Login | September 18, 2024
Best day hikes in Ohio
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: September 16, 2024
I’ve often been quizzed about my favorite Ohio day hikes, enough so that I’m designating this theme as a topic of discussion on a periodic basis.
I’ll spotlight three different hikes located in three different regions of Ohio - just to spread the love around the state.
And if you’ve any suggestions for future columns relating to this theme please feel free to contact me with your ideas so I have yet another a good reason to go on a road trip.
With that said let’s take a look at my first set of favorites.
1. Mohican State Park, Loudonville, Lyon Falls-Hemlock Gorge-Pleasant Hills Trail Loop
My first offering is a moderate to challenging 10.2-mile loop - which is actually composed of several trails - that covers a great variety of landscapes within the park. So on this wonderful loop you’ll experience the park’s famous covered bridge, the lazily flowing Clearfork-Mohican River, the Big & Little Lyons Falls and one of the deepest gorges in the state, secluded Hemlock Gorge. Pack a lunch, carry some water and lace up a sturdy pair of hiking boots for this one because it’s far more than just a quick jaunt in the woods - it’s a bonafide backcountry adventure. For trail information go to: http://www.mohicanstateparklodge.com/assets/mohicantrailmap.pdf
2) CVNP, Akron-Cleveland, Buckeye Trail-Towpath Trail Loops
My second suggestion gives you three times more bang for the buck because three separate hikes can be had within this one mega-loop. Now over the past three decades I’ve been doing combinations of these three loops, and let me tell you, I will never tire of all the landscapes that reside within this massive chunk of terra firma. Now the shorter of the three loops entails a fantastic section of Buckeye Trail (BT) that starts out of the Boston Trailhead on the western side of the Riverview Rd/Boston Mills Rd intersection. Its 5.5-mile wooded section is chock full of hills, ravines, and water crossings. At Snowville Road continue east on a short .7-mile junction trail that takes you to Redlock Trailhead on the Towpath. From there it’s a 2.2-mile hike back to the Boston Trailhead. Total distance for this loop is 8.4 miles.
If you’re up for something on the really long side, well, cross Snowville Road and continue with the BT for another seven miles all the way into Brecksville Reservation. This stretch is one of my BT favorites because of its remoteness. Now you’ll eventually end up down at Station Rd along the Cuyahoga River, and from there it’s 4.8 miles back to the Boston Trailhead. Total distance for this mega-loop is a whopping 17.3 miles.
Now you can make the third loop by parking at Jait on Riverview Road. Begin with a hike up Snowville a 100 meters and then take the BT to Brecksville Reservation and Station Rd. The return is back on the Towpath to Red Lock and then back up the .7-mile side trail to Jait. This loop is 9.3 miles.
For CVNP trail information and mileage go to: https://npmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/cuyahoga-valley-north-buckeye-trail-map.jpg
3) Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, Ash Cave Rim Trail-Grandma Gatewood Trail Loop
Hocking Hills State Park, one of Ohio’s most popular as well as beautiful state parks, contains approximately 60 miles of trail - some very easy, some very challenging. And amidst this plethora of hiking trails I’m recommending a short yet super scenic loop that entails hiking the Ash Cave Rim Trail and the Grandma Gatewood trail. The loop begins with a quick and easy 30-minute hike to Ash Cave, a 100-foot-high recessed cave which is probably the park’s star attraction. Then continue on the Ash Cave Trail to a junction with the moderately difficult Grandma Gatewood trail, which you’ll take all the way to Cedar Falls. This amazingly gorgeous loop is well considered one of the most stunning routes in the park, a route you’ll most definitely want to include on your hiking trail wish list. Trail map of the park can be found at: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/parks/parkmaps/hockinghillstrailmap.pdf
So there you go, three hikes - one on the north coast, one in Central Ohio and one in southern Ohio.
Happy trails.