Athens County, and all the other counties included in this guide, are in the Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau portion of Ohio, which is roughly synonymous with Appalachian Ohio. This area is known for its steep hills, narrow valleys, rock exposures and features, and its expanses of wild, open space. Our countryside provides great opportunities for almost every type of outdoor recreation. We gladly invite other people into our area who are interested in the responsible use of the outdoors for recreational purposes or for nature study. Our area is only about an hour and a half drive from Columbus, and about two and a half hours from Cincinnati. Money spent on outdoor recreation in our area greatly supports our local economy, with far more of that money being retained than money spent on retail or many other services.