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Dispersed camping near Chauncey, Ohio includes several free primitive sites within Wayne National Forest, ranging from backpacking loops to drive-in tent camping. Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail offers free backpacking opportunities with established campsites along a 5-mile and 15-mile loop trail. Monday Creek OHV area provides drive-in tent camping with basic amenities. Dorr-Run Red Oak Trailhead features multiple camping spots with fire rings suitable for small groups. These areas typically allow pets on leash and permit campfires in designated rings when no fire restrictions are in place.
Visitors to Wildcat Hollow should prepare for potentially muddy trail conditions, especially after rainfall. According to reviews, "the trail can be a cesspool of mud in too many places, especially on the stretch between the trailhead and the loop." The sites themselves are primitive with stone fire rings and cleared areas for tents. No potable water is available at most locations; campers are advised against filtering from streams due to local oil drilling activities. Cell service varies significantly, with better reception on ridges and limited connectivity in valleys.
The Wayne National Forest camping areas operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Several campers noted that Wildcat Hollow can become crowded on weekends, with the parking lot filling up and easily accessible sites taken quickly. Spring visitors may encounter beautiful wildflower displays throughout the forest floor. Kinderhook Horse Trail area offers a hand pump water spigot and vault toilet, though the camping area is limited to small campers or tents. Most locations provide vault toilets at trailheads but require pack-in, pack-out practices for all trash and supplies. Weekday visits typically offer more solitude and site availability than weekends.
"Wildcat Hollow is a fantastic free camping and backpacking location. It’s quite secluded, has well established trails, and has a variety of remote campsites to choose from."
"Great spot for walk in or hike in camping! There are a couple of campsites at the trailhead and quite a few all along the trail."
"Great stop over location. Vaulted toilet and garbage cans were a welcome bonus."
"OHV trails closed for winter. Hiking allowed year-round. Most campsites inaccessible during off-season. Pit toilet closed for winter. Probably busy on weekends during the season. Nice place."
"The second night we only had one tent near us. There are plenty of pull-off areas on the road leading up to this trailhead that were being used night one as well."
"Relatively flat; during OHV off season, one of the roads is closed, I believe to Dorr Run. This trailhead is mainly for OHV riders so there is space for a vehicle and trailer."
from $15 / night
"Area is dedicated to horse trail riding. Nice clean area just off main road.Can camp here in certain spots. Not much area to camp. No fire rings, one picnic table."
"Close to the restroom there’s a picnic table, tentspots and a manual water pump. A lot of insects, humid and dense deciduous forest surrounding the trailhead. The Kinderhook trail was overgrown."
RangerWildcat Hollow is a fantastic free camping and backpacking location. It’s quite secluded, has well established trails, and has a variety of remote campsites to choose from. There is a small shelter with bathrooms and other amenities, but not much else.
ScoutArea is dedicated to horse trail riding. Nice clean area just off main road.Can camp here in certain spots. Not much area to camp. No fire rings, one picnic table. Definitely only for very small camper, car camp, or tent, small group. Nice trails. Seem to be well maintained. Does have a small hand pump water spigot. Has no flush vault toilet. No hook-ups of any kind. I did not camp here due to severe weather warnings. With att had 2 to 3 bars cell service.
TravelerGreat spot for walk in or hike in camping! There are a couple of campsites at the trailhead and quite a few all along the trail. There is a 5 mile loop or a longer ~15 mile loop that you can hike and there are campsites every couple of miles. The sites themselves are just semi-cleared areas with stone fire rings so it is totally primitive camping. The trails can be a bit muddy after it rains and probably take a long time to dry out down in the valleys. While there is water in the valleys I wouldn’t use it even with a filter. There are signs posted at the trailhead that advise against it plus there is still active oil drilling in one of the hollows (the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars) There is cell service when you’re up in the ridges but there are a lot of dead zones in the valleys and even at the trailhead. Overall, it was a beautiful, quiet place and I only saw 2 other people in the trail while I was hiking out the second day.
ScoutThe campsites looked OK. Dry. No water available to filter. Cautioned against using the water. But the trail was a cesspool of mud in too many places esp on the stetch between the trailhead and the loop. I turned around. The trail needs to be planked, elevated or rerouted. This is on July 1. The seasonal creek beds all dry, but the muddy trail is awful especially in comparison to the hype that I read
RangerThis campground is nice. They are all designated campsites but they are first-come-first serve. They are hike-to only.
It is great for hiking and backpacking camping but if you are looking for car style camping, this is not it.
The trail is challenging terrain, especially when backpacking. It can be very wet and muddy in the spring (or after any rains), so be prepared for that.
The road to it is difficult also (as are most with dispersed camping).
There are no amenities except for an outhouse in the parking lot.
This is pack in/pack out.
