Columbus, OH: Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail

Roam wild hollows and hills to cozy campsites strewn with pine needles on this little-known 15.2-mile loop in Wayne National Forest.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 24.0

Waypoints

Into the trees

Location: 39.5916290283203, -82.0484848022461

©Gary Clark

Trail and white marker

Location: 39.5960731506348, -82.052619934082

©Gary Clark

WCH001

Location: 39.572868347168, -82.0328826904297

Head N up Eels Run

WCH002

Location: 39.5766410827637, -82.0341720581055

Go L @ Y to begin clockwise loop in woods; trail climbs Irish Ridge

WCH003

Location: 39.5962982177734, -82.0547485351562

Stay straight for big loop; in a few strides, cross well-marked road

WCH004

Location: 39.6017608642578, -82.0630493164062

Bear R @ Y; go W past old schoolhouse. Bear R, then R again on dirt road toward old drilling rigs

WCH005

Location: 39.6032295227051, -82.0630874633789

Turn L onto overgrown path (follow white blazes); cross under power lines

WCH006

Location: 39.6209907531738, -82.0608978271484

Turn R @ T onto road, then quick L back onto trail to campsite in .7 mi.

WCH007

Location: 39.6289291381836, -82.0540237426758

Bear R @ next two Y-intersections with forest road (staying on trail), then cross gravel road and follow red-and-white blazes

WCH008

Location: 39.6260299682617, -82.0451278686524

Sweet campsite with fire ring near a large bog (bring bug spray); continue linking white trail blazes

WCH009

Location: 39.6221504211426, -82.0470962524414

Bear L, cross road, and take singletrack trail

WCH010

Location: 39.613468170166, -82.0410385131836

Cross road by turning R and walking on road for a few strides; look for white blaze on L to continue

WCH011

Location: 39.6000785827637, -82.0329971313476

Cross Cedar Run

WCH012

Location: 39.5969505310059, -82.0401916503906

Pines fill deep ravine; descend into Wildcat Hollow

WCH013

Location: 39.5952606201172, -82.0425262451172

Cross stream (beaver dams to R); L onto dirt road; follow signs to trailhead

WCH014

Location: 39.5949897766113, -82.0468902587891

Bear R @ Y, pick up thin trail; go 1.9 mi. to WPT 2, then return to trailhead