on the

Athens Ranger District

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Contact Us

A detailed topographic map of our 

hiking trails is available at our offices. 

The Wayne National Forest has three offices 

to serve visitors. Two are on the Athens District, one between Athens and Nelsonville, 

and the other in Marietta. 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 Office

27515 State Route 7

Marietta, OH 45750

Phone: 740-373-9055

Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing 

impaired: 1-800-877-8339

website: www.fs.usda.gov/wayne

______________________________

USDA is an equal opportunity provider,

employer, and lender.

Welcome to the Wayne

The Athens District of the Wayne National Forest 

(NF) has 14 trails open to hikers and backpackers. 

Hikers generally share these trails with other users. 

Trails are on both the Athens and Marietta units of 

the Athens District. Terrain on these trail systems 

varies from rolling hills and level ridgetops to some 

very challenging hills and steep slopes. 

Depending upon the trail you choose to hike, you 

may encounter off-highway vehicles (OHVs), horses,

or mountain bikes. Many trails intersect roads. Be 

mindful of traffic. If you bring your dog, it should 

be on a leash. Also use caution during hunting seasons. Blaze orange clothing is recommended during 

deer gun seasons.

Trail use by OHVs, mountain bikes, and horses is 

prohibited from 12/16 through 4/14. Trail permits 

are required for these three uses of Wayne trails. 

Hiking is allowed on all trails even if the trail is 

closed to others users.

Many areas of the Wayne do not have cell phone 

coverage. Let someone know where you are going 

and when you plan to return. 

Yielding the Right of Way

Hikers need to be aware that on the OHV trails, though

hikers have the right of way they will be aware these 

vehicles are coming well in advance. Listen for them,

and on a blind corner you may wish to yield the trail 

to avoid accidents. 

On trails shared with horses, please yield to horseback riders by stopping and standing uphill from the 

trail. If you’re wearing a large backpack, speak to 

the rider, so the horse recognizes you as a person. 

Wayne National Forest

Hiking and 

Backpacking

Forest

Service

FS-R9-025

01/2016
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Monday Creek OHV Trails 

These 84.5 miles of trail cater primarily to OHVs, 

though hikers and mountain bikes are welcome. 

There are several trailheads to access these trails. 

More information and a topographic map of the 

trail system is available on the Wayne’s OHV 

map.

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Stone Church Horse Trail 

These 21 miles of trail cater primarily to horses, 

though hikers are welcome. Named for the skeletal 

ruins of an old stone church nearby, this trail system 

has both a campground and trailhead. Both are 

just off C-38 (Old Town Road). The Stone Church 

trailhead is just west of C-39 (Stone Church Hollow 

Road). There is no potable water at either facility. 

We recommend day users park in the trailhead as 

the campground is a fee area. This trail has 6.8 mi. 

colocated with the North County Trail with a 0.85 

mile connector for a total of 30.16 miles. 

Athens Ranger District - Athens Unit w Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail

This is one of the Forest’s most popular trails, it 

offers two options; a 17-mile loop of scenic trail 

along ridge-tops and stream bottoms, and a short 

five mile loop for day hikes.

w Lake View Trail

This trail is part of the Burr Oak Cove Recreation 

Area. Located a half mile east of Highway 13, 

this is a small densely wooded campground on the 

north-west tip of Burr Oak Reservoir. The one 

mile Lake View Trail provides easy access from the 

campground to the scenic Burr Oak Reservoir.

Athens Unit:

 • 84.5 miles - Monday Creek Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails 

 • 51 miles - North Country Trail 

 • 21 miles - Stone Church Horse Trail

 • 17 miles - Wildcat Hollow Trail

 • 1 mile - Lake View Trail

• 0.5 mile - Ora E. Anderson Nature Trail (information on line)
w North Country/Buckeye Trail

There are 20.5 miles of the North Country Trail on 

the Athens District. It is co-located with the Buckeye Trail to total 51 miles. The trail crosses private 

land, and some of it is on roads. Stay on the trail and 

respect the rights of private landowners. 

Mileage Chart for Trail Sections

Section Miles

1. Junction Hwy 78 to Vicksville 4.7

2. Vicksville to Bishopville 7.7

3. Bishopville to Hwy 13 3.3 

4. Hwy 13 to McLeish 4.9 

5. McLeish to Mud Fork 3.1

6. Mud Fork to Township Road (TR) 21 3.7 

7. TR 21/TR 18 stretch 4.0 

8. TR 18 to CR 17 2.6

9. CR 17 to Tecumsey Lake 2.2 

10. Tecumsey Lake to Hwy 93 1.0 

11. Hwy 93 to CR 41 2.0

12. CR 41 to CR 38 0.9

13. CR 38 to Forest Road 743

(This section co-located with horse trail)

3.4

14. Forest Road 743 to NCT trailhead 

(This section co-located with horse trail)

3.6 

15. NCT Trailhead to Hwy 668 

(Section currently on County roads) 

3.9 

Total distance on Athens Unit 51.0 

Athens Ranger District - Athens Unit continued

wd Ora E. Anderson Nature Trail

This 1/2 mile fully-accessible trail follows a historic railroad bed along the edge of the Rutherford 

Wetland. Interpretive signs provide interest along 

the path. Bring your binoculars to see wetland 

birds, beaver, and other wildlife. 
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Marietta Unit Hiking Trails 

Several trails are located in the rugged hills of the 

Marietta Unit .

 • North Country Trail (NCT): 39 miles on the 

Marietta Unit of the Wayne NF allow for mountain 

bikes as well as hikers. North of Ring Mill, the trail 

follows roads. 

 • Archers Fork Trail: 11-mile loop off the North 

Country Trail

 • Covered Bridge Trail: 5 miles of trail between 

Hune Covered Bridge and Rinard Covered Bridge.

 • Covered Bridge/NCT Connector (Shay Ridge 

Trail): 3 mile connector trail between the Covered 

Bridge and NCT

 • Lamping Homestead: There are two trails; a 3.5 

and 1.5 loop trail around Lamping Lake.

 • Ohio View Trail: 8.8 miles of trail from Highway 

7 along the Ohio River up to overlooks above the 

river.

 • Ohio View/NCT Connector (Shay Ridge Trail): 

3.5 miles of trail between the Ohio View and NCT.

 • Scenic River Trail: 4.4 mile trail from Leith Run 

Recreation Area to the NCT.

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Kinderhook Horse Trail, has 16.5 miles of trail 

just north of US Highway 7 near Newport. At the 

trailhead off Dana Road, there is a vault toilet and a 

parking area but no potable water.

The location of each of these trails is shown on the 

map to the left. 

Athens Ranger District -

Marietta Unit