Jackson County offers year-round opportunities to enjoy lakes and trails and learn about local history. This connection is especially vivid at places such as Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve and Buckeye Furnace, where sandstone carvings and a reconstructed blast furnace represent distinct chapters in the region’s history.
Petroglyphs, Rocks, and Trails
At Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve, a 0.5-mile trail leads through a gorge and alongside sandstone cliffs ranging from 20 to 65 feet high. The petroglyph panel features 37 figurative depictions, including people, birds and animals, human footprints, a fish, and a snake. The motifs were carved into a sandstone outcrop. The preserve is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its sandstone petroglyphs.
Trail lengths also provide a useful basis for choosing: the trail at Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve is a short path alongside the rocks, while the nearly 2-mile Wellston Bike Path can combine with the trail at Lake Alma to form a 5-mile loop. These are different ways to explore the landscape; the stated length of the loop should not be confused with that of an individual trail.
Lakes and Nature Areas
Lake Alma State Park covers 292 acres in Jackson and Vinton counties. Its features include a 60-acre lake, a wooded valley, and hiking trails. Jackson Lake State Park covers 106 acres, and its lake is a popular fishing destination. Lake Alma and Jackson Lake also have swimming beaches for family outings. The two lakes therefore offer different activities, with fishing and swimming each a focus.
Another side of nature can be found at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve, where bigleaf magnolia and umbrella magnolia grow—two species listed in the state of Ohio. Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area combines nature and history in a different way. The historic Kanawha Trail crosses the area, which also allows public hunting and fishing. Check the applicable regulations when planning these activities.
Jackson City Reservoir, also known as Hammertown Lake, has three boat launches and parking areas. The lake can be reached from the north via County Road 76 (State Street) and from the south via County Road 10 (South Street). Only boats with electric motors are allowed on Hammertown Lake. Check access routes and facilities before your visit.
Blast Furnace, Museum, and Immigration History
Buckeye Furnace is a reconstructed charcoal-fired blast furnace in the Hanging Rock Iron Region. The site covers 270 acres. The furnace was built in 1852 and last operated in 1894. At Buckeye Furnace, you can visit reconstructed furnace buildings, a museum, and nature trails. Industrial history and trails through the site are side by side here.
The Welsh-American Heritage Museum is housed in the old Welsh Congregational Church, built in 1868. The museum contains items brought to the region by immigrants from Cardiganshire, Wales, between 1818 and the 1860s. The site thus connects the building itself with the history of Welsh immigration.
Salt Lick Village includes the McCoy Cabin, a reconstructed salt furnace, the historic Scioto Township House, and a small blacksmith shop. The Jones Museum’s mission is to inform visitors about the history of Jackson County, Ohio, and preserve historical artifacts from the area. Together with Buckeye Furnace and the Welsh-American Heritage Museum, these places offer different ways to explore the region’s industrial, everyday, and immigration history.
Festivals and Regional Routes
The Jackson Apple Festival takes place every September in downtown Jackson. Visitors interested in local goods and crafts can find another aspect of the region in the Amish business community of Jackson County, which includes craftspeople, artisans, farmers, and bakers who offer goods and services to visitors.
The Welsh Scenic Byway is 64 miles long and runs through Jackson and Gallia counties; it is part of Ohio’s Scenic Byways program. It offers a different scale from individual trails and nature paths: this is a named route through two counties. You can choose which of these themes to focus on by exploring the specific places, routes, and events.
Discover more destinations: City of Jackson, Holmes County, Delaware County, Knox County, Lake, Seneca County, Guernsey, Monroe.
For the main travel overview: Ohio.
