Mohican State Park: Clear Fork Gorge (Blog Hike #99)

Trails: Lyons Falls and Pleasant Hill Trails

Hike Location: Mohican State Park and Forest

Geographic Location: southeast of Mansfield, OH (40.61253, -82.31439)

Length: 3 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: July 2001

Overview: A moderately easy hike with one extremely steep section through Clear Fork Gorge.

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

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717668
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-71 to SR 97 (exit 165).  Exit and go east on SR 97.  Take SR 97 east 18 miles to the state park and state forest entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then bear left, following signs for the covered bridge.  2 miles later, cross the covered bridge and turn right into a picnic area.  Park at the picnic area.  The hike begins back at the covered bridge.

The hike: Located right on the edge of glaciated Ohio, Mohican Memorial State Forest and adjacent Mohican State Park were established in 1949 to honor the veterans of World War II.  The central attraction in the area is Clear Fork Gorge, a national natural historic landmark.  People come from long distances to hike the trails, float down the river via inner tube, and fish the waters.  Therefore, the area can get rather crowded on summer weekends.

            The 200 foot Clear Fork Gorge has its origins in the glaciers that stopped about 1 mile north of the park some 12,000 years ago.   At the end of the ice age, the climate began to warm and the glacier ice began to melt.  Water from the melting glaciers went searching for a soft spot in the surrounding ice pack and rocks through which to flow.  Such a spot was located at the head of this gorge, causing large quantities of water to flow southward toward the Ohio River.  The erosive qualities of this water carved the gorge we see today.

            In addition to 13 miles of hiking trails, the state park/forest complex offers a 96-room lodge, a full-service campground, bridle trails, and several picnic areas.  The Clear Fork of the Mohican River, which flows through the park, is a popular site for inner tube.  Adjacent Pleasant Hill Park, part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, also has trails, picnic areas, and a nature center.  Our hike takes you through the upper part of Clear Fork Gorge, past Lyons Falls, and atop the dam creating Pleasant Hill Lake.

View of Clear Fork River from covered bridge

            From the picnic area, walk back to the covered bridge, cross the bridge, and pick up the trail going off to the right (north) side of the road.  This trail is marked with both blue and yellow blazes.  The trail undulates along the hillside, with the river to the right and the hill to the left.  At some points, sandstone cliffs come into view to the left.  Be careful of roots and rocks which seem to be prevalent along the trail.  The forest within the gorge is dominated by eastern hemlocks.  Hemlocks are more often found in cooler climates to the north rather than Ohio, but the cool, damp gorge still manages to support a dense canopy of such trees. 

Hemlocks lining Mohican River-Clear Fork Gorge

            After 0.5 miles the yellow-blazed Lyons Falls Trail turns left and begins heading up a ravine which may be the course of an old road.  Turn left here and begin this side trip to Lyons Falls.  The trail gradually ascends through younger forest with some dense honeysuckle in the understory.  In another 0.5 miles the trail arrives at the base of Big Lyons Falls, which is located at the rear of a large horseshoe-shaped rock shelter.   Water falls some 25 feet into a small plunge pool.  Be sure to go at a time when the water level is high, or else the falls will be little more than a trickle.

Rock shelter near Big Lyons Falls

            In the past, the trail has continued behind the waterfall and climbed some sandstone steps out of the ravine, but this trail is no longer maintained as an official trail.  As such, retrace your steps to the trail along the Clear Fork River and turn left to continue your course toward Pleasant Hill dam. 

            The trail, now blazed only in blue, crosses a couple of small wooden footbridges constructed in the mid-1990’s over some feeder streams to the river before taking a left turn away from the river.  This turn marks the beginning of the only steep part of the trail.  The trail climbs first westward, then northward over extremely steep and rugged terrain.  At some points, root networks act as steep steps up the incline.  Fortunately, a wire cable strung between wooden posts provides some support for the climb.

            Once atop the hill, the trail levels out and follows a rolling course to come out at a blacktop road on top of Pleasant Hill dam.  Some restrooms, a drinking fountain, and some benches are located beside the rock cliff to the left.  Take a moment to sit here and watch the boats speed along Pleasant Hill Lake.

Looking down Pleasant Hill dam

            After a refreshing break, return to the top of the dam and descend some concrete steps down the front of the earthen dam.  Angle left at the base of the dam and pick up the wide Pleasant Hill trail on the east (left) side of the river.  Now at river level and in the floodplain, expect to see some anglers wearing hip-waders trying their luck in the river.  Some people may also be watching and quietly conversing from lawn chairs along the banks.

            The trail now follows an easy course right on the banks of the river with the river peacefully flowing on your right and the hillside visible through the hemlocks on your left.  Ignore and side trails that exit left and, in one mile, arrive back at the covered bridge in the state park.  A short walk into the picnic area will complete this hike.