U.S. Forest Service - Wayne National Forest

08/31/2026

Wildcat Hollow Trailhead on the Athens Ranger District will be closed September 2 for parking lot maintenance. The trailhead is expected to reopen September 3. We ask that visitors obey all closure signage at the site area. We appreciate the public's cooperation as we work to improve recreation access.

08/19/2026

The Visitor Center at our Supervisor’s Office and Athens Ranger Station in Nelsonville, Ohio, is closed today, August 19, due to a building-wide power outage. Crews are working to repair the issue, and we will provide updates as they become available. We apologize for any inconvenience.

08/07/2026

There’s a lot of road and trail work being done right now on Ohio’s only national forest! Before heading out to enjoy the Wayne this weekend, please be aware of these recreation updates:

BIG BEND BEACH (Ironton Ranger District) will remain closed through this weekend due to road paving and slump repair work. Forest Road 1955 (Lake Vesuvius Road) is closed after the gate just beyond the turn to Two Points Group Camp. Two Points Group Camp, Pine K**b Loop, and Oak Hill Campground are fully open and accessible to the public.

SCENIC RIVER TRAIL & GREENWOOD LOOP (Marietta Unit) are closed for public safety due to damage from a July 21 tornado. There are multiple downed trees, and the trail is not passable. Personnel are working to clear the trails as quickly as possible.

KINDERHOOK HORSE TRAIL SYSTEM (Marietta Unit) remains open, but visitors may encounter downed trees from the July 21 storms. Personnel are working to clear the trails as quickly as possible.

LEITH RUN RECREATION AREA (Marietta Unit) has been reopened following damage from the July 21 storms and tornadoes. Trails in the area are still blocked from downed trees.

07/30/2026

TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ON ROCK HOUSE TRAIL AND SUPERIOR OHV TRAIL

The Wayne National Forest will begin trail improvement work this week on both the Rock House Trail and the Superior OHV Trail System on the Ironton Ranger District. These projects support long-term trail sustainability, public safety, and enhanced recreation access.

Rock House Trail:
Rock House Trail is a popular 0.75-mile paved trail near the south side of Lake Vesuvius that leads to a large rock overhang. Crews will be replacing multiple culverts along the trail and resurfacing its entire length to restore and improve visitor accessibility. For public safety, the trail will be closed during active construction periods. The trail will reopen during non-working hours when no active excavation is underway. Crews will work on only one site at a time, and all locations will be clearly marked. Project completion is anticipated by the end of the year.

Superior OHV Trail System:
The Superior OHV Trail System is a popular destination for riding off-highway vehicles on the western side of the Ironton Ranger District. Trail brushing and tread repairs will begin at the Superior Trailhead and continue north over the coming weeks. The trails will remain open, but visitors should use caution and slow down around work zones. Project completion is expected by the end of the year.

We appreciate the public’s cooperation and patience as we complete these important improvements.

More information:
Rock House Trail: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/recreation/rock-house-trailhead
Superior OHV Trail System: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/recreation/superior-ohv-system

07/29/2026

Leith Run Campground on the Marietta Unit (part of Athens Ranger District) will remain closed through Wednesday, August 5, due to an EF1 tornado directly impacting the campground on July 21. Crews are continuing work to clear debris and make campsites safe for visitors. Leith Run camping reservations have been cancelled and refunded through August 5. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to reopen the campground!

07/27/2026

TEMPORARY CLOSURE ON LAKE VESUVIUS ROAD (FR 1955) AUGUST 3 – 7

The Wayne National Forest will temporarily close part of Forest Road 1955 (also known as FR 1955 or Lake Vesuvius Road) to complete scheduled paving and slump repair work. The closure will be in effect August 3 – 7.

During this period, the gate near the Two Points Group Camp entrance along FR 1955 will be closed. This closure will restrict vehicle access along the entire road segment between that gate and the Big Bend Beach area. Two Points Group Camp will remain open and fully accessible to the public.

In addition, FR 1955 traffic will be reduced to one lane of passage between Long Bow Range parking lot to Oak Hill Campground near the additional slip repair locations. The campground and bow range will remain fully open and accessible to visitors.

Paving at the designated slump repair sites will occur within this August 3 – 7 time frame. Visitors are asked to plan accordingly and use caution around work zones. We appreciate your patience as we complete these necessary improvements.

07/24/2026

All trails west of State Route 7 and south of State Route 260 on our Marietta Unit might have sections with heavy, downed trees due to the July 21 storm. Personnel are aware of the situation and are working to clear these areas as quickly as possible. Trails remain open, but visitors should be cautious. For your safety, always turn around if a trail becomes impassable.

Impacted trails include: Kinderhook Horse Trail, Ohio View Trail, Archer’s Fork Loop, Scenic River Trail and associated loops, Buckeye Trail, and North Country Trail. For the latest recreation site status, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne/recreation.

07/24/2026

07/22/2026

The Wayne National Forest has closed Leith Run Campground on the Marietta Unit for public safety through at least Wednesday, July 29, due to extensive damage from last night’s storm that tracked through the Newport, Ohio, area.

Personnel are working with the Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department to clear blocked areas to allow campers to exit, and conducting a full damage assessment. As of this morning, there are several large, downed or uprooted trees in the area, and infrastructure damage is expected.

Camping reservations through July 29 have been canceled and fully refunded. We will assess the need for further cancellations once the damage assessment is complete. We apologize for any inconvenience, and will provide updates as they become available.

07/06/2026

Forest Service Road 1955 near Two Points Group Campground at the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area will be partially closed at 6 a.m. on July 7 to ensure public and personnel safety while contractors install a culvert across the roadway. The gate near the campground will be closed during this time, and Big Bend Overlook and Big Bend Beach will not be accessible.

The pin on the map below denotes the gate closure, and visitors will not be able to pass this point. The approximate gate coordinates are (38.620194, -82.633333).

The gate is estimated to reopen at 6 a.m. on July 8. We will provide updates as they become available, and apologize for any inconvenience.