Scioto County is about to get loud—in the best way possible. The Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR) is revving up once again, and this year, it’s bringing high-octane action right to the heart of Shawnee State Forest and surrounding areas. From Tuesday, June 10 through Saturday, June 14, 2025, some of southern Ohio’s most scenic spots will be transformed into thrilling rally racing stages, with Shawnee hosting the main event on Friday, June 13.
This isn’t just a casual cruise through the woods. It’s part of a proud tradition of stage rally racing—an intense motorsport where highly tuned cars race one at a time against the clock on closed, often rugged roads. Drivers and co-drivers navigate narrow gravel paths, sharp turns, and forested straights at breakneck speeds, testing both machine and nerve.
And it’s not new to Ohio. The Buckeye State has been a rally racing hotbed since 1968, when it joined the national rally scene through the MONY Series. By the 1980s and ‘90s, Ohio was a regular on the SCCA Pro Rally circuit, earning a reputation for its technical forest roads and passionate fan base.
That history was reignited in 2017 when the Southern Ohio Forest Rally was launched, bringing life back to legendary courses like Tar Hollow State Park. A year later, the rally expanded even further, and by 2019, it became part of the American Rally Association (ARA) under USAC Racing. That’s when Shawnee State Forest officially became part of the action, giving Scioto County a front-row seat to this motorsport spectacle.
The rally even brought the excitement to the streets, with a unique City Park Stage through downtown Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park—proof that rally isn’t just for the woods; it’s for the people.
Of course, with the rally comes some necessary adjustments. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has announced temporary road and horse trail closures during the event. For Scioto County, the most significant impact will be on Friday, June 13, when Shawnee State Forest becomes rally central. (Additional closures will take place in Scioto Trail State Forest on June 10–11 and in Zaleski State Forest on June 14.)
For full maps, spectator zones, and details on closures, visit the Southern Ohio Forest Rally website.
So whether you’re a diehard motorsports fan or just someone who appreciates a little action in the Appalachian hills, mark your calendar. The Southern Ohio Forest Rally is more than a race—it’s a celebration of speed, skill, and the wild beauty of Ohio’s forests.
Scioto County, start your engines.
