Vinton County Volunteers Sustain Moonville Rail-Trail, Preserve Historic Tunnels

Volunteers and local agencies continue to maintain the Moonville rail-trail corridor, protecting two historic railroad tunnels and the surrounding wetland habitat while keeping a key recreational route passable for residents and visitors. The corridor runs roughly 10 to 16 miles through Zaleski State Forest and adjacent wetlands in Vinton and neighboring Athens County, built on an abandoned Marietta & Cincinnati/B&O grade.

Management of the trail is a partnership between the Vinton County Park District and the nonprofit Moonville Rail Trail Association (MRTA). MRTA organizes volunteer work days, sells Moonville-branded merchandise to fund maintenance, holds monthly meetings at the Hope Schoolhouse interpretive center, and pursues grant funding to replace missing bridges and extend trail connections toward regional routes such as the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. Those bridge repairs and planned expansions target making more of the corridor continuously passable and strengthening links to the broader Hocking Hills - Lake Hope region.

The rail-trail passes two distinctive tunnels: the brick-lined Moonville Tunnel in Vinton County and the timber-lined King’s Hollow, also known as King Switch, Tunnel. Trailheads are located at Zaleski, Mineral, Hope Schoolhouse, the Moonville Tunnel, and King Hollow. The corridor is open to hikers, equestrians and non-motorized cyclists and is generally available to the public from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Events, guided hikes, after-hours visits and organized group activities require a Special Use Permit from the Vinton County Park District.

Local significance runs beyond recreation. The rail-trail draws visitors to the Hocking Hills and Lake Hope area, supporting regional tourism and local businesses. It also functions as a preservation project, conserving historic railroad infrastructure and sensitive wetland habitat that lines the abandoned rail grade. The trail is frequently used for naturalist-led programs linked to Lake Hope State Park and for local historic interpretation, while the Moonville Tunnel continues to attract folkloric and ghost-tour interest.

The stewardship model relies heavily on volunteer labor and community fundraising alongside grant-seeking, placing emphasis on sustained civic engagement. Residents who want to help or learn more can contact the Moonville Rail Trail Association directly: Moonville Rail Trail Assoc., P.O. Box 513, McArthur, OH 45651; phone 740-596-7013; email info@moonvillerailtrail.com. Those planning organized activities should consult the Vinton County Park District about Special Use Permits.

For Vinton County readers, the rail-trail represents both an everyday outdoor resource and an ongoing community-led preservation effort. Continued volunteer involvement and successful grant applications will determine how quickly gaps are closed, bridges are repaired and the corridor is woven more tightly into the regional trail network.