Best Tent Camping near Loudonville, OH
Mohican-Memorial State Forest near Loudonville, Ohio provides several backcountry tent camping options through its Park and Pack system. This network of primitive tent sites includes ten designated areas spread throughout the forest, accessible via hiking trails that connect to the main bridle paths. Tent campers must register at the forest kiosk located at Co Rd 939 in Perrysville before occupying any site, as rangers actively monitor for unregistered camping.
Most Park and Pack tent sites feature established fire rings but minimal other amenities. No drinking water, toilets, or picnic tables are available at the campsites themselves, requiring tent campers to be self-sufficient. Registration operates on a first-come, first-served clipboard system rather than reservations, making weekday visits advantageous for securing preferred sites. Several sites require stream crossings that may be ankle-deep depending on recent rainfall. Cell phone service is limited or nonexistent at most backcountry tent locations, so downloading trail maps in advance is recommended.
Areas farther from trailheads offer deeper seclusion, with sites 8-10 approximately three-quarters of a mile from parking areas. Each primitive tent site provides different terrain advantages - some feature creek access while others offer ridge views or dense forest cover. Sites vary in size, with locations like Campsite 10 accommodating multiple tents and hammocks, while Campsite 1 is better suited for smaller setups. Accessibility also differs between sites, with Campsite 4 offering relatively flat terrain suitable for less experienced hikers. A camper noted, "This site was one of my favorites as it was right by the creek. The creek was clear and cool. We felt so spoiled as it isn't the crowded state parking campsite that you often think of when you think of camping."
