🌤 Weather at Brush Creek State Forest by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–76 °F | 59–87 °F | 33–80 °F | 22–45 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Lucasville, 6 mi away, elevation 568 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Brush Creek State Forest covers well over 13,000 acres of hardwood forest in the unglaciated hill country of south central Ohio, spread across Adams, Pike and Scioto counties. It is run by the Ohio DNR Division of Forestry, not by Ohio State Parks.
Quick Facts
| Managed by | Ohio DNR Division of Forestry |
| Counties | Adams, Pike and Scioto |
| Size | Well over 13,000 acres |
| Phone | (740) 858-6685 |
About the Forest
Ohio bought the first 285 acres in 1928, and the early tracts were part of Shawnee State Forest. As the holdings grew and spread out, they became a separate state forest in the early 1950s, named after Scioto Brush Creek. The forest headquarters once stood on State Route 73, about a mile west of the village of Rarden. Most of the land is steep hillside, deep hollow and narrow ridge top, well suited to hardwood forest.
Things to Do
- Hunting: legal in season. Shooting on, from or across any road or driveway is prohibited.
- Hiking: the Stone Quarry trail leads to historical stone quarries.
- Horseback riding: on forest roads and designated bridle trails, including the Coffee Hollow & Crabtree Cemetery bridle trail.
- Gathering: berries, nuts and mushrooms may be picked except in posted areas. Digging ginseng is not allowed.
- Wildlife viewing throughout the forest.
Visitor Tips
Brush Creek is a state forest run by the Ohio DNR Division of Forestry, not an Ohio state park. No entrance fee is listed. The forest is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., camping is not permitted, and fires are allowed only in provided grills or fire rings or in portable stoves. You reach most tracts from state forest roads, but some only with permission from adjacent private landowners. As of October 2026.
Explore More Ohio State Parks
Looking for state parks in Ohio? Discover them in our Best State Parks in Ohio guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Nearby parks: Lake White State Park is about 11 miles away and Pike Lake State Park about 17 miles (straight-line).
Park Location
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