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Ohio
27

Ohio State Parks

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USA Parks
Ohio
Southeast Ohio Region
Brush Creek State Forest
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BRUSH CREEK STATE FOREST
BRUSH CREEK STATE FOREST
Located in the unglaciated hill country of south central Ohio, Brush Creek State Forest was established in 1928 with the acquisition of 285 acres of land. This and other early land acquisitions were originally part of Shawnee State Forest. As acreage and distances grew, the need to form a separate state forest unit became apparent in order to properly manage these scattered land holdings. In the early 1950s, a new state forest was formed and drew its name from a major stream in the area known as Scioto Brush Creek. A forest headquarters and service center was established along State Route 73 about one mile west of the village of Rarden in western Scioto County, and presently remains at that site. Today, Brush Creek State Forest comprises well over 12,000 acres of productive hardwood forest land. The vast majority of these acres is made up of steep hillsides, deep hollows, and narrow ridge tops. Combined with the climate in the region, this land is ideally suited to the growth of deciduous hardwood forests.
History of the Area
Brush Creek State Forest is located in Adams County, Ohio. The history of this state forest dates back to the early 20th century.

In the early 1900s, the land that is now Brush Creek State Forest was severely disturbed due to years of excessive logging, farming, and uncontrolled wildfires. Recognizing the need for reforestation and conservation, the Ohio Division of Forestry began acquiring the abandoned, eroded, and logged-out lands throughout the region.

In 1922, the state of Ohio purchased the first tract of land for what would eventually become Brush Creek State Forest. Over the years, additional tracts were acquired, resulting in the present 12,408-acre forest.

As part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed many of the forest roads, trails, and facilities that still exist today. The CCC also planted thousands of trees to reestablish the forest cover and improve the ecosystem.

Brush Creek State Forest is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry. The forest serves multiple purposes, including timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. It offers various recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and horseback riding.

To preserve and enhance the forest's ecological integrity, the Division of Forestry implements sustainable forest management practices. This includes timber harvesting, prescribed burning, and wildlife habitat improvement projects, ensuring the long-term health and biodiversity of Brush Creek State Forest.

Brush Creek State Forest represents a successful restoration and conservation effort to transform degraded lands into a thriving forested area that benefits both the environment and the community.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
GeneralLand, acres12,749
Day-UseHiking Trail, miles3
 Bridle Trails, miles12
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Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
February 21 quarry trail
park review stars; one to five My daughter and I hiked the trail to the quarry on Feb.18th. The scenery was terrific; we felt the trail needed a lot of maintenance and we found it difficult to follow in several places, even with the orange blazes. Perhaps not enough people use it?
May 11 Found unusual flower by Beth Vermillion
park review stars; one to five Found a ground cone flower native to California and Oregon.
November 8
park review stars; one to five Steep climb in the beginning of hiking trail. Stone Quarry area was quite beautiful and the trail was flat, which made it better to walk.
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Area Accommodations (over 20 miles away)
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Cottages and Cabins
Trickle Creek offers luxury cabins in Hocking Hills. The cabins are situated on nearly 236 acres of secluded cabin rentals in the deep wooded ravines in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Hocking County, Ohio.
58.2 miles from park*
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Hidden Cave Cabin - Rockbridge, OH
Cottages and Cabins
Hidden Cave Cabin is an authentic log cabin with 2 bedrooms in a private wooded setting. It is located on one of the most scenic drives in Hocking Hills and just 3.6 miles to Rock House and less than 10 miles to Conkle's Hollow and Old Man's Cave.
52.8 miles from park*

Directions
1. Start by heading south on State Route 73 from the city of Hillsboro.
2. Continue on State Route 73 for about 20 miles until you reach the intersection with State Route 136.
3. Take a right turn onto State Route 136 and drive for approximately 3 miles.
4. You will reach the entrance of Brush Creek State Forest on your left-hand side.

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Ohio
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Ohio State Parks

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