Ohio · Hiking

Longbow Archery

0.6 mi
loop
53 ft
climb
684 ft
high point
Loop
route
Aug–Oct
best months

Is Longbow Archery open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wayne National Forest. It doesn't name Longbow Archery, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Wayne National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Longbow Archery is an easy 0.57-mile loop hike on gravel in the Ironton Ranger District of Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio. It is a short outing with a total climb of 53 feet, and it is rated easy. The trail starts and ends around 675 feet, with a high point of 684 feet and a low of 626 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.45 miles, where the grade reaches 8 percent. The route is not accessible. The Longbow Archery Trailhead is the starting point, and the trail stays open year-round. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterloo, Ohio, show May highs around 75°F and October highs around 68°F. Several other outings sit close by. Lake Shore is 0.1 mile away, Scarlet Oak Trail is 0.2 mile away, and Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area is 0.5 mile away. Oak Hill Campground is also about half a mile off.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Longbow Archery

    Best months: August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 20°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 22°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 29°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      67° / 38°

      13 wet

    5. May

      75° / 49°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 57°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 62°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      85° / 60°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 52°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 40°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 30°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 25°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Waterloo, OH, 10.8 mi away at 625 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lake ShorePhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lake Shore

Next door

7.40-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 1,915 ft elevation gain.

Scarlet Oak TrailPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Scarlet Oak Trail

Next door

Scarlet Oak Trail is a 0.41-mile point-to-point trail in Ohio with 237 feet of elevation gain.

Copperhead TrailPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Copperhead Trail

~9 min drive

5.42-mile out-and-back hike in Ohio with 1,134 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Michael Tygart Trail

~27 min drive

15.94-mile out-and-back trail in Kentucky with 2,730 ft elevation gain

Vesuvius Backpack TrailPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Vesuvius Backpack Trail

Next door

Challenging 14.46-mile point-to-point backpack route through southeastern Ohio.

Old BeachPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Old Beach

Next door

1.20-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 310 ft gain.

Lyra TrailPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lyra Trail

~19 min drive

7.78-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 1,882 ft elevation gain/loss.

Vesuvius Main LoopPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Vesuvius Main Loop

~2 min drive

59.28-mile loop trail in Ohio with 2,652 ft elevation gain.

Black Oak TrailPhoto: dok1, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Black Oak Trail

Next door

Black Oak Trail is a 0.30-mile point-to-point trail in Ohio with 114 ft of elevation gain.

Power Line TrailPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Power Line Trail

~9 min drive

7.9-mile out-and-back hike in Ohio with 1,218 ft elevation gain