Ohio’s best kept secret

When you read headlines about overcrowded national parks and maxed out trailheads, it’s easy to think the outdoors is filled with selfie-taking crowds. But there’s plenty left to discover if you know where to look. evidence: Athens County, Ohio.

Nestled in the hills about 75 miles southeast of Columbus, this corner of Appalachia offers something you won’t find elsewhere: genuine wonder. Glaciers that covered much of the upper Midwest have spared the region, creating a pristine landscape of steep ranges, hardwood forests, sandstone cliffs, and snaking river valleys. Forgotten gravel roads stretch around it, and unlike many major outdoor destinations, it’s empty: more than 63,000 people live here year-round. Five times more people visit Great Smoky Mountain National Park than every week.

Once there, you’ll discover a huge variety of pack-your-own-adventure options in a relatively compact area. (Athens County is about the size of Los Angeles — not including traffic.) In a long weekend, you can bike on world-class singletrack, paddle on a mirror-smooth lake, run or ride on a rail trail, disappear onto remote gravel roads, and hike through dense forests.

is the center point belize trail systemA network of trails built through the Appalachian foothills and abandoned coal country of the Wayne National Forest. With approximately 88 miles of singletrack now open, the system has become one of the most ambitious outdoor recreation projects in the Midwest, welcoming everyone from beginner riders to expert mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers and adaptive athletes. Families looking for an early and sweet day can opt for the Coal Train or Bullfrog Loop; Shredders can test themselves on the technical jumps and slopes of Bear-Corn or pack a lunch and get lost in the deep backcountry of the Bloodroots.

Just outside the college town of Athens, Strouds Run State Park There are rugged trails around Dow Lake, providing quick access for hiking, mountain biking, paddling, swimming, and camping. More than 26 miles of interconnected singletrack connects the park to Athens’ trail network: start your ride with coffee at Donkey Coffee in town, continue the day passing through mature oaks, beech, and maples deep in the woods, and finish with wine and breakfast at Jackie O’s, Little Fish, or Devil’s Kettle. The next day starts and ends the same way, but swap paddle for paddle and rent a kayak, canoe or even a pontoon. boathouse On Dow Lake.

For those who prefer footpaths, the 22-mile hopping Adena Bikeway follows a former railroad corridor through river valleys and forests, connecting Athens with small, quaint nearby towns, while providing a smooth route for road cyclists, runners and walkers. Beyond the sidewalks lies another local wonder: hundreds of miles of low-traffic gravel roads that wind through sleepy hollows, bucolic fields, forests and windy ridgelines, providing endless options for heavenly gravel biking loops. Consult experts here Ohio Gravel Grinder To create your ideal day, weekend, or week-long itinerary.

Hikers seeking solitude will want to explore the county’s many preserves. volunteer driven Athens Conservancy Manages a network of protected acreage that showcases the region’s biodiversity and stunning nature. Places like Bluebell Preserve, Blair Preserve and Tucker Run Preserve offer carpets of wild flowers in spring, mature forests with blazing autumn leaves, and abundant birding opportunities (hear the drumming of the rare ruffed grouse at Blair). Canaan and Poston Preserves feature fascinating rock formations and rocky outcrops, while Deep Hollow-Dark Skies features clear streams and a hilltop that’s perfect for stargazing. (Note to cyclists: The best way to see Bluebell Preserve is by hitchhiking the Adena Bikeway that runs along its border.)

Athens County also serves as an ideal basecamp. Within an hour’s drive, you can reach Hocking Hills State Park, famous for its caves, waterfalls and dramatic sandstone formations, or Lake Hope State Park, where more volunteer-maintained trails lead through some of Ohio’s most beautiful forests. Don’t miss Ash Cave in Hocking Hills: At 700 feet wide, it is Ohio’s largest hidden cave; A silvery waterfall falls 90 feet above its mouth into a sandy bottom pond, perfect for boating in summer.

The best part: No matter where you go in Athens County, you’ll feel like you’ve discovered something special. Which one is correct?

Visit Athens CountyBased in Athens, Ohio, it promotes the region as a destination for tourists, strengthens the brand locally and nationally, and drives economic development in all markets.