The Ironton District of the Wayne National Forest provides 100,000 acres of public land to enjoy. Here, far from the big cities, this part of Ohio offers rural landscapes and a variety of activities available to the public. The rolling hills north of the Ohio River are a patchwork of farmland, small communities, and expanses of national forest land. The general forest area is open year-round and most activities are free.

The most popular attraction on this part of the Wayne National Forest is Lake Vesuvius. The 143-acre lake includes a wooden boardwalk, fishing piers, boat rentals, trails, and a nature center. The Forest Service office that manages this area of the Wayne is located on Highway 93 just north of Lake Vesuvius. Two areas nearby provide a trail system for off-highway vehicles (OHVs). One is the Hanging Rock area which provides 26 miles of trail, the other is the 20-mile Pine Creek area. These trail systems are open from April 15-December 15 each year. In addition to Lake Vesuvius, the Ironton District has several other fishing lakes. The Hanging Rock complex has over 50 small lakes for anglers. Other fishing pond complexes, trails, and hunting opportunities are available.