Zaleski, Ohio 45698
Zaleski State Forest websiteAlso, see all the hotspots at:
Zaleski State Forest Birding Drive
Long Ridge Road (Forest Road 15) traverses 5.9 of Zaleski State Forest from the gate at the Forest Service Center on the southwest to Irish Ridge Road on the east end. This road is easily reached via Hunt Hollow from OH-328. At the junction of Hunt Hollow Road with Long Ridge Road, turn right (southwest) to bird the road to the dead-end at the gate near the Forest Service Center. Return to the junction and continue birding on Long Ridge Road until you reach Irish Ridge Road.
Head down the dead-end Long Ridge (southwest on Forest Road 15) for a few miles then turn around. This is a great road that has had a lot of clear-cutting on the west side of it in recent years, but that seems to be done for now. The east side of the road is relatively intact with older growth. So this road hosts birds of all forest ages and is on top of a ridge that seems to attract more early morning migrants than anywhere else that I know of in the forest.
See all hotspots at Zaleski State Forest
The Zaleski State Forest is the second largest forest in the system. The Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail was established on the forest to provide backpacking opportunities as well as to introduce some scenic and historic aspects of the forest. The main trail is a loop of 23.5 miles. There is also a 10-mile day loop trail.
Restrooms on site
Content from Robert Royce, Bruce Simpson, Naturalist at Blendon Woods Metro Park, Robert Royse, and Zaleski State Forest webpage