Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System
The Lake Vesuvius horse trails wind through some of the most striking landscapes in Ohio. They will lead you through a variety of vegetation where many species of wildlife live. You will ride along rock cliffs, water falls, streams and along ridge tops. The trails will lead you through a variety of vegetation where many species of wildlife live. Expect to see open fields, brushland, mature forest, and young forests. Along the way, you will notice man's influence and land management activities. The Lake Vesuvius horseback trails system isapproximately 46 miles long and is composed of 9 trails, 4 trailheads, and one horse campground.
More like this: first-come in Ohio · free in Ohio · tent only in Ohio
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees required. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Wayne National Forest |
| Fees | No fees required. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 38.6467° N, 82.5594° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | River City Adventure Company ↗ | 25 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 26 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Overnight at Lake Vesuvius - Wayne National Forest, Pedro, Ohio
Worth a stop
- 2 miBluegrass Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.2 miJohn's Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.5 miSuperior Ohv System ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miPaddle Creek Loop2.6 mi trail · hiking
- 0.8 miWild Berry0.2 mi trail · hiking
- 1.4 miHill Loop0.7 mi trail · hiking
- 1.5 miPaddle Creek Connector0.2 mi trail · hiking
- 1.8 miKimble Loop ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miAldridge Connector1 mi trail · hiking
Trailheads within three miles
- 2 miBluegrass Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest
- 2.2 miJohn's Creek Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Wayne National Forest.
- inWayne National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 856,184 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Vesuvius FurnaceStructure · Ironton · 4.8 mi
- Vesuvius Furnace–Stone Bridge (Boundary Decrease)Structure · Ironton · 4.8 mi
- Olive FurnaceStructure · Pedro · 8.9 mi
Guidebooks for Ohio
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System?
Nothing. Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System is listed as free. No fees required.
Source: Forest Service
Is Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System?
Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Lake Vesuvius Horseback Riding System is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Paddle Creek Horse Camp (1.6 mi, first-come), Iron Ridge (3.9 mi, partly first-come), and Oak Hill (4.4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby