Hanging Rock Recreation Site permits dogs for overnight stays but offers minimal amenities for pet owners, with only basic toilets available at this dispersed camping location. The site serves primarily as a trailhead for motor vehicle trails in Wayne National Forest, where pets must remain on leash while exploring. Reviews indicate varying experiences, with some campers noting trash problems and safety concerns while others appreciate the secluded fishing ponds and natural surroundings despite occasional noise from locals.
Wayne National Forest provides multiple pet-friendly camping alternatives near Hanging Rock. Oak Hill Campground and Iron Ridge at Lake Vesuvius accommodate pets with more developed facilities, including clean restrooms, water hookups, and fire rings with grills. The surrounding forest offers numerous hiking opportunities for pets and owners, with Lake Vesuvius providing water recreation access. Dispersed camping with pets is possible at various locations throughout Wayne National Forest, though campers should prepare for primitive conditions and carry waste bags as trash accumulation has been noted at some sites. All pets must remain leashed throughout the forest to protect wildlife and other visitors.
$21 - $46 / night
"Place is very pet friendly. The people we have met here are great. Sites are wide but really close together."
"Primitive Site 22 was fantastic, tucked away from everyone and quiet. Greenbo just doesn't have a lot to do if you arent boating. And that's okay. We just wanted a lazy trip anyway."
"Very friendly people and my dog loved the dog park."
"A good little dog park that was extremely clean, putt putt, and more. I would come back again in the off season just cause we like camping with less crowds."
$15 - $20 / night
"The hiking trails are scenic and pretty and the lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach) , kayaking, and fishing."
"Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded."
$25 - $120 / night
"Water was running over the edges of cliffs and boulders throughout the park into the river that flows through the park."
"Hot dog cave where you have to climb up a tree trunk to get into it. The camping is good. There is a State park general store that sales camping essentials if needed."
$50 / night
"All around probably the best camper lots in the area. Very quiet and tucked away but still close enough to run into town. Ms. Cindy is very nice and more than willing to help with anything."
"Quiet spot next to an industrial area. Nice view of man-made lake with a number of fishing huts for catch-and-release fishing. Pets allowed leashed, with no tie-outs permitted."
"Our site was very level, maybe 1/2" low on the camp side. There is a good size lake for swimming, they have stand up paddle boards and kayaks."
$20 / night
"Nice view and close to the lake as well! There is a beach about a 10 minute drive away from the camp. Very nice showers and bathrooms!"
"The restrooms are clean, the sites are well maintained and the lake is close by for some good kayaking and fishing."
"The bad was locals firing guns for the hell of it for an hour straight and the trash left behind from the previous campers. Once night fall hit everything was quiet so I couldn't complain too much."
$35 - $45 / night
"This little jewel is an actual island surrounded by the Little Sandy River in Greenup, KY. We fished al day and night. Caught a bunch of fish and had a catfish fry. "
"Although the water and electric hookups are on the opposite side unless you drive through the loop the wrong way, this setup has an unexpected benefit—it faces directly toward the woods."
GuideThe campground is small. Has a nice dog park. Pickle ball courts Cafe Sky diving right here. The Ohio river is visible. The only real problem comes with the train tracks right here. The trains are close and do blow their whistle for crossing by the office.
RangerThe Hanging Rock Recreation area features tons of well kept ATV trails for motor bikes or quads (max width allowed is 50 inches). Besides the ATV trails, there are tons of little lakes that are ideal for fishing! There is a large parking area in the middle of the park with a restroom, and at least one other restroom further down the road. I noticed several “fire pits” in gravel pull offs in the park. Not sure if fires are allowed though.
We hiked here today to retrieve some trail cameras from the surrounding Wayne National Forest for a spotted skunk study at Ohio University. Along and just off the trails were tons of gorgeous wildflowers like trilliums, violets, showy orchids, and more!
ScoutVery friendly people and my dog loved the dog park.
