Backpack Trail In Zaleski State Forest

 

 

This trail was established to provide backpacking opportunities as well as to introduce some scenic and historic aspects of the forest. For a 10-mile day trip, follow loop ABCDEFA of the backpack trail. This is a rather lengthy and strenuous hike. Carry a canteen, lunch and energy-supplying snacks.

The numbered posts along the trail correspond to the paragraphs that follow.

Total acres: 26,827
County: Vinton and Athens Counties

Brochure with map (pdf)
Brochure with backpack map (pdf)

 

1. You are walking on a portion of the original road from Marietta to Chillicothe, which also passed through Middletown (today known as Athens). This road, abandoned by 1870, was actively used by early settlers and was also an important hunting ground for Native Americans.
2. The portion of the railroad track in the valley, which can be seen from this overlook, is purported to be haunted by the ghost of Moonville. At the turn of the century, so the story goes, a brakeman was killed near the Moonville tunnel as he waved his lantern to stop the train. The man was exceedingly drunk, and unfortunately swayed into the path of the oncoming steam locomotive. Reportedly, he was buried in the Moonville graveyard, and if you come here at night, some say you can see his lantern a-glimmerin’ and a-wavin’, still trying to stop that train.
3. You are now traveling down the main street of an early mining town, Ingham Station, which had a store, railroad depot, and was inhabited by several families during the 1870’s. It takes a sharp eye to find any evidence of a town that existed over 100 years ago. Notice the old cellar hole on the trail’s edge. The entrance to the old Ingham mine is further up the trail and to the left.

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4. The fields and buildings sometimes visible to the east are part of an old town named King Station. This stretch of abandoned railroad from Moonville through Ingham to Mineral was considered by many to be the loneliest in the State of Ohio.
5. The small donut-shaped mound is a ceremonial ring built and used by the Native Americans of the Adena group. Known as mound builders, the Adena were active in southern Ohio between 800 B.C. and 700 A.D. Notice the chips of black flint in the roadway. This Zaleski flint, which outcrops in portions of Vinton County, was the third most important flint to the Native Americans of Ohio.
6. At this point, you are again on the old Marietta to Chillicothe Road, which passes through the upcoming campsite.
7. The immediate area that you are walking through is the site of a wildfire that occurred on February 14, 2000. The fire burned 10 acres and was started from an unattended campfire. You may see black scorch marks on some of the trees as well as dead trees that succumbed to the flames.
8. Most of the area that you have traveled thus far and will travel for the next four miles is known as the Zaleski Turkey Management Area. This area was originally established as a cooperative effort between the divisions of Forestry and Wildlife to provide suitable habitat for propagation of wild turkey.
9. If you look at the rock outcropping on the south side of the trail, you will notice vertical grooves cut into the face of the sandstone. These are actually drilling marks left when this site was used as a stone quarry. A line of holes were drilled into the rock and then explosive charges were placed into the holes. The charges were then detonated to separate large sections of rock. The shallow pocket that you see at the bottom of the drill marks is where the explosion took place. The sandstone from this site could have been used to build one of the local iron furnaces, railroad abutments, or local structures.
10. How well do you know your native Ohio hardwood trees? There are 14 numbered trees in the immediate vicinity of this post. Can you identify them all? The answers are located elsewhere on this map.
11. The 20 acres to your north were regenerated in 1987. In this area, foresters have enhanced the natural cycle of the forest by creating an opening in the canopy allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor. This encourages certain tree species, such as the oaks and hickories, to thrive naturally. Wildlife also benefits from variation in the height of cover resulting from this practice. Similar areas are found throughout this forest. In 2002, a prescribed burn was conducted on this same site. The objective is to reduce the probability of future uncontrolled forest fires and to encourage the regeneration of oak trees.
12. This is an old auger mine area. As implied by its name, a large auger was used to drill and extract the coal from the vein. If you look to the southeast, you can still see remnants of the trolley car railway that was used to haul coal from the site.
13. The area surrounding you is part of a 59-acre selective timber harvest that was completed in 1993. Foresters implemented this type of harvest in order to improve the health and vigor of the remaining trees and to also salvage deteriorating trees in the area. Very little evidence remains of the logging activity, but if you look closely you can still see some of the stumps and treetops from the harvested trees. You will also notice an abundance of young trees growing under the canopy of the larger ones.
14. You are entering a mixed pine stand known as the Doolittle, Enderlin, York, or Carbondale Forest. The plantation has been of interest to botanists because it is one of the oldest unmanaged plantations in southeastern Ohio. The forest is composed of conifer plantings with an understory of woody and herbaceous plants. A total of 197 species of vascular plants were collected, identified, and deposited in the Bartley Herbarium of Ohio University during a 1964-65 ecological study of the forest. The planting started in 1906 and continued for nearly 30 years. Over 200 acres were planted, of which about 60 acres remain.
15. This is a point of interest because of the surveyor’s monument nearby designating a common corner shared by three counties. The counties are Hocking to the northwest, Athens to the east, and Vinton to the southwest.
16. The road that you are now walking on was used during the 1860’s to haul charcoal to the Hope Furnace. Charcoal, which was used to fire the iron furnace, was made in the forest by piling wood in large stacks, covering it with wet earth and leaves, and burning it for 10 to 12 days.
17. The structure that you see is a metering station, used in the Lake Hope mine sealing demonstration project. The objective of this project was to prevent acid mine drainage from entering the stream. The building contained instruments that monitored water quality and flow.
18. You are on an old township road, used until around 1920. It was during this period that the last of the farms on what is now Zaleski State Forest were being abandoned.
19. This is the site of a former farm. Be careful not to fall into old wells and cellars. Some additional clues to indicate that this was a former farmstead are foundation stones, old fencerows and ornamental, shade, and fruit trees.

