National park · United States
Wayne National Forest
Go for a half-day hike and a night of cheap camping: no entrance fee anywhere, trails from 1.5 km (0.9 mi) to 34 km (21 mi), and campgrounds at $13/night in summer (free off-season). Skip it if you want a single signed gateway — this forest is three separate units.Go for a half-day hike and a night of cheap camping: no entrance fee anywhere, trails from 0.9 mi (1.5 km) to 21 mi (34 km), and campgrounds at $13/night in summer (free off-season). Skip it if you want a single signed gateway — this forest is three separate units.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
984 km² (380 sq mi)380 sq mi (984 km²)
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 984 km² (380 sq mi)380 sq mi (984 km²)
- About 244,000 acres across three units; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Wayne is Ohio's only national forest: three clusters of Appalachian foothill ridges along the Ohio River, most of it regrown woodland on land strip-mined in the late 1800s. There is no gate, no entrance fee and no single visitor centre — you drive in, park at a trailhead and walk. The Athens unit near Nelsonville is the easiest for a first visit; the Ironton unit around Lake Vesuvius has the best concentration of trails and water.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1992.
Size and age
984 km² (380 sq mi)380 sq mi (984 km²) · national park since 1992
About 244,000 acres across three units; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- No entrance fee and no reservation needed for day use — you can decide the night before.
- About 480 km (298 mi) of trails for hiking, biking, horses and ATVs, from 20-minute walks to a 34 km (21 mi) loop.About 298 mi (480 km) of trails for hiking, biking, horses and ATVs, from 20-minute walks to a 21 mi (34 km) loop.
- Camping at $13/night in summer and free outside the high season at Burr Oak Cove and Stone Church.
- Lake Vesuvius: a 143-acre lake with a swimming beach, boat ramp and a historic iron furnace on the shore.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanDaytime around -1°C (30°F); ice on trails, many gates closedDaytime around 30°F (-1°C); ice on trails, many gates closed
- FebCold and muddy; little open
- MarThaw mud; some campgrounds still shut
- AprWettest month; wildflowers but soggy trails
- MayWarm, green, waterfalls running; rain still frequent
- JunLong days; humid afternoons
- JulHot (up to 32°C (90°F)); start early, swim at VesuviusHot (up to 90°F (32°C)); start early, swim at Vesuvius
- AugHot and humid; quiet midweek
- SepDry, cooler, few bugs
- OctPeak colour mid-to-late month; busiest weekends
- NovBare trees, hunting season — wear orange
- DecStone Church horse camp closed 15 Dec–14 Apr; other sites free but unserviced
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer and wild turkeyAll year · Most visible at dawn and dusk; heavy deer movement on roads at night. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Osprey and hawks over the lakesApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Songbird migrationApr–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Running buffalo clover (endangered, do not pick)May–Jun · A few known sites; stay on trail. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Hunting season pressureNov–Dec · Deer gun season; wear blaze orange off-trail. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Columbus (CMH airport)
US-33 southeast to the Athens unit around Nelsonville; the welcome centre is right off the highway.
1 h
Open the page →
From Athens, Ohio
Drive north on US-33 to Nelsonville, then local roads to trailheads.
30 min
From Marietta
SR-7 north along the Ohio River for the Marietta unit and Leith Run.
30–40 min
From Charleston, West Virginia
US-52 and SR-93 to the Ironton unit and Lake Vesuvius.
1 h
From Pittsburgh
I-70 west then I-77 south to the eastern units.
