Hueston Woods State Park: Sycamore, Pine Loop, and Cabin Trails (Blog Hike #16)

Trails: Sycamore, Pine Loop, and Cabin Trails

Hike Location: Hueston Woods State Park

Geographic Location: north of Oxford, OH (39.59067,-84.75458)

Length: 2.1 miles (but see my update comment at the end of this post)
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: 1998, June 2015

Overview: A pleasant stroll featuring streamside forest and views of Acton Lake.

Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hueston-woods-state-park

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=794742
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Oxford, take SR 732 north. Just after crossing into Preble County, about five miles north of Oxford, the park entrance road goes off to the left.  Turn left here, and when the road forks, go to the right.  Look for a small wooden sign that says "Sycamore Trail."  To the right of this sign is a picnic area.  Park in the picnic area parking lot; the trail starts on the other side of the road.

           

The hike: Except for a medium-sized tract of woods designated as a state nature preserve, Hueston Woods State Park is made up of reclaimed farmland, now young second-growth forest.  This tract of land was farmed by Matt Hueston, then willed to the state upon his death.  In the 1950's, Acton Lake was constructed by damming Four-Mile Creek.  The lake became the centerpiece of the park, offering fishing, swimming, and boating.

            The Big Woods Trail features the nature preserve section of the park.  All of the other trails in the park, including this one, pass through the young second growth forest.  Of the non-nature preserve trails, the combined Sycamore, Pine Loop, and Cabin Trails form my favorite hike in the park due to superior lake views and the wide variety of habitats you will encounter on these trails.

Trailhead: Sycamore Trail

            From the picnic area, the trail goes directly into the woods off the opposite side of the park road.   Immediately, you are faced with a fork.  I recommend starting with the right trail and returning on the left.  This trail, called the Sycamore Trail, takes you along a creek, on the right, through relatively young forest.  The occasional rusted scrap metal and barbed-wire fence along the trail confirm that this land was farmed about 50 years ago, before the park was created. 

            The trail follows the creek until the creek empties into Acton Lake.  At this point the trail takes a sharp left turn and begins heading back toward the park road, with another of the lake’s feeder streams on your right.  The trail climbs a bluff, providing a semi-scenic overlook of the creek before coming to an intersection.  Take the trail to the right.  The one to the left takes you back to where you began.  You will use it later to complete the hike. 

            This connector trail takes you down off of the bluff to creek level.  If the water in the creek is low, you can take a wild trail to the right, which fords the creek, to cut off some distance.  If you are not quite this adventurous, continue on the main trail to the park road bridge and cross the bridge.  The trail reenters the woods on the same side of the road, almost immediately after crossing the bridge.

Creekside area

            You are now on the Pine Loop Trail.  As an author's note, I have no idea why these trails are called the Sycamore and Pine Loop trails, as they contain neither sycamores nor pines in large quantities.  After a short distance in the woods, where the trail forks, again take the trail on the right; the one on the left is the return route.  This trail takes you along the other side of the same stream that you passed earlier.  You can now look up at the steep clay bluff that you were atop only moments before.

            After crossing a couple of small tributaries without the aid of a bridge, the trail forks again.  Once again, go to the right.  You are now on the Cabin Trail.  After passing through some sinkholes and under some power lines, the trail begins a long, but gradual uphill climb.  The climb is well rewarded, as you come out at a small, intimate picnic area on a high bluff overlooking Acton Lake.  The view of the lake, the forest, and the beach on the other side is quite striking, and the hill between you and the lake is close to vertical.

            After you have soaked up the view, continue on the trail, leaving in the opposite way that you came.  Shortly, the Cabin Trail goes off to the right.  Do not take it, but angle left to rejoin the Pine Loop.  The trail meanders downhill, back under the power lines until it rejoins the other side of the loop where you turned right earlier.  Retrace your steps back over the creek to the Sycamore Trail and turn right to finish the loop.  The last segment of the trail follows along the park road back to the trailhead.