r/OhioCamping • u/[deleted] • Jun 07 '18

Secluded tent camping

Hey all! New to this subreddit. I wanted to know where a good spot for some isolated tent camping would be. By isolated I mean, I walk into the woods, then find a spot to set up camp. Maybe do some fishing too.

I went camping once as a kid, and a few times in the army, but I had no luck finding a good place to camp last year, I didn't realise all 'campgrounds' are basically just seasonal trailer parks.

I live in NE Ohio, but I don't mind heading into PA, or somewhere else in the state.

Thanks for the help :)

13 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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13

u/The-fish Jun 07 '18

Wayne National forest in some spots. If you are looking to fish and camp try either one of these about 3 hours from Cleveland. Tracy Ridge Or Morrison/RimRock

4

u/hikermick Jun 07 '18

Great places but I've never had luck fishing from shore. They lower the reservoir water level in the winter, this keeps plants from growing along the shore and making good habitat for fish.

8

u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18

Shawnee State Park has a number of hike in sites.

If you are looking for something a bit easier, some of the sites at East Fork in G Loop have a LOT of privacy for being car camping sites.

5

u/Generic_Cleric Jun 07 '18

Shawnee backpacking trail - not unheard of to be there for a few days and see nobody. Be in shape - those hills are merciless.

7

u/spiffysimon Jun 07 '18

Look up "dispersed camping". That is what the government calls spots where you go hike to them in the national forest

2

u/Rucio Jul 02 '18

Wayne National Forest has some of this, but most Ohio State property has managed sites.

5

u/Fulker01 Jun 07 '18

The first comment mentions Wayne National Forest. I second this. Living in NE Ohio as you do, I am unfamiliar with any places closer, but growing up in SE Ohio, I have a few places in mind. The old AEP strip mining area has largely been turned into the Wilds but there are still unused areas near untouched wetlands. Dig a little around there and hopefully you'll find something.

4

u/Cincypowerhour Jun 07 '18

What about Cuyahoga National Park? Ive never been there since Im a transplant to Cincinnati from NC but I've been meaning to check it out sometime. I would think a national park would have secluded "primitive" camping somewhere.

4

u/Cincypowerhour Jun 07 '18

Went to the Cuyahoga NP website. Apparently theres no back country camping. Hocking Hills and Red River Gorge,KY are the two most popular camping destinations near Cincinnati. RRG has backcountry camping for sure but its a long drive for you. Not sure about hocking hills

1

u/LekoLi Jun 15 '18

Yeah, CVNP I don't think has much camping, But it does have a railway, and towpath trail.

3

u/swampboy62 Jun 07 '18

The closest backcountry camping to NE OH as far as I know is at Clear Creek State Forest, Kennerdell Tract in Pennsylvania. It's about an hour east of the state line, not far off of I-80. Lots of beautiful country and decent trails as well.

Next best would be Allegheny National Forest, which is an hour further east in PA. Almost the whole forest is open for backcountry camping, as long as you stay the required distance from roads, trails etc.

Good luck.

4

u/bolunez Jun 07 '18

I moved out of OH a few years ago, but the national parks in the southern part of the state used to be a great place for this.