Marietta Unit Trails

Wayne National Forest

Wayne National Forest Trail Map

Archers Fork Loop from Backpackohio.com

Trails:

Lamping Homestead Trail:
Length: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Description: This trail was the site of the old Lamping Homestead, constructed back in the 1800’s. The trail is marked with yellow blazes and makes a loop around the surrounding hills and forests. The trail passes by several overlooks and through white pine forests.

How to get there: The trail is located off County Road 307 just south of the intersection with County Road 537

9 Bell Trail:
Length: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Description: This is the center section of the North Country Trail that passes through the Wayne National Forest. The trail connects Country Road 9 with Bell Cemetery Road. The North Country Trail is a 4600-mile trail that stretches across seven states, from New York to North Dakota.

Coordinates: 39o28’27”N; 81o10’38”W.
How to get there: The trailhead is on County Road 9, south of the intersection with County Road 420 and north of the intersection with County Road 14

Greenwood Trail:
Length: 7.5 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Description: The Greenwood Trail passes by stunning overlooks of the Ohio River and by remnants of a stone chimney that is all what remains of an ancient Ohio homestead. The trail connects with the Scenic River Trail to create a 11.9-mile loop.

How to get there: The only way to access the Greenwood Trail is to start on the Scenic River Trail. To get on the Scenic River Trail, park your car at the trailhead located off of County Road 9. The trailhead is located northeast of the intersection with County Road 14 and southwest of the intersection with County Road 420. The Scenic River Trail is marked with yellow diamonds. The Greenwood Trail is marked with yellow diamonds with a green circle in the middle. The intersection between the Greenwood trail and the Scenic River Trail is a few miles in on the right side of the trail.

Archers Fork Trail:
Length: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Trail Description: The Archers Fork Trail is perhaps the most geologically interesting trail in all of Wayne National Forest. A portion of the trail is the North Country Trail and runs past several large rock shelters and outcroppings, such as the Great Cave Rock Shelter and the 51-foot long Irish Run Natural Bridge, which stands nearly 40 feet above the ground at one point.

Coordinates: St Patricks Cemetery TH: 39o31’26”N; 81o10’51”W
How to get there: The main trailhead is the Saint Patrick’s Cemetery Trailhead. This trailhead is located off County Road 34 just west of the intersection with county road 410.

Shay Ridge Trail:
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Description: This trail connects two of the unit’s best trails: The Covered Bridge Trail and the Archers Fork Trail. The trail is marked with yellow diamonds that have a purple circle in them.

Coordinates:

Covered Bridge Trail
Length: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Description: The Covered Bridge Trail connects two century-old covered bridges on an out-and-back trail. The trail is marked with yellow blazes and connects with the Shay Ridge Trail, which gives you access to the Archers Fork Loop Trail.

Coordinates:
Haught Run Bridge: 39o31’53”N; 81o13’32”
W Hune Bridge: 39o30’37”N; 81o15’1”W
How to get there: The Haught Run Bridge Trailhead is located just south of the Little Muskingum River off County Road 407. County Road 407 is located near the intersection of County Road 406 and Route 26.  The trailhead is on the east side of the river.

Ohio View Trail
Length: 8.8 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Description: This trail begins near the Ohio River and heads north to State Route 260. The trail passes rock outcrops, deep forests, and expansive vistas of the Ohio River Valley. Midway, the trail connects with the Jackson Run Trail, which gives you access to the Archers Fork Trail.

Coordinates: 39o28’32”N; 81o6’35”W
How to get there: The southern trailhead is located on State Route 7, roughly 8 miles northeast of the town of Wade and a quarter mile northeast of the intersection with County Road 424.

Scenic River Trail:
Length: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Description: The Scenic River Trail begins at the Leith Run Recreation Area and heads through a wetland before climbing up several switchbacks to the top of a ridge overlooking the Ohio River. The trail runs past massive boulders and rocky outcrop. The trail connects with the Greenwood Trail to form an 11+ mile long loop.

Coordinates: 39o26’38”N; 81o9’40”W
How to get there:  The trail begins at the Leith Run Campground located off Route 7 roughly 1 mile east of Wade. The trail is marked with yellow blazes

Jackson Run Trail
Length: 4.7 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Description: Convenient trail that links the Archers Fork Loop to the Ohio View Trail.

Coordinates: 39o30’49”N; 81o9’7”W
How to get there: The Jackson Run Trailhead is located off County Road 36 Northeast of the intersection with County Road 427

Closest Town: Marietta, Ohio

Natural Ohio Adventures