Ohio · Hiking

Rock House Trail

Rock House TrailPhoto: dok1, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.4 mi
one way
68 ft
climb
691 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Aug–Oct
best months

Is Rock House Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wayne National Forest. It doesn't name Rock House Trail, 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.

Rock House Trail is a short, easy hike in the Ironton Ranger District of Wayne National Forest in Ohio, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is 0.39 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 68 feet, and it rises from about 613 feet to about 691 feet. The climb is flat overall, with the steepest stretch at about 0.12 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterloo, Ohio, show October highs around 68°F with lows near 40°F, and May highs around 75°F. July is the warmest month, with highs near 86°F. The trail sits close to several other spots. Black Oak Trail is about 0.1 mile away, and Oak Hill Campground and Lake Vesuvius are each about 0.2 mile off. Climbers can find The Rock about 0.7 mile away.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Rock House Trail

    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, 10.6 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

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.

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

Lake Shore

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

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

Old Beach

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

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

Vesuvius Backpack Trail

~1 min drive

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

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

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.

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.

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

Wolcot Trail

~16 min drive

6.22-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 1,257 ft elevation gain/loss

Whiskey RunPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Whiskey Run

Next door

1.31-mile out-and-back trail in Ohio with 247 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors