Zaleski+State+Forest

Also, see Lake Hope State Park and Zaleski State Forest Birding Drive
 * =Birding in Ohio=

Vinton County
=Zaleski State Forest= OH-278 Zaleski, Ohio 45698 Zaleski State Forest website Zaleski State Forest brochure with map

media type="custom" key="29515065"

Zaleski State Forest--Baptist Church Rd.
Coordinates: 39.2923646, -82.3599054 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Big 4 Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3683278, -82.3166943 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Bolster Hollow Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3151649, -82.3840177 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Coalmont Hollow
Coordinates: 39.3052804, -82.3833418 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Crow Rd.
Coordinates: 39.278336, -82.3273265 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Hope Schoolhouse
Coordinates: 39.3156403, -82.3518848 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Hunt Hollow
Coordinates: 39.3491123, -82.3816037 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Hunters Camp
Coordinates: 39.2895053, -82.3698664 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Irish Ridge Rd.
Coordinates: 39.337568, -82.33544 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--King Hollow
Coordinates: 39.3263306, -82.3169518 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Llewelyn Rd.
Coordinates: 39.295475, -82.306593 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Long Ridge Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3599445, -82.356627 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Mine Hollow Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3041968, -82.4010015 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Moonville Tunnel
Coordinates: 39.309387, -82.322952 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--OH-278 Marsh
Coordinates: 39.312107, -82.361375 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Shea Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3181968, -82.338109 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Shooting Range Wetland
Coordinates: 39.29712, -82.38801 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Webb Hollow Rd.
Coordinates: 39.3003778, -82.4138331 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

Zaleski State Forest--Will Tract
Coordinates: 39.2612129, -82.399199 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data 

Tips for birding Zaleski State Forest
The quickest way to get onto public state forest land at Zaleski State Forest from Columbus and other areas to the north is to take route OH-33 southeast to Logan. At Logan take OH-93 south to OH-56. You can also take OH-56 from Circleville if you are coming from the west.

Just north of the intersection of OH-56 on OH-93 is a small privately owned grassland area that annually hosts both Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows. This area is at the top of the hill just north of OH-56 and just south of the Hocking/Vinton County line. There are pull-offs on both sides of the road here, but be careful of the traffic if you stop.

From the intersection of OH-93 head east on OH-56 to the small town of New Plymouth then head South on OH-328. Enter the Forest at Hunt Hollow. I have timed different routes and that one wins every time.

You should be able to find most of the regular warblers and other passerines within the first couple of miles on Forest Road 18. When getting to the top of the ridge you have three options and all are excellent:
 * 1) 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 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.
 * 2) Take the middle route down Forest Road 9 (Cabin Ridge) which goes through Lake Hope state park land to Lake Hope.
 * 3) Head northeast on Forest Road 15 on another part of Long Ridge to Irish Ridge. Irish Ridge is one of the better roads in the forest of a good variety. On the north side of Forest Road 15, just west of the intersection with Irish Ridge is an excellent clear cut where you can get out and hike around a bit.

Also on the west side of Zaleski is Furnace Ridge which is the state park camping area. It usually is uncrowded on weekdays and can be excellent for birding. Bolster, Coalmont, Mine and Webb Hollows, as well as the Will Tract, are all worthwhile too if you have the time.

On the east side of OH-278, there are plenty of roads also worth a visit. There really are no dull spots, but some areas I try to hit on every visit include Forest Road 19 along East Raccoon Creek, Baptist Church Road (Township Road 15), Crow Road (Township Road 20) with its extensive pines and horse camp. That takes you to OH-356 where you can then check out the Waterloo State Forest and the Waterloo Wildlife Area. After that, you can reenter Zaleski State Forest proper at King Hollow, also a great road for a long list of species. From Robert Royse

There are 20 Warblers that breed in this area. Prothonotary, Magnolia, and Chestnut-sided are not common. When you find the proper habitat you may or may not find the bird. However, the numbers for these birds are increasing. The other 17 Warblers are numerous. When you find the proper habitat you will find these birds. Clear Cut Warblers Warblers found along flowing water--there are creeks everywhere Warblers found in areas near water with willow trees Warblers found in shelter woods, areas that have been timbered, but a few trees with mast crops were selected to not be cut Warblers found in pine groves Woodland warblers
 * Blue-winged
 * Prairie
 * Common Yellowthroat
 * Yellow-breasted Chat
 * Prothonotary
 * Louisianna Waterthrush
 * Northern Parula
 * Yellow-throated
 * Yellow
 * Chestnut-sided
 * Magnolia-found where there are a few Conifers
 * Black-throated Green
 * Pine
 * Cerulean
 * Black-and-white
 * American Redstart
 * Worm-eating
 * Ovenbird
 * Kentucky
 * Hooded

There are numerous roads which you can explore to find these birds. Some favorite roads are Baptist Church, Wheelabout, Shea, and Hope-Moonville.

During a normal visit in the spring migration birders can spend 8 hours in this area and find all 20 warblers and around 80+ species. Besides the 20 warblers, there are at least 4 hawk species that breed here. There are 6 breeding woodpeckers. From Bruce Simpson, Naturalist at Blendon Woods Metro Park

About 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. From Zaleski State Forest website



|| media type="custom" key="26726038"

media type="custom" key="27825829"

View Map in new window || L1598954	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.2923646	-82.3599054	Zaleski State Forest--Baptist Church Rd. L2194408	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3683278	-82.3166943	Zaleski State Forest--Big 4 Rd. L4628684	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3151649	-82.3840177	Zaleski State Forest--Bolster Hollow Rd. L737572	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3052804	-82.3833418	Zaleski State Forest--Coalmont Hollow L4508754	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.278336	-82.3273265	Zaleski State Forest--Crow Rd. L737574	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3156403	-82.3518848	Zaleski State Forest--Hope Schoolhouse L4628654	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3491123	-82.3816037	Zaleski State Forest--Hunt Hollow L737576	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.2895053	-82.3698664	Zaleski State Forest--Hunters Camp L4566441	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.337568	-82.33544	Zaleski State Forest--Irish Ridge Rd. L916624	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3263306	-82.3169518	Zaleski State Forest--King Hollow L4508753	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.295475	-82.306593	Zaleski State Forest--Llewelyn Rd. L2892762	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3599445	-82.356627	Zaleski State Forest--Long Ridge Rd. L4628694	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3041968	-82.4010015	Zaleski State Forest--Mine Hollow Rd. L2906506	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.309387	-82.322952	Zaleski State Forest--Moonville Tunnel L3604564	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.312107	-82.361375	Zaleski State Forest--OH-278 Marsh L737556	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3181968	-82.338109	Zaleski State Forest--Shea Rd. L1480261	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.29712	-82.38801	Zaleski State Forest--Shooting Range Wetland L4628697	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.3003778	-82.4138331	Zaleski State Forest--Webb Hollow Rd. L4628725	US	US-OH	US-OH-163	39.2612129	-82.399199	Zaleski State Forest--Will Tract