Field Notes Ohio

Ohio's parks, forests and wildlife areas with camping, the ancient mounds beside them, and the Buckeye Trail that links them. Stories, trails, wildlife, and where to eat and fuel up nearby. Book campsites on ReserveOhio.
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Mounds & Earthworks43 ancient sites, including the Great Serpent Mound and the Newark Earthworks.
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Lake Erie Beaches20 public beaches from Conneaut to Toledo and the islands, with a map.
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Lake ErieWest Virginia27 places277 places77 places73 places35 places519 places1913 places1319 places1916 places168 places810 places1010 places109 places98 places820 places204 places43 places3Barkcamp State Park4 places47 places77 places76 places69 places917 places173 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places2Forked Run State Park3 places32 places26 places610 places103 places32 places2

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117 parks in 7 regions

Harrison State Forest

Cadiz · Harrison County · Eastern Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
1,345acres
20trail miles
1961established

Visiting information you can trust

Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
ODNR park finder (search this park)
Location confidence
Verified property location
Harrison State Forest, 82480 Cadiz-Jewett Rd, Cadiz
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Reservations or tickets
ReserveOhio — camping and cabin bookings
Hunting or permits
Hunting and fishing are permitted in season under Ohio Division of Wildlife rules. Firearms may not be discharged within 400 feet of any campground, residence or structure, and shooting across roads and driveways is prohibited. A rifle range with a 100-yard line is open for practice. A valid Ohio hunting license is required.

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

The story of this land

Like Fernwood to the south, Harrison State Forest is a comeback story. The state bought the land in 1961, and much of it had been stripped for coal. The acid mine drainage that usually follows strip mining is minimal here because limestone deposits in the ground neutralize it, and most of the land that had not been stripped was still forest, on the ridges and in the valleys.

Reforestation and the recreation facilities were paid for by the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 and Ohio's capital improvements program. Two areas were replanted in 1992 and 1993, with more than 100,000 trees planted on 186 acres. On the reclaimed hilltops the old spoil is now grass that is slowly being overtaken by shrubs and trees, and the valleys between the roads hold the original woods, with ponds that beavers have moved into and expanded.

The forest is small enough to feel like a neighborhood park with a wild streak. It sits about three miles north of Cadiz, east of State Route 9, with the main area north of County Road 13 and two smaller tracts to the south. It draws riders, hunters and hikers, and the camping is free.

Things to do in the park

  • Camp free at Ronsheim (7 family sites) or Trailriders (20 family and horse sites)
  • Ride or hike the roughly 20 miles of shared trails
  • Sight in your rifle at the 100-yard range
  • Watch for beavers and birds around the ponds
  • Hunt deer, turkey and small game in season

Trails

Maps, reviews and recent trail reports for Harrison State Forest.

Find trails on AllTrails →

Things to do nearby

  • Cadiz, about 3 miles south, with a historic downtown and the Clark Gable birthplace museum
  • Tappan Lake Park, a large MWCD lake with camping and a marina
  • Leesville State Wildlife Area and Fernwood State Forest nearby
  • Jefferson Lake State Park, about 40 minutes east

Hiking trails

About 20 miles of trails shared by hikers and horse riders (sources range from about 14 to 24 miles), on gently sloping terrain. The Yellow Trail is one of the marked routes.

Wildlife you might see

  • Beavers in the forest's ponds
  • White-tailed deer and wild turkey
  • Songbirds and grassland birds on the reclaimed ridges
  • Regrowing forest, planted grass and shrubs on the old strip-mine benches

Fishing

  • A few artificial ponds, several now occupied by beavers, provide fishing. Ohio fishing license required for ages 16 and up.

Hunting

Hunting and fishing are permitted in season under Ohio Division of Wildlife rules. Firearms may not be discharged within 400 feet of any campground, residence or structure, and shooting across roads and driveways is prohibited. A rifle range with a 100-yard line is open for practice. A valid Ohio hunting license is required.

Where the Beavers Moved In

Harrison State Forest is a comeback story with a small cast. The land was strip-mined for coal, and the state bought it in 1961. Acid mine drainage usually follows strip mining, but limestone in the ground neutralizes it here, and most of the ground that had not been stripped was still forest. Two areas were replanted in 1992 and 1993, with more than 100,000 trees on 186 acres.

The old ponds are the surprise. Beavers have moved into several of them and expanded them, so the forest now has wetlands that its planners did not build.

Behind the legend

The reclamation was paid for through the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 and Ohio's capital improvements program. On the reclaimed hilltops the old spoil is now grass that shrubs and trees are slowly taking over, and the valleys hold the original woods. It is a small forest, about 1,345 acres, three miles north of Cadiz.

Two free campgrounds, Ronsheim and Trailriders, and a 100-yard rifle range make it a working piece of public land.

If you go

Look for beaver lodges at the ponds and the young trees on the old strip-mine benches.

Campsites

Ronsheim Campground
7 family sites · picnic tables, fire rings, vault latrines · bring your own water
Free
Trailriders Campground
20 sites for family or horse campers · picnic tables, fire rings, vault latrines · bring your own water
Free

On site

  • Vault latrines at both campgrounds
  • Picnic tables and fire rings at each site
  • Group camp available
  • Forest officer issues camping permits on arrival
  • Rifle range with a 100-yard line
Harrison State Forest details (ODNR) →
Camping at Harrison State Forest is free and first-come, first-served, and there is nothing to reserve online. Choose a site when you arrive; a forest officer issues permits and explains the camping rules. The number above is the Fernwood forestry office, which also handles Harrison. Tapping through opens ODNR's forestry site for maps and conditions.
Prefer the phone?740-266-6021

There is no drinking water at either campground, so bring your own. The forest is small and shares its office with Fernwood State Forest, so staff may be hard to reach by phone.

Restaurants nearby

Timi's Cafe
Breakfast and lunch in a converted church; closed Sunday
Directions
Stairway Cafe
Wood-fired pizza in the church basement, with games; closed Sunday
Directions
El Bronco
Mexican food and fresh salsa; open daily
Directions

Gas stations nearby

Marathon
On the north side of Cadiz, closest to the forest
Directions
BellStores
New convenience store with hot food, next to the Marathon
Directions

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.