Monroe Outlook

on the Wayne

Forest Service

United States Department of Agriculture

America’s Great Outdoors

v

Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing 

impaired: 1-800-877-8339

website: fs.usda.gov/wayne

The Monroe Outlook is managed out of the 

Nelsonville office of the Wayne National Forest:

Athens Ranger District

13700 U.S. Highway 33

Nelsonville, OH 45764

Phone: 740-753-0101

Vicinity Map:

Monroe Outlook was developed and is maintained 

as a collaborative effort with The Little Cities of the 

Forest, Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Wildlife, and the Wayne National Forest.

The Monroe Outlook is maintained 

as a wildlife area in a joint effort between 

Wayne National Forest and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

 The area was selected as a destination site 

due to the 360 degree view it provides and 

it’s wildlife watching opportunities. A short 

0.8 mile trail was developed in a partnership 

between Wayne National Forest, The Little 

Cities of the Forest Collaboration, and Miller 

High School.

 Another nearby trail, the 15-mile Wildcat 

Hollow Hiking Trail, also provides some 

good wildlife viewing opportunities. This 

trail traverses upland forests, stream bottoms, 

pine plantations, and meadows. White-tailed 

deer, wild turkeys, forest songbirds and numerous reptiles and amphibians are likely to 

be seen along its route.

 Wildflowers are 

also abundant 

during spring 

and summer, 

and autumn 

colors are 

vibrant. Bird 

watchers, be sure and 

bring your binoculars!

12/2010
Please follow these rules: 

Check bulletin board each visit for warnings 

of dangerous conditions and updates.

• Pets must be restrained on leash. Please 

clean up after your own pet.

• Pack it in/Pack it out applies to all areas 

of the Wayne National Forest. Trash can be 

placed in designated trash cans.

• Discharging firearms, fireworks or explosives is not allowed in the recreation area. 

• Parking is permitted in parking lots and 

areas only. 

• No camping in parking lots.

• Please do not feed wild animals.

• Streams and rivers have not been tested for 

drinking water use. We do not recommend 

using any surface water source for drinking 

water.

• Permits are not required for hiking.

• No target practice on forest lands.

• Firing a gun is not allowed:

• In or within 150 yards of a residence, 

building, campsite, developed recreation 

site, or occupied area.

• Across a road or body of water.

• In any circumstance whereby any person 

may be injured or property damaged

 Take a Journey

 through Succession -- 

 When plant communities

 are disturbed either 

 through human activities

 or natural disasters, 

 seeds and roots sprout

 quickly to revegetate

 the area. The

 grasses and shrubs

are gradually replaced 

by taller plants that live longer.

 This plant community replacement process is called plant succession. 

The final and most stable combination of 

plants is called the climax community. The 

climax community normally stays in place 

until another major plant disturbance occurs. Various locations and climates have 

different climax communities.

 In southeast Ohio, plant succession 

goes through several predictable stages. 

Disturbed soil will first be covered by grasses and herbaceous (non-woody) plants. 

Gradually these plants are replaced by 

shrubs. Over time, young trees (saplings) 

begin to grow among the other plants. 

Mature and over-mature trees form the 

climax community in the 

Wayne National Forest.

 Each wildlife species 

has different requirements for food, water, 

and shelter (habitat). 

Many species require different types of habitat 

at different times of their live or different times 

of the year.

 In order to provide for a diverse mix of wildlife, the Wayne maintains permanent wildlife 

openings. Wildlife openings are kept in an 

early stage of plant succession 

(or progression) and are prevented from developing into a mature forest. A mix of grasses, 

forbs, shrubs, and tree saplings are encouraged to grow in openings.

 Ground-nesting birds such as the ruffed 

grouse and woodcock may be found in wildlife 

openings and hawks use the areas for hunting grounds. Wild turkey, bluebirds, and black 

bear forage in areas like this opening for insects and berries. Rabbits may use the area 

for nesting, food and cover. Whitetail deer and 

other species occupy openings during different 

seasons of the year.

This location at Monroe Outlook, is purposely 

maintained in the early stage of succession 

by the Wayne National Forest for wildlife that 

requires early succesional habitat.