Best Tent Camping near Galena, OH
The Mohican-Memorial State Forest offers several primitive tent camping options near Galena, Ohio, approximately 50 miles northeast of Columbus. The forest's Park and Pack system features ten designated tent sites scattered throughout the wooded terrain, with sites like Park and Pack Campsite 10 providing ample space for tent setup. Scioto Grove Metro Park, located closer to the Columbus area, provides reservable backpacking tent sites along its river trail for weekend camping experiences.
Registration for Mohican's tent sites occurs at the forest kiosk located on County Road 939 in Perrysville, using a first-come, first-served clipboard system. Most sites require a hike of varying distances from designated parking areas, with some sites like Campsite 10 requiring a three-quarter mile walk from the upper parking area. These primitive sites have established fire rings but lack amenities such as toilets, potable water, or picnic tables. Campers must pack in all necessary water and supplies. A review mentioned, "The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite. This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10. If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to."
The tent sites throughout Mohican-Memorial State Forest provide varying levels of privacy and natural features. Sites are typically spacious enough for multiple tents and hammocks, with established fire rings and surrounding trees suitable for hammock camping. Proximity to water varies by location, with some sites positioned near small streams. Scioto Grove's backpacking sites feature tent pads and fire rings with provided firewood, making them ideal for weekend trips or testing backpacking gear. A camper wrote that Scioto Grove is "great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit, besides that they're totally primitive." Cell service is limited at most tent sites, particularly in the more remote locations of Mohican-Memorial State Forest.