Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near The Plains, Ohio

If you like driving down back forest roads this is a good one and has a lot to offer from flowing creeks that follow the route to old graveyards and lots of history. You will find yourself traveling down into the forest through curvey gravel hills. A short drive later you will find a couple of littl...
Learn more about Bethel

This gravel route takes you through one of the nicest roads in the area. Once you start, you will head up a very steep gravel hill that will take you back to Hunterdon Cemetery. You will enter the wildlife preserve at the top of the steep hill and head down the windy gravel road that gets narrow at ...
Learn more about Hunterdon Road

This trail is from Lake Hope to Zaleski Vinton County Tunnel Loop West. This starts at Lake Hope and runs counterclockwise south through Vinton County, passing Campbell Tunnel which was recently closed through the Appalachian Foothills. Gas and food can be found along the way and the route is good f...
Learn more about Vinton County Tunnels Tour Part 1

This will take you out on a township road. It starts off on a narrow gravel road, shortly after you start the trail you will find a small section of muddy ruts to kick up some dirt. Once you get to the bottom of the hill you will come across a rushing creek crossing that has plenty of small side obs...
Learn more about Indian Run

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

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

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

This is Radcliff to Campbell Tunnel Vinton County Tunnel Loop West. This starts at Lake Hope in this section and runs counterclockwise south through Vinton county passing Campbell Tunnel which was recently closed through the Appalachian Foothills. Gas and food can be found along the way. Good for a ...
Learn more about Vinton County Tunnels Tour Part 2

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

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 trail will take you down a valley in Wayne National Forrest. Much of this trail is a gravel road but you will find sections of big rocks, creek water over the road, and even a small section of mud holes to get dirty. You first start out by traveling down a curvey gravel road with plenty of rock...
Learn more about Wildcat

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

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

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 trail is Wikesville to Cone/Appalachia Highway Vinton County Tunnel Loop East. This section starts at Wikesville, Ohio, and runs counterclockwise north through Vinton County, stopping at Moonville Tunnel and Kings Hollow Tunnel which was recently added as the Rails to Trails Hiking pathway thro...
Learn more about Vinton County Tunnel Tour Part 3

Easy connector trail between Siverly Creek Road and Bray Hollow Road. The route is mostly a rough, unmaintained gravel road suitable for most vehicles. The main feature is a creek crossing that can become deeper after heavy rain. There is active cabin construction along the route, so stay on the est...
Learn more about Township Road 16J

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

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

This is the perfect add-on to trails nearby. It's slow but easy-going. It offers some great scenery and is a perfect trail to take your friends that are just getting into off-roading. This trail is a good cool-down option if you are doing the hardcore stuff nearby. Or if you want to hit some backroa...
Learn more about Hart Ridge Road - Addition not Subtraction

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 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

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 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

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

This will take you out on a township road. It starts off on a narrow gravel road, shortly after you start the trail you will find a small section of muddy ruts to kick up some dirt. Once you get to the bottom of the hill you will come across a rushing creek crossing that has plenty of small side obs...
Learn more about Indian 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

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 will take you down a valley in Wayne National Forrest. Much of this trail is a gravel road but you will find sections of big rocks, creek water over the road, and even a small section of mud holes to get dirty. You first start out by traveling down a curvey gravel road with plenty of rock...
Learn more about Wildcat