Story & Photos by Matt Bayman
One of the first backcountry trails that I knew about in Ohio, besides the famous Buckeye Trail, was the Zaleski Backpack Trail in rural Vinton County, an area noted for its stunning fall color. It is now named the Selinde Roosenburg Memorial Backpack Trail (SRMBT). Selinde was a forest technician at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources who tragically perished in 2021 when an off-road vehicle she was a passenger in overturned during a prescribed burn in nearby Richland Furnace State Forest. She had been training to become a firefighter and was known for her optimism and positive attitude. The trail is a memorial to her spirit and character and a reminder to be safe while in nature.
Spanning 28.8 miles, the SRMBT is divided into three loops and contains three designated backcountry campsites, each with access to water. The trail system passes through Lake Hope State Park and (mostly) Zaleski State Forest and contains numerous steep climbs and descents, plus wooded areas and long ridge tops. At several points, the trail meets up with the Moonville Rail Trail.
Having enjoyed the 21-mile Logan Backpack Trail at nearby Tar Hollow State Forest several years ago, and looking for a similar, yet more-challenging experience, in the fall of 2023 my son, James, and I set out to hike the SRMBT. We hoped it would be as colorful, serene and adventurous as Tar Hollow.
The “more-challenging” aspect of the two-day hike was that this would be our first time carrying all of our equipment on our backs. At Tar Hollow (because of its figure-8 shape, where your vehicle and campsite are in the middle of the two loops), it is possible to leave most of your gear at the trailhead and hike with minimal supplies during the day, which is really an enjoyable experience! On the SRMBT, this option is possible using logging roads, but it would be a little more difficult to plan and execute than at Tar Hollow.
There are actually three or four different ways to enter the trail system, but most people, including James and me, park at the trailhead at Hope Iron Furnace at Lake Hope State Park on Ohio Route 278. Others start at the Hope Schoolhouse parking lot, but this entrance requires hikers to doubleback at the end of their trek, which tips the journey past 30 miles. James and I decided to skip the Hope Schoolhouse trail and hiked into the forest to cover the north half of the trail system (consisting of the middle and north loops) on the first day and finishing with the more-challenging southern loop on the second day. The first leg would cover 12.8 miles, ending at Camp 3. The second leg also equaled 12.8 miles (but contains rougher terrain), ending back at the Iron Furnace trailhead.
With Tar Hollow as our comparison (both trails are among the longest in the state and share many of the same characteristics), and a certain nostalgia for the earlier hike, we didn’t know if the SRMBT would deliver the same kind of experience. After having completed both trails, however, we can now say that, while Tar Hollow is probably the more superior trail, the SRMBT definitely carries its own weight and was worth the effort.
The main difference between the two trail systems, really, is that Tar Hollow is much more secluded than Zaleski State Forest. For example, besides a few gravel roads and a campground, there are few signs of civilization on the Logan Backpack Trail. It’s just quiet, lush forests and hilltop ridges and deep ravines lined with trees for miles on end. The SRMBT, on the other hand, crosses several major roads and, to our disappointment, we could hear the road from our backcountry campsite at night. However, it is safe to say that the fall foliage on the SRMBT is as beautiful as Tar Hollow and, in some places, even more beautiful. Additionally, while there are no exposed rock formations in Tar Hollow (I mean none!), there are numerous ones on the SRMBT, including a few small caves and outcrops to explore.
Other than the noise from the nearby road, Camp 3 was actually very convenient and enjoyable. As shown on the map, Camp 3 sits at the beginning of the northernmost loop, which means, just like at Tar Hollow, you can actually set up your campsite and then hike the north loop without all the extra gear on your back. You just have to trust the other hikers on the trail (which is usually not many).
After trekking six miles through the rugged middle loop on that first morning, it was a great relief to hike the nearly 7-mile north loop with only a small pack filled with food and water. In fact, because of how rugged and difficult the north section ended up being, (it was probably the least- cared-for section) carrying less weight probably made the afternoon trip a whole lot easier, and more enjoyable.
After finishing the first day’s hike and eating dinner, we climbed in our hammocks (which we had hung before we left on the north loop) and relaxed as the warm glow of the sun washed through the orange canopy of the forest, eventually fading into a clear, starry night and a long, deep sleep.
The Historic Southern Loop
We both woke up, pleasingly, to the sound of birds chirping and the morning sun shining through the opposite side of the forest, having traveled around the globe as we slept, and waiting to light a new day.
After eating breakfast and quickly packing up, we set out on what most people consider the hardest part of the trail—the southern loop. At first, from Camp 3, in order to reach the southern loop, you have to doubleback on a one-mile trail. Luckily, it’s a pretty easy section of the trail.
The topography of the southern loop is more extreme than the other areas, except for a long ridge on the trail that has a little haunted history to go with it. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, located on this hilltop (at post “C” on the trail map), is an overlook of a section of railroad track that is claimed to be haunted by a brakeman, known as the Moonville Ghost. According to legend, he was killed while he was supposedly drunk and trying to stop a train near the Moonville Tunnel (at this location) by waving his lantern. He was buried in the Moonville graveyard, but reportedly, he can still be seen waving his lantern, still trying to stop the train!
Another point of interest on the southern loop is post “D,” which is the site of what was once Ingham Station, a small mining community along the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad. The trail meets up with the Moonville Rail Trail at “D,” with the Moonville Tunnel located to the west and the King’s Station Tunnel to the east. Both make interesting side trips for hikers, if you have the energy and time.
Just a little further along the trail on the southern loop (depending on which direction you’re traveling) is Post “E,” which is the location of an ancient Native American mound, most likely an Adena mound.
After passing Camp 1, there are three short legs that lead back to the Hope Iron Furnace trailhead and the end of the journey, where rest awaits.
To celebrate your accomplishment, just up the road from the trailhead is the Laurel Lodge at Lake Hope State Park (Lake Hope pictured below). If you have time, and are interested in extending your trip, you can stay the night at the lodge. Or, if you’re just hungry for a hot meal after a long walk in the woods, the lodge’s restaurant is open to the public and has plenty of great options to choose from.
Although James and I will probably always think of Tar Hollow as our favorite hiking destination in Ohio, the SRMBT is certainly another great experience that showcases the beauty and ruggedness of Ohio’s Appalachian foothills, and that is especially scenic and worth trekking in the fall.
