Buckeye Trail Wayne National Forest Winding Stair Gap Technical Loop

The Buckeye Trail’s most challenging vehicle-accessible section cuts through Wayne National Forest near Winding Stair Gap, where 300-million-year-old Pennsylvanian sandstone creates natural rock gardens that’ll test your approach angles. This 12-mile loop follows old logging roads up ridgelines that overlook the Muskingum River watershed, with technical sections requiring careful line choice through boulder fields and exposed bedrock. The highlight is the climb to Fire Tower Ridge, where remnants of Depression-era CCC camps dot the landscape.

Difficult terrain demanding articulation and rock sliders — this isn’t stock truck country. Experienced drivers with modified 4WDs should plan a full day to navigate the steepest sections without tearing up the trail. Best from late spring through fall when conditions firm up. No permits required, and primitive camping is allowed at designated spots along the ridgeline. You earn sweeping views of southeastern Ohio’s hills and a genuine appreciation for the region’s geological complexity.