Ohio · Hiking

Vesuvius Main Loop

Vesuvius Main LoopPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
59.3 mi
loop
3,463 ft
climb
1,029 ft
high point
Loop
route
Aug–Oct
best months

Is Vesuvius Main Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Wayne National Forest. It doesn't name Vesuvius Main Loop, 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.

Vesuvius Main Loop is a 59-mile loop in the Ironton Ranger District of Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is a steady climb, rising from about 890 feet to a high point of 1,029 feet, with a total elevation gain of 3,463 feet. It is a hard route, and the trail surface is natural, so plan for a long day on foot or horseback. The trail is not accessible. Horses are allowed, and bikes are not. The Sand Hill Horse Trailhead is the trailhead, and the route is open year-round. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterloo, Ohio, show May highs around 75°F and September highs around 79°F, with October highs near 68°F. That station sits about 400 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the loop run a little cooler. Iron Ridge Campground and Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius are both about 0.3 miles away, and the Hungry Hollow Connector is a short hike from the trail. Climbers can head to Garden Wall, about a mile off.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Vesuvius Main Loop

    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, 9.6 mi away at 625 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Hungry Hollow ConnectorPhoto: Wayne National Forest, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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

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