Nelsonville is a region situated in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio, characterized by rolling terrain, dense forests, and natural rock formations. The landscape is shaped by its location within the Hocking Hills region and its proximity to the Wayne National Forest. This geographical composition provides varied environments suitable for several sports like mountain biking, hiking, road cycling, and touring cycling. The Hocking River also contributes to the area's natural features, offering waterways through sandstone cliffs and wooded hillsides.
24
Routes
4.8
(8)
Average rating
314
People visited

3
hikers
9.67km
02:35
110m
110m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
3
hikers
7.56km
02:03
100m
100m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
5.27km
01:26
70m
70m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
hikers
7.00km
01:52
70m
70m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
16
riders
17.0km
01:31
210m
210m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
31.0km
02:54
470m
470m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
38
riders
37.9km
03:27
490m
490m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

16
riders
52.5km
04:34
640m
640m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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58
riders
54.5km
02:29
240m
240m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

28
riders
29.4km
01:17
140m
140m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

16
riders
36.3km
01:45
160m
160m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

6
riders
47.9km
03:16
660m
660m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.0
(1)
40
riders
58.0km
03:25
250m
250m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
36.5km
02:09
150m
150m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
13.7km
01:21
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Nelsonville offers a variety of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, road cycling, and touring cycling. The region's landscape, characterized by Appalachian foothills and dense forests, provides diverse environments for these sports. Visitors can explore extensive trail networks and scenic bikeways.
Nelsonville is a gateway to mountain biking experiences, notably at Lake Hope State Park, which features over 23 miles of dedicated trails. The vast Wayne National Forest, encompassing more than 230,000 acres, also offers over 300 miles of trails suitable for mountain biking. For more information, consult the MTB Trails around Nelsonville guide.
Yes, the Wayne National Forest provides hundreds of miles of hiking trails through its Appalachian foothills. Additionally, the nearby Hocking Hills region features popular hiking spots such as Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Cedar Falls, and Old Man's Cave. A comprehensive overview is available in the Hiking around Nelsonville guide.
The 21-mile (34 km) paved Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a prominent route for road and touring cyclists. This trail connects Athens to Nelsonville, offering scenic views along the Hocking River and passing through historical areas. Additional routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes around Nelsonville guide.
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a 21-mile (34 km) paved trail connecting Athens to Nelsonville. It follows the Hocking River, providing a smooth surface suitable for road and touring cyclists of all levels. The bikeway offers picturesque views and passes through areas with historical significance, including former canal and railway corridors.
Nelsonville offers several family-friendly options. The paved Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is suitable for cyclists of all ages. Lake Snowden, a 670-acre recreation area, provides public activities. Many hiking trails in the Wayne National Forest also offer varying difficulties, allowing families to choose appropriate routes.
Nelsonville is close to the Hocking Hills region, known for natural rock formations and features like Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Cedar Falls, and Old Man's Cave. The Hocking River flows through sandstone cliffs and wooded hillsides. The area is also characterized by the rolling Appalachian foothills and dense forests of the Wayne National Forest.
Outdoor routes in Nelsonville have an average rating of 4.72 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on experiences shared by more than 300 visitors. The community contributes to a comprehensive overview of the region's outdoor offerings.
Komoot offers several guides for Nelsonville to help plan outdoor adventures. These include MTB Trails around Nelsonville, Hiking around Nelsonville, Road Cycling Routes around Nelsonville, and Cycling around Nelsonville.
The official website for the City of Nelsonville is nelsonvillecity.wordpress.com. For general inquiries, the City Manager's office can be reached by phone at +17407531314.
The Wayne National Forest is a vast area covering over 230,000 acres around Nelsonville. It offers more than 300 miles of trails open for mountain biking and hiking. The forest's landscape often features reclaimed coal mining lands, providing a unique backdrop for outdoor activities.

