Shawnee Backpack Trail
- 26.8 mi
- one way
- 4,790 ft
- climb
- 1,273 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Aug–Nov
- best months
Shawnee Backpack Trail is a 26.8-mile point-to-point hike in Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route rises from about 1,050 feet to a high point of 1,273 feet, with a total elevation gain of 4,790 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 7.4 miles, where the grade reaches 24%. The trail is rated expert, and it is not open to bikes or horses. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 76°F and September highs around 80°F, with October cooling back to about 69°F. That station sits roughly 360 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. The hike takes about 11.5 hours. East Fork Creek and the Mackletree Bridle Trail both lie within about a mile and a half. The Shawnee Backpack Wilderness Side Trail is about 2.9 miles away, and Bear Lake Horse Camp is about 6 miles off.
Best time to go · Aug–Nov
Best time to visit Shawnee Backpack Trail
Best months: August–November. 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.
Jan
42° / 24°
14 wet
Feb
46° / 26°
13 wet
Mar
56° / 32°
14 wet
Apr
69° / 41°
14 wet
May
76° / 50°
14 wet
Jun
82° / 59°
13 wet
Jul
86° / 63°
14 wet
Aug
85° / 61°
12 wet
Sep
80° / 55°
10 wet
Oct
69° / 42°
11 wet
Nov
57° / 32°
12 wet
Dec
47° / 28°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warnock 2, KY, 18.7 mi away at 910 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
