Suggestions for hiking/overnighter near Dayton OH

[Surfdog]

Will be visiting the in-laws mid August. They live in Fairborn, outside Wright Patterson AFB near Dayton. I'd like to find a place to do a little hiking and maybe spend a night in my hammock in the bush. I've done a little hiking at John Bryant State Park, but it's not a place for backwoods camping, unless it's stealth camping and I don't feel like a run in with the law. I'll be camping alone (the wife's idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn with a bad view) and don't mind company if anyone would like to join.

Being near water to cool off at the end of the day is a plus, but not a necessity.

So does anyone have any suggestions?


Thanks

[rchang72]

Look up Germantown Park. Did a weekend there last year. They have backcountry sites that are nice and enough trails to do mileage of choice. Do search and can find my report. Also Mountnman did a group hang an report from last year too

[gbolt]

Lots of views and no bites! I hope others will chime in once the ball gets rolling. The problem around Dayton, Ohio is that there are great Day Hike opportunities and wonderful Metro Parks. John Bryant and many other close Parks allow for wonderful hikes, close by. The problem is backbacking and primative, no cost, campsites to hang. To get that, you have to put in travel time, up to an hour and a half or more, as far as I know. The closest (never done as of yet) is Ceasars Creek Stake Park. Once again, great hiking but not really sure of the overnite location. I have gotten use to leaving at 7:30 in the morning for Tar Hollow State Park - Northeast of Chillocothie Ohio. I can arrive by 9:30 - Pay $4 for the Backpacking Permit and be on the trail by 10:00 either a North Loop or a South Loop. Usually back up on the Ridge by 4:30/5:00 for the evening hang. Nice spots with an outhouse at the entrance. However, no water and close to a road. I usually stop low before the climb up to the ridge and filter what I need. The closest place with water at the site is Zaleski State Forest/Lake Hope State Park another 45 minutes east past Tar Hollow. Camp D is the usual overnite spot and the second day, you can be up and back to the road by 1:00 in the afternoon and back to Fairborn by 3:30. Those are the three to help you get started. Unless you are a strong hiker and have travel time, avoid Shawnee State Park via Cincy, closer to 3 hours away. There is also East Fork State Park which I also have not experienced as of yet. Hope this gets some others to chime in.

[Xtrm tj]

Check this out in englewood...it's a metro park. But the quietest of them ive found.

http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/Englewood/Home.aspx

If you decide on something. I may be up for a hang in that time frame.

Hope this helps

[Surfdog]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll check out the suggestions.

[Banana Hammock]

Glen Helen, is adjacent to John Bryan, and that might be a better spot for stealth hanging. Both very close to Fairborn. Let me know if you find a good spot.

[HamMike]

Hey Surf! I work at Wright Patt. If you got dropped off you can stealth at Caeser Creek. I know of a decent spot close to the base if you wanna hit me up in PM.