Ohio · Hiking

Orange Trail

Orange TrailPhoto: hcampsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.2 mi
loop
123 ft
climb
750 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Orange Trail is a short, easy loop in Ohio, about a mile long and rising roughly 120 feet from its starting point. The trail runs between 650 and 750 feet in elevation, with the steepest stretch at about 0.8 miles in, where the grade reaches 13 percent. It makes a quick outing, and the nearest town is Ashland, Kentucky, just under a mile away. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ashland, Kentucky, show May highs around 75°F and September highs around 78°F, with September also seeing the fewest wet days of the year. The Yellow Trail lies just 0.2 miles away, and the High Knob Loop and Copperhead Trail are both about 8 miles off. For an overnight stay, Iron Ridge Campground is about 10 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Orange Trail

    Best months: April–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

      40° / 23°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 24°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 31°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      67° / 41°

      12 wet

    5. May

      75° / 51°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 61°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 65°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 63°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 56°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 43°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 32°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 27°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ashland, KY, 1.5 mi away at 560 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Yellow TrailPhoto: hcampsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Yellow Trail

Next door

0.09-mile point-to-point trail in Ohio with 137 ft gain

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

Copperhead Trail

~14 min drive

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

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

Hanging Rock Trail

~16 min drive

11.5-mile loop in Ohio with 1,225 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Michael Tygart Trail

~23 min drive

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

HIGH KNOB LOOPPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

HIGH KNOB LOOP

~14 min drive

1.00-mile loop trail in Ohio with 187 ft elevation gain and loss.

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

Power Line Trail

~18 min drive

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

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

Vesuvius Backpack Trail

~17 min drive

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

Balancing RockPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Balancing Rock

~15 min drive

1.07-mile loop trail in Ohio with 238 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Kimble Loop

~19 min drive

5.84-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 749 ft elevation gain.

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

Lake Shore

~17 min drive

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

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors