Best Dispersed Camping near Heath, OH
Several dispersed camping options exist within the Wayne National Forest about 40-50 miles southeast of Heath, Ohio. The most established dispersed site is Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail, which provides primitive camping areas along its hiking loops. Additional options include Monday Creek OHV Dispersed and several trailheads such as Dorr-Run Red Oak, Dorr Run-Elm, New Straitsville, and Stone Church that permit limited camping. These areas are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and primarily serve as access points to trail systems rather than developed campgrounds.
Access to these sites varies significantly, with some areas requiring hiking in while others allow drive-in camping. Wildcat Hollow is primarily a hike-in or walk-in site with campsites distributed along the trail system. Most locations have minimal or no facilities—primitive fire rings mark established sites at Wildcat Hollow, while some trailhead areas have vault toilets and trash receptacles. Water is not available at any of these locations, and visitors are cautioned against filtering from available streams. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The campsites looked OK. Dry. No water available to filter. Cautioned against using the water." Fires are permitted at most sites except New Straitsville and Stone Church Trailheads, though restrictions may apply during dry periods.
The camping experience varies by location, with Wildcat Hollow providing more secluded, traditional backcountry camping along a 5-mile and 15-mile loop trail system. One camper noted, "There are a couple of campsites at the trailhead and quite a few all along the trail," making it suitable for backpacking trips. Trails can be extremely muddy after rainfall, potentially hampering access. The trailhead camping areas tend to be busier and more functional as overnight stopping points, particularly at sites like Monday Creek OHV and Dorr-Run Red Oak. The OHV areas become especially active during riding season (April-December). While many of these sites are free, some trailhead locations may require fees. Cell service is spotty across the region, particularly in valley areas, and most sites are completely primitive with no amenities beyond the occasional vault toilet.
