Moonville Rail Trail

Overview

This is a flat, linear rail-trail through deep southeast-Ohio woods and marshy valleys—quiet, atmospheric, and loaded with railroad lore. While commonly paired with a Hocking Hills trip, the corridor itself runs through the Zaleski–Lake Hope area in Vinton and Athens counties, not inside Hocking Hills State Park proper. Expect solitude, big trees, creek crossings, and the star attractions: two historic tunnels. The full rail-trail corridor is about 10 miles total (point-to-point), with ongoing work to complete every bridge span.

Highlights & Scenery

You’ll move through continuous forest and wetland pockets where the raised rail bed often has water on both sides—excellent wildlife habitat and a true backcountry feel. The Moonville Tunnel is brick-lined and steeped in 19th–20th century accident history and ghost stories. King’s Hollow (aka King Switch) Tunnel—about 120 feet—cuts through rock and is reinforced with heavy timber, giving a mine-shaft look. Interpretive boards mark former coal towns like Moonville, Ingham Station, and Kings Station, so you’re hiking through a living museum of Appalachian rail and mining history.

Route & Surface

The smoothest, most developed stretch runs east from Moonville Tunnel toward Mineral on a crushed-limestone base with multiple creek bridges installed in recent years. West of Moonville toward Zaleski is rougher and still in progress: expect primitive surface (grass-covered ballast in places) and missing bridges that push users onto short gravel-road detours. Overall grade is easy, but surfaces change—hybrid-bike friendly in improved segments; more work for skinny tires elsewhere.

Access & Parking

Common trailheads include the Moonville Tunnel parking area off Hope–Moonville Road (CR-18) and the historic Lake Hope Schoolhouse (west side; from OH-278 at Lake Hope Dam, head east on Wheelabout Road ~0.5 mile). There’s also access near Mineral on the east end. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent—download maps before you go.

Best Time to Hike

This corridor works year-round. Spring brings lively wetlands; summer offers full canopy shade (and bugs); fall color makes the forest and tunnels pop; winter means wide-open views. For an easy, crowd-light intro, do the short Moonville Tunnel out-and-back (about 1.1 miles total) or start at Moonville and head east toward Mineral for the most polished surface. Bring a light for both tunnels anytime; gloom and mud are common.

Rules, Tips & Essentials

This is a non-motorized trail used by hikers (and equestrians in places). Keep pets leashed. No camping or fires on the corridor. Pack water and basic repair gear (a spare tube is smart), wear footwear that can handle mud in King’s Hollow Tunnel, and expect potholes in places. With limited service and occasional detours, a small paper map or offline map helps.