Ohio Backpacking Loops

by Jim Rahtz

Many backpackers spend years dreaming of epic, once in a lifetime thru-hikes that take months to walk and cover thousands of miles. While you’re dreaming though, don't forget that you can still put that backpack gear to good use on great trails right here in Ohio. Options range from easy strolls to challenging 50+ mile hikes that travel through surprisingly impressive scenery. In addition, most of Ohio’s 2-4 day hikes are loops, greatly simplifying logistics.

The first edition of this book was awarded by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio as a 2022 Outstanding Media Achievement, and received an average of 4.7 stars on its Amazon reviews. “Ohio Backpacking Loops” has been revised and now provides thorough information about 16 hiking routes in the Buckeye State. This comprehensive guide details information derived from hiking every mile of every trail listed. There are maps, useful descriptions, turn by turn directions and even comparative scorecards to help the reader decide which adventure is best for them.

“Ohio Backpacking Loops” can be the first step toward a multi-day immersion into the beauty and seclusion of nature, without crossing a state line.

The author, Jim Rahtz, spent a career in park and recreation management in Ohio. Once retired, he followed the advice to “go take a hike” and rediscovered backpacking. In addition to backpacking every trail he could find in Ohio, he’s also thru-hiked several longer trails such as the Colorado Trail, Long Trail, Sheltowee Trace and John Muir Trail.

As a freelance writer and photographer, Rahtz has won multiple awards; his work appearing in national publications and websites such as TheTrek.co, TrailGroove.com, The Boundary Waters Journal, Paddler and Camping Life. This is his fifth book on backpacking.

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2023

About the author

Jim Rahtz is the retired Deputy Director of the Hamilton County Park District (Cincinnati, Ohio). He has hiked, canoed and camped extensively throughout Ohio, the Boundary Waters Area (Minnesota & Ontario), the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada and the Appalachian Mountains. He has thru-hiked the Colorado Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Sheltowee Trace Trail in Kentucky, John Muir Trail in California and the Long Trail in Vermont. As a freelance writer his outdoor and humor writing has appeared in regional and national publications such as The Boundary Waters Journal, Camping Life and Paddler. His backpacking oriented books and photography have won multiple awards from the Outdoor Writers of Ohio.