Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Jacksontown, Ohio

Lots of scenic wooded gravel roads. Quite a bit of up and down on the side loops as you come in and out of the valley. We were rewarded at the end of this trip with an amazing road and a beautiful cow farm. Recommend running this backward in the winter as the first western Hillclimb is very steep.
Learn more about Valley and Cows

Number 8 Hollow will take you down another remote back road in this trail system. Once you enter the heavily wooded area, which is very scenic and winds through a loose gravel road through old farms, swamps, and plenty of spots to hike and explore. You will make your way down this remote road that l...
Learn more about Number 8 Hollow Road

Tucked deep into the hardwood forest is one of the lesser-known back roads of this trail system. You start at a fork in the road that will lead you down a very quiet gravel road that will dead-end. With nothing else around but the echoes of the past that once took place in these deep woods. There a...
Learn more about Township Highway NR2

This is a quiet rural back road that winds through the rolling hills and hardwood forest. It's full of coal mining history that once took place deep into the woods of Perry County. It is part of a trail system for ATVs and dirt bikes, so please be careful to watch for others also enjoying the beauti...
Learn more about Township Highway NR1

Township Highway NR3 is a rugged backcountry access road. Once you enter the road, it's like time changes, and you see a piece of history that many don't. This trail takes you through some of the thickest and most overgrown forests in Perry County. It has swamps, ruts, and some soft ground. Essingt...
Learn more about Essington Lake

These are some great winding country back roads going through Amish Country seeing several Amish lumber mills and roadside markets to purchase Amish produce and craft. With beautiful changes in elevation, some of these roads can get narrow and technical. Many places to pull over and have other traff...
Learn more about Amish Lumber Mills

If you are looking for a quick adventure down a country road, this is one of many in the area. This route will take you out and through the woods, where you will see wildlife everywhere. There will be many sharp curves and steep hills even though it is an easy route, it does get slick in bad weather...
Learn more about Tunnel Hill

This route will take you down into the middle of some old mining area filled with ponds and peace. As you drive down the beginning of the gravel road, you will drive down into the endless trees and get the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Once you go down the gravel road, you will come up ...
Learn more about Land between the ponds

This trail offers many challenges. All though you can skip past the hard parts. As most of this is an easy gravel road there are a few small turn-off paths that will take you down some old service roads in Wayne National Forest. That's where the hard parts are they are narrow. Full of soft slick mud...
Learn more about Iron Point

This back road is one you don't want to miss. Once you turn onto the gravel road, it's like you're heading into the mountains out west. You will start to climb a very steep, narrow hill with soft ground and lose gravel paving your way to some unbelievable sights. It will then lead you to the top of ...
Learn more about Dixie

If you're looking for a nice back road to see the sunset, this little stretch of gravel road takes you from Ohio State Route 312 to Ohio State Route 668. Once you hit the gravel, it will take you into what life used to be like, with a few older farms and fields with views of open skies. You will enc...
Learn more about Town 235

Pelcher Road along Spring Run is very scenic with multiple hills and beautiful vistas with a surprise building at the end. Class 1 roadway may be very slippery during rains and should use caution on blind corners and be aware of wildlife and livestock. You may encounter Amish buggies on this route a...
Learn more about Plecher Road to Pyramid House

Rock Run is a shortcut gravel road that will take you off the pavement and down some old back road that will take you longer to get where you are going, but worth the views you will see. When you turn on Rock Run, you'll continue straight into a section of Wayne National Forest with a piece of hist...
Learn more about Rock Run

This trail is kinda tricky to find and you might miss it if you're not paying attention. You will need to turn off of Salem Hollow on a dirt and gravel road. It's a very narrow road with a lot of curves and turns. As you start on the trail, it will take you deep into Wayne National Forest. There are...
Learn more about Dugen

If you're into driving down some old back roads and running the outskirts of Wayne National Forest this trail has a lot to offer you. Even though it's an easy trail you will find yourself driving through gravel roads with all kinds of unique rock formations and some of the most beautiful trees. At s...
Learn more about Salem

With many roads packed with tourists in the Hocking Hills, there still remain a few quiet back roads. This one may be short, but it's worth the trip. This gravel road doesn't get much traffic and will take you to a hidden gorge that you won't find on a park map. There is a small paved gravel mix at ...
Learn more about Donaldson Gorge

Expect to go through one of the most scenic roads in Perry County. This trail is all gravel but very slick steep hills with sharp turns. Once you enter the trail you go down into a nice little creek crossing that flows when the water is higher. After that, you will continue down until you hit a fork...
Learn more about Helmick Mill Covered Bridge

If you're looking for a nice Sunday drive and don't want roll around town or out a paved road, and don't mind a little mud, then this trail is for you. You will start down a gravel road that is mixed with plenty of mud and some great views. You will end up going down some curvy narrow gravel road go...
Learn more about Township 269

You wouldn't know this road was even here without adventuring down some old gravel roads; it is packed full of history from the past. When you first approach a graveyard sits to your left that has been there for many, many years. As you start to travel down this narrow gravel road, you are filled w...
Learn more about Township 283

This is a high-speed, secondary gravel road running along the Kokosing River. Expect to encounter significant changes in elevation, and some blind turns on the cliff edge. This area is public hunting so foraging for ginseng and mushrooms are allowed with proper permits. Use caution in the fall, bein...
Learn more about Walhonding Hills Steel Bridge to 715 Batnest Loop

If you are looking for a quick adventure down a country road, this is one of many in the area. This route will take you out and through the woods, where you will see wildlife everywhere. There will be many sharp curves and steep hills even though it is an easy route, it does get slick in bad weather...
Learn more about Tunnel Hill

This trail offers many challenges. All though you can skip past the hard parts. As most of this is an easy gravel road there are a few small turn-off paths that will take you down some old service roads in Wayne National Forest. That's where the hard parts are they are narrow. Full of soft slick mud...
Learn more about Iron Point

Rock Run is a shortcut gravel road that will take you off the pavement and down some old back road that will take you longer to get where you are going, but worth the views you will see. When you turn on Rock Run, you'll continue straight into a section of Wayne National Forest with a piece of hist...
Learn more about Rock Run

If you're into driving down some old back roads and running the outskirts of Wayne National Forest this trail has a lot to offer you. Even though it's an easy trail you will find yourself driving through gravel roads with all kinds of unique rock formations and some of the most beautiful trees. At s...
Learn more about Salem

If you are looking for a quick adventure down a country road, this is one of many in the area. This route will take you out and through the woods, where you will see wildlife everywhere. There will be many sharp curves and steep hills even though it is an easy route, it does get slick in bad weather...
Learn more about Tunnel Hill

This route will take you down into the middle of some old mining area filled with ponds and peace. As you drive down the beginning of the gravel road, you will drive down into the endless trees and get the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Once you go down the gravel road, you will come up ...
Learn more about Land between the ponds

This trail offers many challenges. All though you can skip past the hard parts. As most of this is an easy gravel road there are a few small turn-off paths that will take you down some old service roads in Wayne National Forest. That's where the hard parts are they are narrow. Full of soft slick mud...
Learn more about Iron Point

Rock Run is a shortcut gravel road that will take you off the pavement and down some old back road that will take you longer to get where you are going, but worth the views you will see. When you turn on Rock Run, you'll continue straight into a section of Wayne National Forest with a piece of hist...
Learn more about Rock Run