Shawnee

Marv's Shawnee Info

The Shawnee State Forest is located in southeastern Ohio near Portsmouth. Shawnee is a tree covered and hilly area with extensive backpacking trails. There are over 60,000 acres of land in the forest. 8,000 of these acres are designated "wilderness", and timber management and public motorized travel have been eliminated there.

Directions

Shawnee State Park is located near Friendship, Ohio, just west of Portsmouth on US. 52. It is about 2 hours from Cincinnati, Lexington, Columbus, and Charleston; making it a good location for a weekend backpacking trip from West Virginia, Central/Southern Ohio, Eastern/Northern Kentucky. Check your road map to determine how you would travel to Portsmouth (in southeast Ohio on the Ohio River), but here is general information.

From Portsmouth. Take US-52 west to Friendship. At Friendship, turn right onto State Route 125. The park entrance will be on your left about 4 miles after you make the turn.

From Cincinnati. Take US-52 east toward Portsmouth. Pass through Ripley, Aberdeen,
Manchester, and on to Friendship. At Friendship, turn left onto State Route 125. The park entrance will be on your left about 4 miles after you make the turn.

From Cincinnati. Take US-125 east toward Portsmouth. Pass through West Union. The park entrance will be on your right some miles after you pass through West Union.

From I-64 between Huntington and Lexington. Exit I-64 at Grayson and take the AA Highway (Route 9) north toward the Ohio River. This road will dead end after perhaps 10 miles. Turn right toward Ashland/Portsmouth. Cross the Ohio River at Portsmouth and follow the directions above to the park.

Parking

There is a parking lot just off SR-125 at the park entrance; that is, at the road to the lodge. Your vehicle might be more secure if you parked at the lodge. Follow the signs to the lodge at the top of the hill.

Maps

The map that I have is Shawnee State Forest and Backpack Trail published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224. This is a very adequate map.

The map contains two other addresses. Shawnee State Park, Star Route 68, Portsmouth, OH 45662. Shawnee State Park Lodge, Star Route 69-A, Portsmouth, OH 45662.

Weekend Backpacking Trip

If you are not familiar with this area, here is a fairly easy weekend backpacking trip that you might consider.

Park at the lodge. Walk down the hill from the lodge to the lake and go right along the road by the lake for a short distance. On your right pick up the trail. You want the south loop, ARQPONMLKJIH on your map. You will go almost immediately up hill after you get on the trail. After some distance up and down hills you will cross a road. After you cross the road be alert for a side trail to your right--it is not well marked. The side trail will take you down hill to Camp 8. There is water there and campsites. Camp 8 is perhaps 6 miles from the lodge. Note: You are expected to stay in the designated campsites on the trail, but I am not certain anyone would ever know if you didn't.

There is a cistern and faucet to provide water at Camp 8. When you come down the side trail mentioned above you will arrive at a sort of fire road at the bottom of the hill. To your right you will find the campsite. Go left to find the water faucet--it will be on your left and slightly up hill from the fire road.

Other

The terrain in the park is generally hilly. You will find yourself walking up and down hills most of the day.

Some of the trails are not well used. As a result they tend to be crowded by briars in places. I suggest you hike in jeans and not in shorts.

Water from the faucets in the campsites is supposed to be potable. I strongly recommend that you purify it.

Reference

Shawnee State Forest