Best Tent Camping near Shelby, OH
Tent campers visiting Shelby, Ohio can find several primitive camping options in the nearby Mohican Memorial State Forest, which offers a system of Park and Pack sites specifically designed for tent camping. These backcountry tent sites are located along bridle trails within the forest and provide a more secluded alternative to the established campgrounds at Mohican State Park. The forest's ten designated tent sites require registration at the ranger station kiosk located at County Road 939 in Perrysville, about 20 miles southeast of Shelby.
Most primitive tent sites in the Mohican area operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. Campers must sign in at the forest kiosk before occupying a site, as rangers actively monitor for unregistered camping. The Park and Pack sites lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service, requiring tent campers to pack in all supplies and practice leave-no-trace principles. According to one visitor, "Make sure you register for your site and do not camp illegally. It is an issue here and they are looking to make sure folks did register at the kiosk." Sites typically feature a basic fire ring, though some locations have restrictions on fires depending on seasonal conditions.
The tent camping experience at Mohican Memorial State Forest varies by site location. Campsite 10 offers one of the more accessible walk-in experiences, located about three-quarters of a mile from the parking area with relatively flat terrain. A camper noted that "This site was great for both hammocks and tents. You could have a small group here and not feel crowded." Other sites like Campsite 3 are tucked beside streams, requiring water crossings to access. Cell phone coverage is limited throughout the forest, with some sites having no service at all. Tent campers should download trail maps before arrival, as the paper maps at trailheads may lack complete information about campsite locations. The forest provides a genuine backcountry tent camping experience within reasonable proximity to Shelby.