TravelerWe stayed in Site 09. The sites are spacious with level, asphalted pads. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.
Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course. These are located away from the RV's; therefore, the campground was very quiet and peaceful.
Nearby was a marina, fishing access, and an archery range. The surrounding hills are pretty.
The bath house was clean. A laundry room was available.
The only drawback was the lack of shade. Because this place is relatively new, in time--as the planted seedlings grow--this problem will lessen.
LegendJust a beautiful park. Clean well maintained. Lots of amenities. Paddle boats, marina, 18 hole disc golf, bike park, huge dog park, store,archery range, playground and trails.
RangerKOA Review
The campground it’s self is very clean and taken care of. We were there in early March with winter temps. The staff was extremely nice and helpful, bath house and laundry was clean. The water at our site was inoperable and they offered to move us without me even having to ask which was nice. The site could be maintained better ours had lots of tire ruts and fire pit could have been better for the price. Overall it’s a good campground with amenities in great shape. A good little dog park that was extremely clean, putt putt, and more. I would come back again in the off season just cause we like camping with less crowds.
RangerWe arrived late at night wishing we had better cell reception and a paper map of the National Forest. We were grateful to have the Dyrt's info downloaded on my chromebook. Even still, Wayne National Forest is a maze of public and private land. The Ironton Campground has been closed during 2020 as part of a water main line break. We initially tried the Hanging Rock OHV trailhead, but locals used that area for partying when we were there and it wasn't ideal to camp at the trailhead with about a dozen cars speeding along the gravel roads around midnight. We found the Sand Hill Trail head and pitched camp not too far from where we parked. The NF website says fires are allowed if you make a stone ring. We just skipped it. It is a very pretty area along Vesuvius Lake with trees and bluffs. We saw a ranger in the morning and he suggested next time we just camp at the horsecamp. The pins on the Dyrt's map were inaccurately located when we were using it with multiple entries. Next time I will purchase a paper map before I go because Wayne National Forest has alot of private lands interspersed and it is not all that clear without an official map. Hopefully the Dyrt will get better at hyper locating those lines.
ScoutQuiet spot next to an industrial area. Nice view of man-made lake with a number of fishing huts for catch-and-release fishing. Pets allowed leashed, with no tie-outs permitted. Helpful owner who escorted us to our campsite with full service hookups but no picnic table or fire ring (some sites had tables). We had a peaceful overnight stay.
GuideGot there in April and basically no one was there which was awesome. Although we did lose our long haired cat named Trouble, she has her collar and chip but there were dogs around and she never came back. Attached is a picture. Other than the weather and losing Trouble it was great.
Hanging Rock Recreation Site offers basic camping for pets and owners in a dispersed camping setting with minimal amenities. Pets must be leashed throughout the recreation area, which includes ATV trails and small fishing ponds. The site features vault toilets but lacks drinking water, hookups, and formal campsites. Campers report varying experiences with site cleanliness and recommend wearing appropriate footwear due to potential hazards. Nearby Oak Hill Campground and Iron Ridge at Lake Vesuvius provide more developed pet-friendly alternatives with established campsites, electric hookups, and water access.
Wayne National Forest allows pets at its campgrounds with standard leash requirements and waste cleanup expectations. Multiple trail systems throughout the forest permit dogs on leashes, with the Lake Vesuvius area offering particularly scenic hiking opportunities along wooded paths and lakeshores suitable for pets. The Oak Hill and Iron Ridge campgrounds provide more amenities than Hanging Rock while maintaining good forest access. Sites at these locations offer better separation between campers, with Iron Ridge generally providing more shade and privacy for camping with pets. Local campers note the surrounding Wayne National Forest offers dispersed camping options with fewer restrictions for those seeking primitive camping experiences with their dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hanging Rock, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hanging Rock, OH is Greenbo Lake State Resort Park with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hanging Rock, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Hanging Rock, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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