Athens-Zaleski Lizard Map, Ohio
$12.00
A real map for people who love real-world experiences
The Athens-Zaleski Lizard Map is the most comprehensive map ever made of the area. It features public lands, preserves, state parks, national forests, lakes and trails. Explore all the best recreation that the Athens, Nelsonville and Zaleski region has to offer with the Athens Zaleski Lizard Map.
A beautifully designed, easy to read topographic map featuring contour lines, elevation data, shaded relief and all the key details you need to plan your adventures: backroads and trails, trail use designations, road surfaces (paved/gravel/4wd), parking access, campsites, public lands, historic sites and more.
"I have a couple of your maps and they are the BEST!"
Lizard Maps are durable, waterproof, and give you the big picture – the map opens to 24” x 36” and folds easily to 4” x 8” to fit in your back pocket. The Athens-Zaleski Lizard Map scale is 1:31,000 (1 inch = 0.5 mile). Includes both lat./lon. and UTM coordinate systems.
Public land: includes most of Zaleski State Forest, a section of Wayne National Forest, all of Lake Hope and Strouds Run State Park as well as land owned by the town of Athens and Ohio University.
Destinations: include the Lake Hope and Strouds Run State Parks which both offer camping sites and lake recreation.
Roads: all Lizard Maps show which roads are paved, dirt/gravel or 4wd roads as well as which are gated. Perfect for bicyclists, dual sport riders and overlanders looking to put together a remote backcountry route across public lands.
Major hiking trails: include the 23-mile Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail shown in its entirety including the South, Middle and North Loops as well as connecting trails. The Zaleski Backpacking Trail is among the most popular in the state. It has three loops that are roughly 10 miles each, depending on how you enter and exit you can do a 10, 20 or 30+ mile trip with designated group campsites that have latrines and water. Not having to carry water makes this a great trip for all ages.
Major biking trails: include an incredible network of nested loops in Lake Hope and Strouds Run State Parks, as well as the Hockhocking Adena 19-mile bikeway between Athens and Nelsonville. Road bikers and gravel riders enjoy a massive network of paved and gravel roads in the surrounding area, including the Moonville Rail Trail. If you think Ohio is flat you haven't been to Athens! These hills may be short but they are incredibly steep. Athens made it in Bicycling Magazine’s Top 100 Climbs in America - wait until you see what a 24% grade feels like!
Even more trails: Lizard Maps highlight and designate public trails and paths including hiking, biking and rail trails managed by federal, state and local authorities. The color-coded Bridle Trails are shown for equestrian riders.
Points of interest: campgrounds, picnic areas, climbing areas, reservable car camping sites, scenic overlooks and lizard spots. Historic Adena Mounds are shown which date to 800BC.
Destinations: include Waterloo Wildlife Area, Fox Lake Wildlife Area, Lake Snowden Recreation Park and Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area. The Hockhocking River is shown from Nelsonville to Strouds Run SP.
Towns: Athens, Chauncy, Nelsonville, The Plains, Zaleski, OH.
Lizards! The little purple Lizards you’ll find scattered on the map signify an interesting spot to check out. The Legend says “This Could Mean Anything: cool place, sweet view, local legend”.
Trail running is fantastic in this area. Hikers have a lot of foot-only options in Zaleski State Forest and Lake Hope and Strouds Run State Parks, as well as several Preserves in the surrounding area. Mountain bikers enjoy an incredible network of nested loops in Lake Hope and Strouds Run State Parks, as well as the Hockhocking Adena 18-mile bikeway between Athens and Nelsonville. Road bikers and gravel riders enjoy a massive network of paved and gravel roads in the surrounding area, including the fantastic Moonville Rail Trail. Equestrians have a comprehensive trail system, well marked with color blazes, that winds throughout the hollows of southern Zaleski State Forest. There is even a dedicated Horse Camping Area.
The Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail is among the most popular in the state. It has three loops that are roughly 10 miles each, depending on how you enter and exit you can do a 10, 20 or 30+ mile trip with designated group campsites that have latrines and water. Not having to carry water makes this a great trip for all ages.