We hope that you have enjoyed your hike or backpacking trip. If you have any suggestions or questions about what you have seen on the trail, inquire at the Forest Headquarters or write to the Division of Forestry, Fountain Square, Columbus, Ohio 43224.

(Portions of the above information obtained from E. Conway, N. Stranahan, and Ohio Journal of Science.)

BACKPACK TRAIL RULES

1. You may camp only in the designated campground areas shown on the map.
2. A self-registration permit (no fee) is required of all hikers. The permit, which you must fill out prior to entering the trail, is available at the trail parking area 24-hours a day (Point A). Place the completed permit in the registration box provided at the trail head and carry the stub with you on the trail.
3. No person is permitted to camp more than 14 days in any 30 day-period. Camps must be moved to another backpack campground each day.
4. Backpack groups are limited to a maximum of 10 persons per party at any one backpack campground.
5. Domestic dogs or cats are permitted in the backpack campgrounds and on the trail, provided they are leashed or under control at all times.
6. Fires are prohibited except in designated fire rings or in portable stoves. Fires must be attended at all times. Cutting of trees is prohibited.
7. Camps must be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and condition. All refuse must be packed out for proper disposal.
8. No person may disturb the peace and quiet of others in the campgrounds in any manner between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 8 a.m.

TRAIL TIPS

1. For safety, hike with a companion. Disabling injuries are very dangerous when you are alone.
2. The only drinking water supplies available are shown on the map. We suggest that you carry your own water. The supply is limited, so please use water conservatively. Water may not be provided in winter when access roads are impassable.
3. Respect the solitude sought by other backpackers and practice good camping etiquette. Become familiar with techniques involved for backpacking to insure a successful and enjoyable outing.
4. The main trail is marked with orange blazes and side trails with white blazes. If you become lost, follow water courses downhill to a road, usually within a mile. Carry a map and a compass.
5. Beware of poisonous snakes. High leather boots or heavy leggings afford good protection. Watch where you sit or put your hands, especially in rock areas. If bitten, seek medical aid immediately.
6. Select and pack your food so that you will have a minimum of awkward and disposable containers. A portable stove is recommended. Supplies of wood fuel may not be readily available.
7. Extinguish all smoking materials carefully. Scrape away all leaves and duff to mineral soil. Be especially careful with campground fires and smoking during March, April, May, October and November, the forest fire danger periods in Ohio.
8. If you discover a forest fire, hike the trail to the nearest road immediately and report it to the forest or park headquarters.
9. For your protection, park your car only at the trailhead.
10. Stream crossings may be impassable due to runoff following a severe storm.
11. Winter backpackers should be experienced and prepared for the changing weather and conditions that may be encountered.
12. Be aware of the various hunting seasons as public hunting is permitted on state forest land.