Zaleski State Forest: Trails, Map & Hiking Guide

Trail FactsZaleski State Forest~29 miDistanceHardDifficulty1,500 ftElevationmulti-dayDurationLoopTypeFallSpringCampingScenic viewWildlife

Zaleski State Forest is located in southeastern Ohio and is known for its scenic beauty and extensive trail system. At 27,822 acres, Zaleski State Forest is the second-largest forest in Ohio’s state-forest system (ODNR Division of Forestry State Forests Guide, Oct 2024 update; ODNR property materials as of September 2026).

Visitor info (as of September 2026): Administrative office 29681 State Route 278 / P.O. Box 330, Zaleski, OH 45698. Forest manager phone often listed (740) 596-5781; Division of Forestry toll-free (877) 247-8733. Forest open to visitors 6 a.m.–11 p.m. daily (registered campers/hunters/anglers may be present outside those hours). Confirm on ODNR / forestry.ohiodnr.gov (property HTML intermittently 404’d from this runner).

Historic Moonville Tunnel is inside Zaleski State Forest on the Moonville Rail Trail right-of-way.

Zaleski borders Lake Hope State Park. The entire 2,983-acre park lies within the forest in the valley of Big Sandy Run, with steep gorges, narrow ridges, and remnants of abandoned mining and iron industry.

Lake Hope surrounds the lake with a wooded family campground and year-round cabins (including Laurel Lodge). Guided horseback rides in the area are offered by local outfitters such as Uncle Buck’s (confirm current operations before you go).

History

Zaleski State Forest was established in 1937 and named after the nearby village of Zaleski, which was named by Polish immigrants. The area was once heavily logged and later reforested, leading to the lush woodland that visitors enjoy today. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) played a significant role in developing the park’s infrastructure during the Great Depression.

Horseback Riding

Uncle Buck's Riding Stable & Dance Barn provides scenic, guided horseback rides through Zaleski State Forest near Lake Hope State Park. Enjoy our Coal Bucket Trail (1 hour), the Moonville Tunnel Trail (2 hours) and the King Hollow Tunnel Ride (3 hours).

Slow cooked barbeque, craft beer, wine are served in The Lady Buck Saloon. We also host family BBQs with live entertainment. Event and banquet facilities are available for weddings, parties, or anything you have in mind.

We have used Uncle Buck's many times for horseback riding adventures and highly recommend them.

Hope Schoolhouse

Hope Schoolhouse, inside Zaleski State Forest, is a historic trailhead landmark. We parked here for a two-day trip on the Selinde Roosenburg Memorial Backpack Trail.

Hope Schoolhouse trailhead (as of September 2026): ODNR lists a trailhead at Hope Schoolhouse (added 2016) with a ~2-mile connector to the main backpack trail and handy access toward the Moonville Rail Trail. Treat the building as a historic forest landmark / trailhead rather than a staffed museum — confirm any interior access or programs with the forest office before you plan a tour.

MOONVILLE TUNNEL

Moonville Tunnel near Zaleski State Forest is one of few reminders of the ghost town of Moonville. In 1856, Samuel Coe gave the Marietta and Cincinnati (M&C) Railroad permission to construct a railroad line across his property. Coe hoped that the line would then provide him an easy means to ship coal and clay on his property. The railroad accepted the offer for two reasons. First, Coe offered the land for free, and second, Coe's land would provide a better route for the track from Marietta to Cincinnati.

The community of Moonville soon sprung up on Coe's land around the railroad. Moonville principally housed miners and a few railroad workers. The town had approximately one hundred residents at its peak in the 1800s. Yet, the community declined, especially during the early 1900s as coal mines started closing. The last family abandoned Moonville in 1947. Today, only the old schoolhouse's foundation, a train tunnel, and the community cemetery remain.

Despite being a ghost town, Moonville remains well known due to its reputation of being haunted. Believers say that ghosts of railroad workers struck down by a train in the Moonville Tunnel still wave their lanterns in the abandoned tunnel.

Today, visitors can hike portions of this abandoned railroad line, which are being converted into walking and biking trails.

Hope Furnace

The Hope Furnace is a historic blast furnace in the southeastern part of the State of Ohio. Located along State Route 278 approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of the village of Zaleski. It is one of two extant iron furnaces in Vinton County. Between 1854 and 1874, the furnace was used to smelt iron ore, using coal or charcoal for fuel. It is a rectangular structure, built of sandstone and shaped like a truncated pyramid.

Hiking Trails

ODNR Division of Forestry materials (property page snippets + State Forests Guide, as of September 2026) emphasize these verified offerings — older unofficial “North/South/Big Pine” name lists are easy to invent and were cut here:

1. Selinde Roosenburg Memorial Backpacking Trail
   • Main loop about 28.8–29 miles (ODNR; State Forests Guide also lists ~28 backpack miles with 3 walk-in camps). Self-registration, no fee.
   • A ~10-mile day loop is also listed.
   • Hope Schoolhouse trailhead (2016) adds a ~2-mile connector to the main trail and Moonville Rail Trail access.
2. Bridle trails — about 30–31 miles of horse/hiking corridor; horse camp on Crow Road (16 sites listed on ODNR materials).
3. Moonville Rail Trail / Moonville Tunnel — rail-trail corridor through the forest (pair with King’s Hollow for a short tunnel walk).
4. Shooting range on SR 278 near headquarters — paper targets; dawn-to-dusk style hours on ODNR notes.

Adjacent day-use hiking also continues into Lake Hope State Park (separate post). Download the current forest map from forestry.ohiodnr.gov before you go.

Tips for Hikers

• Preparation: Carry water, snacks, and overnight gear if backpacking; cisterns at backpack camps can run low.
• Weather: Check forecasts — ridges and hollows change conditions quickly.
• Address / phone: 29681 SR 278, Zaleski, OH 45698; (740) 596-5781 / (877) 247-8733 (as of September 2026).
• Hours: Visitors 6 a.m.–11 p.m. unless camping/hunting/fishing legally.
• Maps: Trails are generally blazed, but bring a map/GPS offline — cell service is thin.

Zaleski State Forest is known for its tranquility and natural beauty, making it a fantastic destination for hikers looking to explore the scenic landscapes of southeastern Ohio. It is one of our favorite places to hike.

If you would like to contact us or have additional information for the blog, please let us know.

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