Pike Lake State Park: Mitchell Ridge Trail (Blog Hike #54)

Trail: Mitchell Ridge Trail

Hike Location: Pike Lake State Park

Geographic Location: northwest of Piketon, OH (39.15953, -83.22154)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 9/10 (Difficult)

Dates Hiked: October 1999, July 2016

Overview: A difficult, rugged loop trail up and down Mitchell Ridge.

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

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940210
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Piketon, go west on SR 124 about 7 miles to Morgan Fork Road, a narrow paved road, and turn right on Morgan's Fork.  In 4 miles, where the road forks, bear left onto Pike Lake Road.  The park is about 2 miles ahead.  Park in the parking lot on the left side of the road across from the lake.

The hike: The present-day state park has its roots in the works of the depression era Civilian Conservation Corps.  In the 1930's, the corps dug the 13 acre lake that lies at the trailhead entirely by hand as well as planted numerous pine trees in the surrounding area.  The lake and the hilly land that surrounds it became a state park in 1949. 

            The park now boasts 5 miles of hiking trails within its borders and many more in the adjoining Pike State Forest.  The red-blazed Mitchell Ridge Trail starts by the lake and loops up and down the nearby ridge.  A bridle trail from the state forest and the Buckeye Trail share parts of this path with the Mitchell Ridge Trail, so make sure to follow the red blazes to prevent getting lost.

Heading across the dam

            Start by hiking across the dam.  Underneath a pine tree to the right of the dam on the near side of the lake lies a plaque in remembrance of an unidentified Union Civil War soldier that died on this spot.  Once across the dam, the Lake Trail goes off to the left while our trail continues straight, only to fork in about 50 feet.  I usually take the left fork and use the right one as the return route, thus hiking the trail clockwise. 

            The trail begins paralleling the lake as it slowly works its way up the hillside, which is covered by mature maple forest.  After several hundred yards, the trail turns to the right and begins climbing more steeply for the first major climb of the hike.  This is a long and fairly steep climb.  The hillside lies to the right on this stretch and a ravine to the left. 

Climbing on the Mitchell Ridge Trail

            About half way through this climb the white-blazed state forest bridle trail enters from the left.  Continue straight on the red-blazed Mitchell Ridge Trail.  At the top of this first major climb, the trail turns right and levels off for a short time, only to begin the second major climb immediately thereafter.  This is another long and fairly steep climb. Once this climb is completed, the trail arrives at the very top of the hill.  We have just gained about 200 feet of elevation in 0.75 miles.

Climbing through a ravine

            The white-blazed bridle trail and the blue-blazed Buckeye Trail both exit to the left here.  Our trail goes to the right and immediately begins a long and occasionally steep descent.  The trail winds its way down the hill, turning first right and then left.  Be especially careful of a hard right turn at the head of a ravine just under half way down, as it is easy to miss despite numerous red blazes.  In general, if you cannot see a red blaze either in front of you or behind you, you have made a wrong turn. 

            The hiking is further intensified by rocky terrain and several windfalls that must be negotiated.  At the bottom of the hill, the trail completes the loop just inside of the forest beside the dam.  A well-placed bench beckons the hiker to rest before recrossing the dam to the parking lot and completing the hike.