Tar Hollow State Park

Tar Hollow State Park is one of Ohio’s most secluded and quietly beautiful natural areas, a deeply forested retreat in the hilly country of Ross County in southeastern Ohio, nestled within the much larger Tar Hollow State Forest. Known for its pine-carpeted ridges, remote wooded hollows and the scent of pine resin that gives the area its evocative name, Tar Hollow offers a restful escape into forested hills well off the beaten path.

The park’s small lake and campground provide a welcoming base, while the surrounding state forest is laced with trails including a multi-day backpacking loop with primitive shelters. Tar Hollow attracts hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, birders and those seeking the peace of deep woodland, its pine-and-hardwood forest, remote hollows and quiet atmosphere offering an antidote to the crowds at the more famous Hocking Hills wonders nearby. Simple, serene and genuinely wild in character, Tar Hollow is a hidden gem of southeastern Ohio.

Tar Hollow State Park and the surrounding state forest offer hiking, backpacking on a multi-day trail with primitive Adirondack shelters, horseback riding on equestrian trails, camping at the park campground, fishing in the park lake, swimming in the lake beach area in summer, birding, hunting in the state forest, and exploring the remote hollows and pine-carpeted ridges by trail. The combination of park amenities and the wild backcountry of the state forest makes Tar Hollow a versatile and rewarding destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking southeastern Ohio solitude.

Fall is superb at Tar Hollow, when the mixed pine-and-hardwood forest lights up in warm russet, gold and the contrasting dark green of the pines — the ridges and hollows are beautiful in fall color. Spring brings wildflowers and birdsong through the recovering forest, and the lake is pleasant for camping and fishing. Summer offers shaded hiking and the lake beach. Winter is quiet and cold, with the pines adding texture to the snowy landscape. The park is seldom crowded, making it rewarding in every season for those who value solitude.

Tar Hollow takes its name from the pine tar that early settlers distilled from the pitch pines native to the area, using it for wagon wheel grease and other purposes — a practice common in the pine-rich hollows of the Appalachian foothills. The surrounding land was logged and farmed before the state acquired it, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources developed the park and forest over the mid-20th century, replanting pines extensively. The forest and park preserve a landscape that reflects both the region’s Appalachian character and its recovery from earlier land use.

Tar Hollow lies in the unglaciated hill country of southeastern Ohio, where soft shales and sandstones form the ridges and hollows of the Appalachian Plateau’s western edge. Like neighboring Zaleski and the Hocking Hills, the deeply dissected terrain — with sharp ridges and winding hollows — reflects millions of years of stream erosion through layered sedimentary rock unmodified by glaciation. Sandstone outcrops appear on the ridges and in the hollows, and the region’s geology links it ecologically to the broader Appalachian foothills.

Tar Hollow’s forested ridges and hollows support white-tailed deer, wild turkey, foxes, coyotes, ruffed grouse and a diverse woodland bird community. The pine stands attract species that favor coniferous cover, and the mixed hardwood-pine forest creates varied habitat across the ridges. The park lake supports fish, frogs and aquatic wildlife, and the remote hollows shelter salamanders and other amphibians. Birding in the forest and around the lake offers a rewarding mix of eastern woodland species in a quiet and undisturbed setting.

Tar Hollow’s ecology is a blend of planted pine forest and recovering native hardwood woodland, where the pines established by the state’s mid-20th-century reforestation now coexist with oaks, hickories and other native trees regenerating in the hollows and on the slopes. The mixed pine-and-hardwood forest supports diverse plant and animal communities, with the remote hollows retaining native understory plants. Over time, the forest is shifting toward a more diverse native composition, making Tar Hollow an ongoing ecological transition landscape in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.

Tar Hollow, with its pine-scented ridges, remote hollows, quiet lake and unpretentious character, holds a fond place among Ohioans who seek solitude and simple forest beauty away from the famous and busy attractions nearby. Its evocative name — recalling the pine-tar economy of the Appalachian settlers — and its genuinely remote, forested atmosphere give it a distinctive identity among Ohio’s state parks. A hidden gem of the southeastern hill country, Tar Hollow rewards those who seek quiet, space and the deep peace of forested hills.

Tar Hollow State Park is in Ross County in southeastern Ohio near Londonderry, off State Route 327 south of Chillicothe, about an hour south of Columbus. The park is free to enter, with a campground, a small lake, a beach, picnic areas and trailheads to the state forest backpacking and equestrian trails. The roads into the park are rural. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for camping reservations, trail conditions, maps and current regulations before visiting.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages Tar Hollow State Park and the surrounding Tar Hollow State Forest for recreation, timber production and wildlife, while the recovering forest continues the long-term restoration of land cleared and farmed in earlier eras. Visitors help by practicing leave-no-trace camping, using designated fire areas, packing out trash, staying on trails, protecting the lake and streams, and respecting wildlife. Protecting the forest’s recovering ecology and the park’s quiet character sustains Tar Hollow as a secluded natural retreat.

Tar Hollow’s trails range from easy lake-area paths to rugged backcountry ridges — carry maps (cell service is poor in the hollows), sufficient water and food for longer hikes, and a first-aid kit. Hunting is permitted in the state forest during season — wear blaze orange during deer and turkey seasons. The park lake is for swimming in the designated beach area only; water conditions vary. Weather can change in the hills. Tell someone your plan for overnight backpacking trips, and check trail conditions and shelter availability before setting out.

Tar Hollow State Park is free to enter; follow Ohio Department of Natural Resources state park and forest rules. Camp only in the designated campground (reservations recommended) or use the backpacking trail shelters in the state forest (first-come, first-served). Fires in designated fire rings only. Pack out all trash. Hunting and fishing require Ohio licenses and follow state regulations. Pets must be leashed in the park. Bikes and horses follow designated trails. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for current rules, conditions and camping reservations before visiting.

Tar Hollow State Park sits within and alongside the Tar Hollow State Forest in the hilly country south of Chillicothe, with the Hocking Hills wonders to the northeast, Zaleski State Forest to the southeast and the Scioto River valley to the west. The city of Chillicothe, with its Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Tecumseh outdoor drama, is about 20 miles north — making Tar Hollow a natural complement to a Chillicothe-area visit combining ancient history and deep forest solitude.

Use the park campground or a nearby cabin as a base and explore the state forest backpacking trail for a true Ohio backcountry experience — the pine-carpeted ridges are especially beautiful in fall and the remote hollows offer genuine solitude. Download maps before you go, wear blaze orange during hunting seasons, and combine Tar Hollow with a visit to the Hocking Hills wonders to the northeast or the Hopewell mounds at Chillicothe for a rich southeastern Ohio weekend.