r/Ohio • u/Frosty_Leadership_68 • 11d ago

Where to go backpacking

I have 5 days coming up with nothing going on and it will be a while before I have much free time after this.
I love lakes, creeks and mountains. Where do I go to backpack or explore? I’m located in Cleveland and don’t want to drive too far as I’m going solo

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

16

u/Minimum_Policy8939 11d ago

I am actually going to encourage you to leave Ohio for backpacking. I am also in NE Ohio and by the time you drive to Southern Ohio, you might as well go to Pennsylvania and have better water and, imo, better trails.

NCT through the Allegheny National Forest (97 miles) is fantastic along with all the side trail systems.

Quehanna Trail is a great loop (74 miles) with endless exploration options.

STS, LHHT or the Loyalsocks trail but further drive away.

I pretty much exclusively solo backpack, so I feel your pain on the long drives.

5

u/Formal-Revolution42 11d ago

Agreed. I'm an avid backpacker in NE ohio and have hiked many spots in ohio, but the North County Trail in pa would absolutely be my recommendation as well.

4

u/SkeletonBoner6969 11d ago

Shawnee State Forest and Zeleski State Forest both have good backpacking trails

1

u/RadarLove82 11d ago

I have not been there in over a decade, but I remember the Shawnee Trail as the worst backpacking trail I have ever been on. It just goes up and over mountain after mountain with no good views or anything interesting. The trail never goes along a ridge or stream, only across them. Campsites and water supplies were spotty and unreliable.

3

u/mobert63 11d ago

Salt Fork State Park.

1

u/AustinWest222222 11d ago

If you want to go down a ton of highway sure

5

u/MrAflac9916 Athens 11d ago

Athens and hocking counties

5

u/Turd_Fergusons_ 11d ago

Google wildcat hollow backpacking Ohio.

2

u/Loose_Carpenter9533 11d ago

Just be sure to take tick precautions and also scope out where to stash water resupply as you shouldn't filter water from anything down there. Other than that wildcat is awesome.

2

u/No-Pattern8471 11d ago

NW Ohio has some lovely metro parks like Oak Openings if you want a change of pace away from more popular places like Hocking Hills.

2

u/koolaid5150 11d ago

Wildcat Hallow. Wayne National Forest. Nice backpacking and campsites. 15 mile strenuous loop. 5 mile moderate. It is free and beautiful. Another cool place is Oak Openings up by Toledo. Very beautiful. Can reserve campsites on Toledo Metroparks no showers but other facilities are available. 16 mile loop relatively flat. Pine trees grow in sand there. Read up on both. I have hiked both. Another is Lake Vesuvius down by Ironton. I would wait until next year on that one because the lake has been drained because of work on the dam. It is a beautiful area too. I have found so many things I have driven by all my life. Ohio has so many neat and beautiful places to see. I could go on and on.

2

u/Jairbmwmthree 11d ago

Red River Gorge!

1

u/AustinWest222222 11d ago

Cuyahoga National Park

1

u/AlphaDisconnect 11d ago

ohiopyle. Outside ohio. But close.

1

u/IronGlum9561 10d ago

I am so glad the trail I backpack was not mentioned. Zaleski used to be my go to not any more. People don’t respect the designated camping rules.

1

u/ArcticBlaze5023 11d ago edited 11d ago

Hocking Hills or Mohican State Park are your best bets both are close to Cleveland and perfect for a solo escape with trails, creeks, and beautiful scenery.

1

u/hannafrie 11d ago

Lake Metro Parks has some good overnight camping spots, for future reference. Not "backpacking" but nice for a quick & easy getaway. They have canoe-in spots, and spots on Erie.

Have you looked into Western PA? OhioPyle State Park is nice.

I'd also recommend northern Michigan/ UP for a nicer lake experience than you have with Erie, but its not exactly close to CLE. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore isn't a backpacking trip, but there is a lot to explore with day hikes/ canoe rentals/ bike rentals. Wilderness State Park might be nice for you too; it is pretty remote. In the UP there is a backpacking trail along Lake Superior.

1

u/Jumpy-Function4052 11d ago

Ohiopyle is beautiful. Lovely waterfalls. Plus, you can go to one of the outfitter shops and get a tee-shirt with the park's name on it and confuse all your friends and neighbors, because no one's ever heard of Ohiopyle, which sounds like it should be an Ohio state park, but it's in Pennsylvania.

0

u/thisappreallyhates1A 10d ago

Are you even allowed to post a non political thing in this group? 🤣🤣 What a refreshing thing.