Ohio 278 — Zaleski Zipper
Ohio State Route 278 is the primary road through Zaleski State Forest and past Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, roughly 60 miles southwest of Athens. The Windy 9 maps it as Route 5: Zaleski Zipper (60.8 miles), considered one of the tighter, more technical routes in the system. The road threads through unbroken second-growth hardwood forest with minimal development, passing the access road to Moonville Tunnel (an abandoned railroad tunnel and one of southern Ohio's most photographed landmarks). Curves are more frequent and tighter than the Pioneer Pass or Lazy Rivers routes. Vinton County is one of the least-populated counties in Ohio, which keeps traffic genuinely sparse year-round. Pairs naturally with OH-555 (Triple Nickel) to the east for a full-day SE Ohio loop.
What you'll hit along the way.
Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.
Prattsville
Small Vinton County town where Ohio 278 begins, offering a quiet starting point before heading into the forested hills.
Sand Run
Tiny community nestled in the rolling terrain near the midpoint of the route.
Carbon Hill
Historic small town near the route's end, a good spot to pause before finishing the ride.
No runs logged on this road yet — be the first.
Runs are rider-logged & GPS-traced in the app
Ride your own ride — times are rider-logged & GPS-traced, never a race on public roads.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.