03/24/2026
2026 RECREATION OPENING DATES
The 2026 recreation season is almost here! Wayne NF staff and volunteers have kept busy over the winter closure preparing trails and facilities for spring opening, and we’re excited to welcome visitors back to Ohio’s only national forest. Recreation site opening dates are explained below; they are subject to change depending on weather and trail conditions.
MOTORIZED TRAILS: Motorized/off-highway vehicle trails are scheduled to open the first Friday in April (4/3/2026). These include the Monday Creek, Long Ridge, Superior, Pine Creek, and Hanging Rock OHV Trail Systems. Trail passes are required to ride motorized trails. They are available now at our visitor centers or from Pay.gov, or you can call your local authorized vendor to check availability.
NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS: Non-motorized (horse and bike) trails are scheduled to open the first Friday in April (4/3/2026). These include the Baileys Trail System, Lake Vesuvius Horse Trail System, Kinderhook Horse Trail System, and Stone Church Horse Trail System. Stone Church Horse Camp will also open on April 3, 2026.
CAMPGROUNDS AND PICNIC SITES: All other campgrounds and picnic sites are scheduled to open on April 10, 2026. These include the Oak Hill, Iron Ridge, Pine K**b, Burr Oak Cove, Leith Run, Lamping Homestead, Hune Bridge, Lane Farm, and Ring Mill Campgrounds, as well as Two Points Group Camp. The Furnace and Roadside Picnic Shelters will also open on April 10, as well as the Sand Run Pond and Utah Ridge Pond Picnic Areas.
Paddle Creek Horse Camp and Frontier Boat Launch remain open year-round. All Wayne NF trails remain open to hikers year-round even if gates are shut.
BEACH SWIMMING: Big Bend Beach at Lake Vesuvius is scheduled to open on May 22, 2026.
