Scioto Trail State Park: Debord Loop Trail (Blog Hike #53)

Trail: Debord Loop Trail

Hike Location: Scioto Trail State Park

Geographic Location: south of Chillicothe, OH (39.22946, -82.95497)

Length: 4.2 miles

Difficulty: 8/10 (Moderate/Difficult)

Dates Hiked: October 1999, July 2016

Overview: A steep initial climb, followed by a moderate hike past the Debord Vista and the state forest fire tower.

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

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940213
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Chillicothe, take US 23 south into southern Ross County to SR 372.  Turn left onto SR 372.  Continue straight on SR 372 as you cross a ridge and pass Stewart Lake.  Turn left onto park road 3, which is about 1 mile after passing Stewart Lake.  A brown street sign says "Park Office" with an arrow pointing left at this intersection.  Take the park road past the park office and past Caldwell Lake on the left.  About 0.7 miles off the main road, where the entrance to the camp goes right, turn left into a small blacktopped parking lot at the head of Caldwell Lake.  Park here.

The hike: The Scioto River valley exudes history at every turn. Remnants of the early mound-building Adena and Hopewell cultures as well as the later Shawnee and white settlers can be found in this region.  The park is a microcosm of all of this.  A replica of the first Christian church in the area stands just a few yards from the trailhead.  The ancient Scioto Trail, a major highway of the Shawnee empire and the source of this park's name, passed near these grounds en route from the hunting fields of Kentucky to northern Ohio.  The trail is still used today, but we call it US 23. 

            A metal sign near the trailhead tells of the trail and the vast hardwood forest that once covered most of Ohio.  The state park and forest today comprises 600 acres of rugged, remote land.  Due to the excellent forest and better vistas, this is a perfect hike for observing fall foliage.  In addition, the trails are sufficiently rugged and far enough away from any major population center so as to keep trail traffic to a minimum.  In fact, during my October visit, I did not pass another single person on the trail.

Trailhead at campground

            The trail starts at a sign behind the registration area for the campground that gives distances to the firetower and Stewart Lake.  The trail enters the forest and immediately begins a very long, very steep uphill climb, the first major climb of the hike.  On one hand there is the incessant huffing and puffing and the somewhat eroded trail; on the other hand you are surrounded by a beautiful, mature maple forest. 

            When you appear to reach the top of the hill, the trail levels out for a time, then angles to the left and climbs steeply again for the other major climb of the hike.  This one is just as steep, but not nearly as long as the first one.  Once this climb is complete, you have gained over 250 feet of elevation in 0.3 miles.  Through an occasional crack in the trees, one can look down into the valley for some very scenic views, especially in the autumn or winter.

            Once atop the hill, the hiking becomes much easier, as the path becomes wide and well-worn.  Follow the trail through three intersections.  First, a side trail goes to the right back down the hill to the campground.  Shortly, another side trail goes left to Stewart Lake, and then a third side trail goes left to bypass the DeBord Vista.  Do not take any of these trails, but continue straight to soon arrive at DeBord Vista, an overlook from which you can see hills miles away.  This is one of your rewards for the hard climb at the beginning of the hike.

DeBord Vista, looking north

Walking along Lake Road

            Continuing straight past the vista, the bypass trail soon rejoins from the left, and the combined trail rises and falls gently before coming out onto Lake Road.  Turn left onto this rural, blacktopped park road and follow it south along the ridge about 0.5 miles to the fire tower and picnic shelter on the right.  Even if the observation room at the top of the fire tower is closed, the climb is well worth the view of the Scioto River valley, even if you are scared of heights as I am.  The picnic shelter provides a great spot to rest or have a trail snack. 

View from top of fire tower

            To begin our journey back, retrace your steps past the Scioto State Forest headquarters to a large maintenance shed on the east (right) side of the road.  Go to the right of the shed and take a narrow trail that leaves the blacktop heading east.  This trail is narrower and rockier that the trail passing the Debord Vista, so the hiking is a bit harder.  The trail goes downhill and soon begins following a power line right-of-way. After adjoining the main park road for a short distance, the trail angles left and continues following the power line, soon to make a steep, rough descent to the walk-in camping area. 

            Ford a shallow creek, then follow the trail as it angles to the right to join the road.  Walk east on the road for 0.75 miles to where park road 3 goes off to the left.  Turn left on park road 3.  (Note: the road can be avoided by using a bridle trail that parallels the road on the opposite side of Stoney Creek, but this requires fording the creek twice.) 

Caldwell Lake

            Go north on park road 3, then angle to the left through a picnic area to arrive at the dam forming Caldwell Lake.  Angle left, climb to the top of the dam, then begin following a wide trail that goes just inside the maple forest near Caldwell Lake.  This trail takes you past the lake on the right and the amphitheater on the left to return you to your car and complete this rugged, scenic hike.