Take
State Route 56 near Ash Cave to State Route 278. The scenic drive along State
Route 278 will take you on roadways once traveled by teams of mules and their
drivers hauling iron ore to the historic Hope Furnace around the time of the
Civil War.
If you stop at Hope Furnace, there is a trail that works its way along the lake. Across the road, there is also the Zaleski State Forest backpacking trail running a strenuous 10 miles.
Click Map for Larger Image
The Hocking Hills Region is located along the Appalachian
hillsides of southeastern Ohio. It is a unique region- rich in history and
dense with one of the few remaining wilderness areas left in the United
States. What was once a thriving, tamed industrial region of iron ore has
now turned back to its wilder side, a region filled with thick forests, huge
rock formations and mysterious sandstone recess caves. Those who look
closely can find the remains of the past and discover places less traveled
by others in the Hocking Hills.