Administrative Offices are located at Shawnee State Forest 13291 U.S. 52 West Portsmouth, OH 45663-8906 740-858-6685 Directions to forest Total acres: 13,502 County: Adams, Pike, and Scioto Counties Brochure with map (pdf)

Public Recreational Areas near Brush Creek State Forest
Use ODNR's Recreational Areas by County Map to locate State Parks, Nature Preserves, Boating Areas, and public hunting and fishing areas near Brush Creek State Forest.

Additional Information History of Ohio’s State Forests officially began in 1916, but its roots go back much further. READ MORE> AUDIO SEGMENTS AUDIO: Firewood Alert VIDEO and MORE AUDIO>

Brush Creek State Forest Notes
Located in the unglaciated hill country of south central Ohio, Brush Creek State Forest was established in 1928 with the acquisition of 285 acres of land. This and other early land acquisitions were originally part of Shawnee State Forest. As acreage and distances grew, the need to form a separate state forest unit became apparent in order to properly manage these scattered land holdings.

In the early 1950s, a new state forest was formed and drew its name from a major stream in the area known as Scioto Brush Creek. A forest headquarters and service center was established along State Route 73 about one mile west of the village of Rarden in western Scioto County, and presently remains at that site.

Today, Brush Creek State Forest comprises well over 12,000 acres of productive hardwood forest land.

The vast majority of these acres is made up of steep hillsides, deep hollows, and narrow ridge tops. Combined with the climate in the region, this land is ideally suited to the growth of deciduous hardwood forests

General Forest Rules

• Brush Creek State Forest is open to visitors between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily. Legal campers, hunters and anglers may be present during other hours.
• Operation of motor vehicles is restricted to roads provided for such travel. The speed limit on state forest roads is 30 mph unless otherwise posted. Vehicles may not be parked where traffic or access to division service roads or trails will be obstructed.
• Horses may be ridden only along forest roads or on designated bridle trails.
• Fires are not permitted except in grills or fire rings provided or in portable stoves. Fires must be attended at all times.
• Litter must be disposed of in receptacles provided.
• Camping is permitted only in areas provided and designated for such use.
• Public display or consumption of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited.
• Disturbance, defacement or destruction of any property, material, natural feature or vegetation is prohibited. Berries, nuts and mushrooms may be gathered and removed from state forest land.
• General visitation guidelines