Richland Furnace State Forest

Welcome to Richland Furnace State Forest located in Jackson and Vinton Counties.

Forest History: The Richland Furnace State Forest boasts a flint outcrop that was used by Native Americans for the building of weapons and tools long before the arrival of the first European settlers. During the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century, the Hanging Rock Iron Region became the nation's second largest iron producer. This is how the forest got it's name. Traces of one of the furnaces used to smelt the iron, the Richland Furnace, are still found inside the forest today. These furnaces employed up to 100 people and the iron was mined out from underneath the limestone and sandstone bedrock and transported to the furnaces by oxen. Firewood from the forests trees helped to fuel the ovens. By the end of the 19th century, competitors in Missouri and the Lake Superior region put the local mines out of business.

Today, the Richland Furnace State Forest serves multiple purposes including recreation, protection of wildlife habitat, timber, aesthetics, and watershed protection. Some of the wild critters who make their home in the forest include deer, squirrels, foxes, and raccoons. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors Richland Furnace State Forest boasts multipurpose trails and much more. Come on out and explore.