In the past couple of days I have received 7 emails from different people asking for directions and recommended routes to both Zaleski and Vinton Furnace. I replied privately to those who asked about finding specific species, but I thought it would be easiest to post here for the more general questions.

The ODNR website is your friend. The link to the page for Zaleski where you can download a map is here :

http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/zaleski

The quickest way to get onto public state forest land at Zaleski from Columbus and other areas to the north is to take route 33 SE to Logan. At Logan take Rt. 93 south to Rt. 56. You can also take Rt. 56 from Circleville if you are coming from the west. I should also add that just north of the intersection of Rt, 56 on Rt. 93 is a small privately owned grassland area that annually hosts both Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows. This area is at the top of the hill just N of Rt. 56 and just south of the Hocking/Vinton County line. There are pull offs on both sides of the road here, but be careful of the traffic if you stop. Anyway, from the intersection of Rt. 93 head east on Rt. 56 to the small town of New Plymouth then head South on Rt. 328. Enter the Forest at Hunt Hollow. I have timed different routes and that one wins every time.

You should be able to find most of the regular warblers and other paserines within the first couple of miles on FR 18. When getting to the top of the ridge you have three options and all are excellent really :

1- Head down the dead end Long Ridge (Southwest on FR 15)for a few miles then turn around. This is a great road that has had a lot of clear cutting on the west side of it in recent years, but that seems to be done for now. The east side of the road is relatively in tact older growth. So this road hosts birds of all forest ages and is on top of a ridge that seems to attract more early morning migrants than anywhere else that I know of in the forest.

2 - Take the middle route down FR 9 (Cabin Ridge) which goes through Lake Hope state park land to Lake Hope.

3 - Head NE on FR 15 on another part of Long Ridge to Irish Ridge. Irish Ridge is one of the better roads in the forest of a good variety. On the N side of FR 15 just west of the intersection with Irish Ridge is an excellent clear cut where you can get out and hike around a bit.

Also on the west side of Zaleski is Furnace Ridge which is the state park camping area. It usually is uncrowded on weekdays and can be excellent for birding. Bolster, Coalmont, Mine, and Webb Hollows as well as the Will Tract are all worthwhile too if you have the time.

On the east side of Rt. 278 there are plenty of roads also worth a visit. There really are no dull spots, but some areas I try to hit on every visit include Fr 19 along E Raccoon Creek, Baptist Church Road (T-15), Crow Road (T-20) with its extensive pines and horse camp. That takes you to Rt.356 where you can then check out the Waterloo State Forest and the Waterloo Wildlife Area. After that you can reenter Zaleski SF proper at King's Hollow, also a great road for a long list of species.

The ODNR website for Vinton Furnace can be found here :

http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/vintonfurnace

Unfortunately the link to the map doesn't work there, but I found another online with what I believe is still the most current map in PDF form:

http://www.ohiodnr.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xnnPxameGJA%3d&tabid=23009

To get there from Zaleski continue on Rt.278 south of the the Will Tract until you hit US Rt. 50 at Prattesville. Go west on Rt. 50 toward Mac Arthur. There is one short road that enters from the N off Rt. 50, Stone Quarry Road. It goes though a good sample of what much of Vinton Furnace looks like before dead ending at a gate. To get get to longest route through Vinton Furnace head to all the way to Mac Arthur then turn south on Rt. 93 again to the tiny town of Dundas. At Dundas head east on Sam Russell Road into Vinton Furnace. There are good sign posts along the way. Mac Arthur has convenience stores and restaurants.

Throw in the nearby Big Bailey and Utah Ridge area of the Wayne NF and there should be enough great spring birding in that area to keep anyone from getting bored!


Bob Royse


Robert Royse
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www.roysephotos.com

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