2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Athens unit (northwest cluster) | Ridges and hollows across Athens, Hocking and Perry counties; the welcome centre at Nelsonville and Burr Oak area. | Open; free; roads and trailheads year-round, some gates shut in winter. |
| Ironton unit (southern cluster) | Lake Vesuvius, the Vesuvius iron furnace and the densest trail network, near Pedro and Ironton. | Open; free; beach and boat ramp seasonal. |
| Marietta unit (northeast cluster) | Ohio River bottomland and ridgetop trails in Washington and Monroe counties, plus Leith Run on the river. | Open; free; river sites flood after heavy rain. |
Sketch map
- 1Wayne National Forest Welcome Center (Athens unit) · Headquarters≈39.459, -82.23213700 US Highway 33, Nelsonville; weekdays only.Map ↗
- 2Marietta Unit ranger station · Ranger station≈39.417, -81.45427515 State Route 7, Marietta.Map ↗
- 3Ironton Unit ranger station · Ranger station≈38.630, -82.6676518 State Route 93, Pedro.Map ↗
- 4Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area · Beach≈38.617, -82.628Swimming beach, boat ramp and trailhead.Map ↗
- 5Vesuvius Furnace · Cave≈38.606, -82.629Historic iron furnace on the lakeshore.Map ↗
- 6Burr Oak Cove campground · Sleep≈39.545, -82.031On the northwest arm of Burr Oak Reservoir.Map ↗
- 7Leith Run Recreation Area · Sleep≈39.531, -81.423Ohio River bank, north of Marietta; approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
The forest has no single centre; the map point is the forest's nominal midpoint. Unit and site coordinates are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance / day use | Free | person | No entrance fee for the national forest; trailhead parking is free. |
| Burr Oak Cove campground | US$13 | night | 2026 estimate; charged roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, free outside that window. |
| Stone Church Horse Camp | US$10 | night | 2026 estimate; high season only, closed 15 Dec–14 Apr. |
| Ginseng or other plant collection permit | US$20 | permit | One permit covers ginseng or all other approved plants; mushrooms and blackberries in small amounts need none. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | year | Not needed here — Wayne charges no entrance fee — but it covers national parks on the same trip. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Day hiking and biking no permit
Camping no permit
Plant collecting (ginseng, cohosh, ginger) permit or guide
Hunting and fishing permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$13
- US$10
- US$20
- US$80
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on US Forest Service — Wayne National Forest forest products permits before you go.
Park rules
- No entrance fee, but no services either
- There is no gate, no shuttle and no staffed visitor centre in most areas; the three ranger stations are offices open weekdays only.
- Camping
- Developed campgrounds only in the high season; dispersed camping rules vary by unit — ask a ranger station before sleeping off-trail (check).
- Water
- Most streams are not safe to drink untreated; filter or boil, or carry what you need.
- Plant collecting
- Mushrooms and blackberries in small amounts are fine; rooted plants such as ginseng need a $20 permit.
- Cell signal
- Large parts of all three units have no coverage; download offline maps before you drive in.
- Hunting and ATVs
- Both are legal in season on designated routes; expect to share trails and stay visible in autumn.
Where to stay
In the park
Burr Oak Cove campground
Basic sites on the reservoir, $13/night in high season, free outside it.
In the park
Stone Church Horse Camp
Equestrian camp with 21 miles of trails; $10/night in season, closed 15 Dec–14 Apr.
In the park
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area
Camping and picnic areas beside the lake in the Ironton unit.
In the park
Leith Run Recreation Area
Riverbank camping about 20 miles north of Marietta.
Near the park
Athens or Nelsonville
Motels, cabins and short-term rentals 20–40 min from the main trailheads; the reliable choice in winter.
Safety
No cell coverage high
Hunters in autumn medium
Bad water medium
Mud, roots and old mine ground medium
Illegal growing sites low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The welcome centre at Nelsonville and the Lake Vesuvius day-use area have paved parking and level paths.
- Lakeshore Trail and Burr Oak loops are not wheelchair-accessible: roots, mud and no boardwalk.
- Ranger stations are open weekdays 8:00–16:30 and can advise on the easiest trail for your group.Ranger stations are open weekdays 8:00 AM–4:30 PM and can advise on the easiest trail for your group.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything; there are few bins outside developed sites.
- Do not pick running buffalo clover or dig ginseng without a permit.
- Use established campsites and fire rings; keep fires small and never leave them unattended.
- Stay on marked trails to limit erosion on the reclaimed mine ground.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Wayne National Forest?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and trailhead parking is free. You pay only for camping ($13/night at Burr Oak Cove, $10/night at Stone Church in high season), a $20 plant-collecting permit if you want one, and any state hunting or fishing licence.
What are the best hikes in Wayne National Forest?
For a half day, the Lakeshore Trail at Lake Vesuvius (about 13 km, moderate) or the flat Burr Oak loop (1–2 h, easy). For a challenge, the Wildcat Hollow Backpack Trail in the Athens unit is roughly 34 km with backcountry campsites — carry and treat your own water.
When is the best time to visit Wayne National Forest?
May for green trails and running water, and September–October for dry paths and fall colour. April is the wettest month, and January–February brings ice and closed gates. November–December is hunting season, so wear blaze orange.
Do I need a pass or reservation?
No. Day use needs no pass and no booking. Developed campgrounds are mostly first-come, first-served — arrive by mid-afternoon on summer weekends. An America the Beautiful pass is not required here, though it helps if you add a national park to the trip.
Which unit should I visit first?
The Athens unit around Nelsonville if you are coming from Columbus: the welcome centre is just off US-33 and the Wildcat Hollow and Burr Oak trails are close. Choose the Ironton unit if you want the lake, beach and the Vesuvius furnace.
Is there phone signal in the forest?
In much of it, no. Download offline maps and carry a paper map and compass; tell someone your route before you set off.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go