GuideThis is part of the Wayne National Forest and a section of the Buckeye Trail. It is a great area for backpacking as camping is free and allowed anywhere along the trail, see the web site for limitations. "Small, open fires are permitted except during extremely high fire danger. Fire rings should be used when available. Make sure all campfires are extinguished before vacating the campsite."~Wayne National web site. Water can be difficult, there are streams but you should pack in any that you need. I took my daughters on a backpacking trip here in August 2016. It is a great area, but there were lots of dead trees/widowmakers, so be careful where you pitch your tent. Pets are allowed but must be on a 6 foot leash. Many other hiking, camping and other outdoor activities are close by.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne/recarea/?recid=6228
ScoutJust wanted an overnight spot to clear our heads and enjoy the outdoors. Parked our RRT in the parking lot on a Monday evening and had the place pretty much all to ourselves all night. Clean pit toilet. Nice trails to walk. nice area to visit i'll be back againg sometime this year.
RangerThe trail in is super steep. The climb is totally worth it though. Some amazing rock out croppings and views up there! There are several boulder routes as well. At the end of the short trail is a cool rock shelter! A very neat local treasure.
TravelerParking for regular cars is 100 yards before restroom (the others are for horse trailers only). Close to the restroom there’s a picnic table, tentspots and a manual water pump. A lot of insects, humid and dense deciduous forest surrounding the trailhead. The Kinderhook trail was overgrown. The Paw Paw trail on the other hand was very smooth, dry and wide. The trail leads to the top of the hill.
Dispersed camping sites in Wayne National Forest provide free camping near Chauncey, Ohio for outdoor enthusiasts. The forest encompasses over 244,000 acres across southeastern Ohio with elevations ranging from 650 to 1,250 feet. Seasonal access varies significantly, with many primitive sites accessible year-round but some OHV-area camping locations closed during winter months from December through March.
Explore rock formations: Witch's Peak offers unique geological features accessible via a challenging hike. "The trail in is super steep. The climb is totally worth it though. Some amazing rock out croppings and views up there! There are several boulder routes as well. At the end of the short trail is a cool rock shelter!" according to Lucille W. at Witch's Peak.
Enjoy seasonal wildflower viewing: Spring transforms the forest floor with native Ohio wildflowers. "I recommend visiting Wildcat hollow in the springtime as the forest floor will be carpeted with beautiful wildflowers," notes Lucille W. from Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail.
Tackle hiking loops: Backpackers can choose between shorter and longer routes. "There is a 5 mile loop or a longer ~15 mile loop that you can hike and there are campsites every couple of miles," explains Steve C., who found most sites offer basic stone fire rings and cleared tent areas.
Secluded weekday camping: Visitor traffic varies dramatically between weekends and weekdays. "I camp here allllll the time. Secluded spot and an easy yet pretty trail. Perfect place for a first time backpacking trek," reports one camper who notes both crowded and empty conditions depending on timing.
Convenient overnight stops: Monday Creek OHV Dispersed serves as a practical stopover location. "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty... Great stop over location. Vaulted toilet and garbage cans were a welcome bonus," shares Kevin C.
Ridgetop cell service: Connectivity varies by elevation throughout the forest. "There is cell service when you're up in the ridges but there are a lot of dead zones in the valleys and even at the trailhead," explains a camper who noted the practical communication differences based on topography.
Water safety concerns: Surface water in the area is generally not recommended for filtration. "While there is water in the valleys I wouldn't use it even with a filter. There are signs posted at the trailhead that advise against it plus there is still active oil drilling in one of the hollows," warns Steve C.
Seasonal trail conditions: Dorr-Run Red Oak Trailhead camping changes significantly with seasons. "OHV trails closed for winter. Hiking allowed year-round. Most campsites inaccessible during off-season. Pit toilet closed for winter," reports Doug H., who still rated it positively despite limited winter access.
Weekend congestion: Popular sites fill quickly on Fridays and Saturdays. "Saturday was super busy, and we snagged the last available spot with a fire ring. The second night we only had one tent near us," notes Taylor P., highlighting the dramatic difference between weekend nights and weekdays.
First-timer friendly loops: Some trails are particularly suitable for novice backpackers. "Perfect place for a first time backpacking trek... The trail has a smaller loop and a larger loop. Both are fairly easy hikes," suggests a regular visitor to the area.
Early arrival recommended: Secure campsites by reaching trailheads well before evening. "If you're just looking for a quick campsite then pull up to the trailhead and you can find several within the first mile of the trail. Otherwise, the good sites are miles in," advises Shane from Kinderhook Horse Trail.
Potable water access: "Area is dedicated to horse trail riding. Nice clean area just off main road... Does have a small hand pump water spigot. Has no flush vault toilet," reports Joe B., noting one of the few locations offering non-stream water access in the area.
Small RV accessibility: Most dispersed sites accommodate only compact camping setups. "Definitely only for very small camper, car camp, or tent, small group," warns Joe B. about space limitations at certain trailheads.
Overnight parking options: "Just wanted an overnight spot to clear our heads and enjoy the outdoors. Parked our RRT in the parking lot on a Monday evening and had the place pretty much all to ourselves all night," shares Chris B. about an impromptu overnight stay at a trailhead parking area.
Limited hookup options: Free camping near Chauncey provides no traditional RV amenities. "This is pack in/pack out," notes Jade G., emphasizing the primitive nature of Wayne National Forest camping that requires complete self-sufficiency for all camping needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Chauncey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Chauncey, OH is Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail Dispersed with a 3.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Chauncey, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Chauncey, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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