Zaleski State Forest--Moonville Tunnel

Zaleski State Forest--Moonville Tunnel

Zaleski, Ohio 45698

Zaleski State Forest website
Zaleski State Forest brochure and map

Tips for Birding

Athens area birders maintain the Moonville Tunnel Prothonotary Trail along the Moonville Tunnel Trail. The purpose of the Prothonotary Trail is to provide nesting boxes along the Moonville Trail in the excellent nesting habitat close to Raccoon Creek for this warbler species who will use nest boxes if provided.

The easiest way to access the Moonville Tunnel Trail is to park at the Hope School House parking lot and walk back to the Trail. If you walk to the Trail and turn to the right, (towards the Moonville Tunnel), there are 14 nest boxes in that direction. If you walk back to the Trail from the Hope School lot, turn to the left and start walking towards Zaleski, there are 31 nest boxes in that direction. The boxes are numbered.

There are good birding opportunities in all directions, including the active Bald Eagle nest, and a large Blue Heron rookery within sight from the Trail.

About this Location

Moonville was a small, isolated, nineteenth-century mining town in sparsely populated Vinton County. The town is no more; only a cemetery and abandoned rail tunnel remain. Moonville Tunnel can be found today deep in a lonely section of Zaleski State Forest. The area around Moonville Tunnel is considered by some to be one of the haunted places in Ohio.

About Zaleski State Forest

See all hotspots at Zaleski State Forest

The Zaleski State Forest is the second largest forest in the system. The Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail was established on the forest to provide backpacking opportunities as well as to introduce some scenic and historic aspects of the forest. The main trail is a loop of 23.5 miles. There is also a 10-mile day loop trail.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

Content from Athens Area Birders, Bruce Simpson, Naturalist at Blendon Woods Metro Park, Robert Royse, and Zaleski State Forest webpage