Road Fork
- Miles
- 61.8 total miles / 24.2 off-road miles (39.2%)
- Section supervisor
- Open. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator or interest in this role.
- Contact
- volunteer@buckeyetrail.org
- Paper map publication date
- November 2020
- Chapter
- The Wilderness Chapter
- Counties
- Noble, Monroe, Washington
- Abutting Sections
- Belle Valley, Whipple
- Trail alerts and map updates
- See all
- Page last updated
- Apr 13, 2026
What to expect
The Road Fork Section is one of the most remote and least populated stretches of the Buckeye Trail. The route follows rolling ridges and quiet back roads through heavily forested terrain in the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau. Limited services are available, with Belle Valley offering the primary resupply point.
Section news
Towns and villages on the trail
Belle Valley, Macksburg
Points of interest
- Scenic ridge-top roads and forest corridors
- Remote, undeveloped woodland areas
Open Trail Adopter segments
- Points 8 to 18 (on road)
- Points 18 to 19 (off road)
- Points 19 to 20 (on road)
- Points 23 to 24 (on road)
- Points 24 to 26 (off road)
- Points 27 to 31 (off road)
Natural features and geography
- Unglaciated, highly dissected Appalachian Plateau
- Rolling ridges and wooded valleys
Nearby emergency services
In life-threatening situations, call 911 throughout the Section. For other problems, call:
| County | State Highway Patrol | Sheriff |
|---|---|---|
| Noble | 740.439.1388 | 740.732.5631 |
| Monroe | 740.695.0915 | 740.472.1612 |
| Washington | 740.374.6616 | 740.373.66232 |
Trail Alerts
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Road Fork Camping Closure Pts 9-10
Trail Alert, between Pt 9 Rado Ridge Rd (C42) at Hoot Owl Ridge Rd (T270) Pt 10 Hoot Owl Ridge Rd … Read more
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Landmark No Longer Present
It has been brought to our attention that the Road Fork Baptist Church on SR 260 and mentioned in … Read more
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Facility Closed to Hikers
Please note from Point 13 to Point 14 in the Road Fork Section that the local land owner along … Read more
Map Updates
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Reroute
This update applies to the 2020 edition of the Road Fork printed map and to the Spring 2024 … Read more
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Reroute
This map update is intended for the Roadfork map dated November 2020. The update affects both the … Read more
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Reroute
This update applies to maps printed prior to May 2022. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) … Read more
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Map Correction
This Trail Change reports a change in the distances reported at Pt 19 in the November 2020 Road … Read more
Parking locations
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Point 2: Caldwell Lake Picnic Area has day use parking with 12 spaces and a portable toilet.
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Point 2: Caldwell Lake Fishing Area has day use parking with 5 spaces.
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Point 18: Lamping Homestead offers a multi-day parking area.
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Point 27: Jackson Run Trailhead has a multi-day parking area with 3 spaces.
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Point 28: Archers Fork Trailhead at St. Patrick’s Cemetery has a multi-day parking area with 5 spaces.
Section resources
Camping locations
-
Wayne National Forest: Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the federal property.
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Point 18: In addition to camping, the Lamping Homestead Recreation Area has picnicking (including a picnic shelter), fishing, and canoeing.
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Point 21: The Ring Mill Campground includes space for tent camping, picnics, and marking, including a 10-space parking area. Pit toilet.
Resupply locations
- None near the trail.
