Ohio · Hiking

Zaleski Backpack Trail - South Loop

8.6 mi
one way
1,131 ft
climb
1,026 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Jun–Oct
best months

The Zaleski Backpack Trail - South Loop is a moderate 8.6-mile hike in Zaleski State Forest in Ohio, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The route is a point-to-point trail with a steady climb, reaching a high point of 1,026 feet and a low of 699 feet. The total elevation gain is 1,131 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 3.1 miles in, with a grade of 25 percent. The trail is not open to bikes or horses, so plan on walking. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically September and May, when typical averages from a nearby weather station in Athens run to highs around 76°F and 72°F, with fewer wet days than the rest of the year. That station sits about 340 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the higher ground run a little cooler. The South Loop links easily with other trails in the area. Old's Hollow Trail and the Zaleski Backpack Trail - Middle Loop both start within half a mile, and Buzzard Cave Trail and the Moonville Rail Trail are each about a mile away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Zaleski Backpack Trail - South Loop

    Best months: June–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

      38° / 22°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 23°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      52° / 30°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      65° / 40°

      13 wet

    5. May

      72° / 50°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 59°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 63°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 61°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 54°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 42°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 32°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 27°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Athens Ou, OH, 12.4 mi away at 684 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