Tar Hollow State Forest

Tar Hollow State Forest is a protected woodland in southeastern Ohio featuring dense tree cover, deep ravines, and sandstone ridges that create varied terrain. The forest encompasses a large expanse that makes it one of the state's major forest preserves.

The forest developed in the 1930s from the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization project, which relocated families and eventually transferred the land to state management. What was once private land became protected woodland under official state care.

The name comes from early settlers who collected pine tar from shortleaf and pitch pines that grew on the ridges, using it for local needs and trade. Visitors walking through the forest can still see how the landscape shapes the way people have used this land for generations.

The forest offers hiking and horse trails along with a basic camp for overnight stays with horses. Wear sturdy shoes and prepare for uneven terrain, especially in the ravines and on the slopes.

The forest maintains a population of timber rattlesnakes, which have disappeared from most other areas of Ohio due to habitat loss from logging. These snakes remain here because the protected woodland provides the conditions they need to survive.