Lake Hope State Park

Seven hiking trails traverse Lake Hope State Park. The trails meander along the scenic lake and through dense forest, passing near the abandoned structures and relics of America’s Industrial Revolution.

  • Habron Hollow Trail (1.5 miles)
  • White Oak Trail (1/4 mile)
  • Buzzard Cave Trail (1/2 mile)
  • Greenbriar Trail (1/2 mile)
  • Peninsula Trail (3 miles)
  • Olds Hollow Trail (1.5 miles)
  • Hope Furnace Trail (3.2 miles)

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Zaleski Backpack Trail

The Zaleski State Forest is the second largest forest in the system. The Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail was established on the forest to provide backpacking opportunities as well as to introduce some scenic and historic aspects of the forest. The main trail is a loop of 23.5 miles. There is also a 10-mile day loop trail.

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Moonville Rail Trail

The 16-mile Moonville Rail Trail takes visitors through the beautiful woodlands of southeast Ohio, including Zaleski State Forest; the communities of Zaleski and Mineral; and the Lake Hope State Park wetland areas. The corridor holds water on both sides of the trail, creating a wetland area that is home to numerous species of flora and fauna.

Additional points of interest along this trail are two unique and historic tunnels. King’s Hollow Tunnel (also known as King Switch Tunnel) is a 120-foot structure carved through the rock and lined by a series of 12×12 wooden beams. The Moonville Tunnel is brick-lined and has a long history of train accidents, earning the tunnel a reputation for being haunted.

The rail trail is a work-in-progress, with a rugged surface and steep inclines. Some bridges are still missing, requiring hikers and bicyclists to find alternative routes. The portion from Zaleski through the Lake Hope wetlands is best suited for hiking.

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Lake Alma State Park

Three hiking trails and a paved walkway/bicycle path cross Lake Alma State Park. Visitors love the scenic lake and its historic island. Wildlife is abundant. The park is especially beautiful in the late afternoon and fall months.

  • Old Pine Trail (1/2 mile)
  • Sassafras Trail (3/4 mile)
  • Acorn Trail (1 mile)
  • A paved walkway/bicycle path begins at the park entrance and ends at the park exit (1 mile)

Buckeye Trail Association’s Pretty Run Preserve

The Buckeye Trail Association’s 190-acre Pretty Run Preserve sits atop hilly ridges and includes streams that feed into Pretty Run. Black bear and bobcat have been sighted by trail volunteers and visitors as they worked and hiked around the rock outcroppings and stream bottoms.

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Tar Hollow State Forest

Tar Hollow State Forest crisscrosses county lines, providing a 22-mile network of hiking trails in the northern half of the forest.

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