Just minutes from downtown Athens you will find Strouds Run State Park where you can pedal, hike or trail run on a seemingly endless network of wooded paths. Rent a canoe, kayak, pedal boat, paddle board or hydro-bike and explore the lake. About 30 minutes away is Lake Hope State Park, where you will find similar options nestled in the middle of Zaleski State Forest, which is the second-largest State Forest in Ohio with 28,000 acres waiting for you to explore. Tent camping and cabin rentals are available at each State Park if you just can't leave.
A quote from an article in Dirt Rag: While I don’t want to overstate this, these [Athens] trails are truly outstanding on many levels. Their layout and construction are top notch, and they traverse a landscape studded with beautiful cliffs, coves, and rock formations. There are high ridges, deep ravines, and impressive lake and valley views. The singletrack is fast and flowing and at times rocky and tricky-technical. You will never be bored there.
All Purple Lizard maps are available flat (rolled up, unfolded) suitable for framing in a corporate lobby or just nailing to a cabin wall. The map cost is the same ($12) but shipping varies. E-mail info@purplelizard.com for specifics.
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Need some inspiration? Check out our Adventure Blogs!
Purple Lizard PA Adventure Pack: Seven Pennsylvania State Forest Maps!
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"Getting lost and finding your way again is part of the adventure...if you are following a red line on a screen all those opportunities don't exist, they're sort of taken away." Elspeth Beard, the first British woman to travel the world by motorbike.
From North to South: Loyalsock-Worlds End Lizard Map, Pine Creek Lizard Map, Moshannon-Quehanna Lizard Map, Rothrock Lizard Map, Raystown Lizard Map, Michaux Lizard Map and the Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Lizard Map.
Purchased separately this collection is $117.00
Note- we are sold out of the Bald Eagle Lizard Map and it is not included with these 7 maps.
There are thousands of miles of trails and backroads waiting for you, so be sure to request some time off from work; all 7 maps will make you a bit antsy to get out and explore. The Pennsylvania Adventure Pack also makes a great gift for your fellow adventures, or perhaps as a not-so-subtle hint for your couch potato friends to remind them there is life beyond the remote control.
Looking for ideas to explore our PA maps? Check out the PA Fall Adventure Guide and the other downloadable Lizard Adventure Guides that accompany each map, and be sure to look through the blog archives for our hikes and ride stories.
Also check out our PA Adventure Blogs
Health warning: continued use of these maps may result in an inability to stay indoors and a sudden criticism of traffic. Your skin may become covered with dust and dirt. Mild confusion will make it difficult to relate time and distance, which may alter your definition of weather. There is a potential for all of these side effects to occur simultaneously and without warning. That's why we are warning you now.
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We are a proud member of 1% For The Planet.
The Purple Lizard PA Wilds Pack
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North of Interstate 80 is a different place. It's often referred to as the PA Wilds, which we think is a pretty good description. There are less people, less pavement, more dirt roads and more wild places. We call that a fair trade. and it's where we'd rather be most days.
We've made three maps of Pennsylvania State Forests north of 80: Loyalsock, Pine Creek and Moshannon. Loyalsock includes all of the Loyalsock State Forest and McIntyre Wild Area, the Pine Creek Lizard Map covers much of Tioga and Tiadaghton State Forests, and Moshannon-Quehanna includes Moshannon State Forest and the Quehanna Wild Area with sections of Elk State Forest.
These three maps represent some of the wildest, most remote places you can find in PA, with just enough civilization and small towns to keep you well supplied and comfortable if you choose to emerge.
Purchased separately, these three maps are $51. The Purple Lizard PA Wilds Pack is $45 and you get one of our sweet DCNR Boundary Stickers along with the set.
As our friend Van Wagner tells it:
“North of 80 it ain’t the same.
I don’t know how else to put it to explain.
There’s a different tune in the air.
There’s a northern feel, that makes it real everywhere.”
Van Wagner: Singer, songwriter, teacher.