contact their local Ranger District office prior 

to removing any forest product from the 

national forest. 

Hazards Near your Property

There is always the potential for branches or 

entire trees to fall. If a potentially hazardous 

tree is on adjacent Forest land - call your 

local office to discuss your concerns.

Treating Non-native Invasives

The Forest Service is actively treating invasive plants on Forest land. If a population 

of invasive plants straddles both your property and Forest 

property, please 

contact us and 

we’ll discuss 

how we might 

work together 

on controlling 

the plants. 

There are many good resources to assist 

landowners in identifying, preventing, and 

treating invasive weeds. Contact your local 

office or the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts for more information.

Managing your Forested Land

Professional assistance in managing your private forest land is available from the ODNR. 

Service foresters are assigned to counties 

throughout the state. Contact ODNR to locate 

your local service forester.