Vesuvius Backpack Trail

Wayne National Forest, Ironton Unit (Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, north of Ironton)

Lake Vesuvius, in the Ironton Unit of the Wayne National Forest north of Ironton, is circled by the Vesuvius Backpack Trail, certified as a National Recreation Trail in 1979. The Forest Service brochure says it “takes you through open fields, brushland, mature forest, and along the lakeshore,” and warns that “the terrain is somewhat rugged and the vegetation may be dense.”

The lake itself has been drained since September 2025 for dam repairs, so check access before you go.

The hike

The Forest Service lists the trail at 16 miles; its brochure and the National Recreation Trails database say 17.28, and BackpackOhio says 17. BackpackOhio starts at the boat dock inside the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, where overnight parking is allowed, with paved parking and latrines. From Ironton, it directs hikers north about 6 miles on Ohio 93, then right onto Route 29 for about a mile to the recreation area.

Both the Backpack Trail and the shorter Lakeshore Trail (8 to 8.25 miles) leave the dock clockwise and split about a mile in, per BackpackOhio. The Lakeshore Trail stays near the water, while the Backpack Trail swings wide through the hills for about 12.5 miles before the two rejoin near the upper end of the lake. BackpackOhio counts four climbs and drops of 250 feet or more on the Backpack Trail and says it holds most of the camping options. Some sections are steep, and parts shared with a horse trail are overgrown or muddy; the trails are well blazed.

Iron-industry history runs through the area. BackpackOhio points to Vesuvius Furnace near the trail, mining scars and old clearcuts from the iron era, hemlocks in the steep valleys, and the lake’s dam, built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers.

The lake’s status shapes the trip in 2026. The Forest Service closed Lake Vesuvius to all public access on Sept. 19, 2025, so the lake could be drawn down 31 feet to assess a dam gate that would not close. In June 2026 the Forest Service told the Herald-Dispatch there were “no major updates,” and WSAZ reported on Sept. 2, 2026, that repair parts were expected in several weeks, after which the lake could refill only “after sufficient rainfall.” WSAZ said the surrounding recreation area stayed open, and BackpackOhio’s alert says “the backpacking trails themselves are open.”

The Forest Service also says the area is surrounded by more than 25 miles of hiking trails and a 46-mile horse trail system. For another Wayne National Forest loop with dispersed camping, see Wildcat Hollow.

Tips

Call before you go to confirm the trail and boat dock are open during the lake closure.
Camp outside the recreation area. BackpackOhio says the boundary isn’t signed; carry a map that shows it.
Carry your water. The Forest Service warns against drinking the forest’s springs and streams.
Expect brush and mud where the trail shares a horse route.
Wear blaze orange in deer season.

Camping

There are no designated backpacking sites. Camping is allowed anywhere on the Wayne National Forest except within developed recreation areas, where you must use designated sites (Forest Service brochure). BackpackOhio says part of the lake is inside the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, where dispersed camping is not allowed, and that the boundary crosses the Backpack Trail at about 3.5 and 15 miles. The brochure asks campers not to cut vegetation, to keep fires 150 feet from trails, to use only dead and down wood, and to dig cat holes 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Groups larger than 25 need a permit. No permit or fee is otherwise required (BackpackOhio).

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site were found. BackpackOhio’s trail map marks flat, used spots as “possible campsites,” most of them on the Backpack Trail outside the recreation area.

Trail facts

Distance: 16 miles (Forest Service); 17 to 17.28 in other sources
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: Dispersed, outside the recreation area boundary
Water: Carry it; don’t drink untreated streams
Permits: None (groups over 25 need one)
Trailhead: Boat dock, Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, off Ohio 93
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Picking your own spot above a drained Lake Vesuvius:

Vesuvius has no designated sites, and an unsigned recreation-area boundary rules out some flat ground, so bring a tent that fits wherever you end up. See the tents testers like.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.