Backpack
Backpack Trail is a 15.3 miles trail in Wayne National Forest, Ohio. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Wayne National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 38.6066, -82.6303 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 38.6144, -82.6298 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 3 segments.
The trail
| Length | 15.3 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 4 |
| Forest | Wayne National Forest (unit 0914) |
| States | Ohio |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
No season published | 0.2 mi |
No season published | 0.2 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Backpack Trail?
15.3 miles, the sum of the 3 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Wayne National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Backpack Trail?
hiking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Backpack Trail start?
The line begins at 38.6066, -82.6303 and ends at 38.6144, -82.6298. The nearest recorded trailhead is Balancing Rock Trailhead, 0.2 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Backpack Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Backpack Trail?
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area (0.1 mi), Iron Ridge (0.1 mi) and Oak Hill (0.1 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Backpack Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Backpack Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Backpack Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Backpack Trail?
Wayne National Forest, Forest Service unit 0914. The trail is in Ohio.
Source
This page is built from 3 segments named BACKPACK in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0914. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.