2022 Summary and Reflection Post

The turning of another calendar year means it is time for an annual tradition: my summary and reflection post.  2022 has been a rough year for me on several fronts, but it was also a transition year that hopefully sets the foundation for better things ahead.  We did 36 new hikes this year for 86.75 miles across 13 different states.  We also redid 13 "old" hikes to capture some video for our (relatively) new YouTube channel.  None of those numbers are anywhere near records, but they are decent numbers all things considered.

Thinking in terms of my longer term goals, here is an update on the hiking goals I set back in 2014:

1. Upgrade all blog hikes with pictures: completed in 2019.

2. Hike in all 50 states by age 50: 1 state to go (Hawaii), 4 years left to get it.

3. Do 1000 blog hikes by age 50: on schedule to get there.  We finished this year at 922 blog hikes.  We should get to 1000 blog hikes sometime in 2024 if my health holds.

Looking ahead to 2023, I have a full set of hiking trips planned.  They include trips to the Georgia/Florida state line, eastern Tennessee, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, western Massachusetts, and (of course) Ohio.  I also have 7 months left on my annual Georgia state parks pass, and I plan to make the most of that pass.

Lord bless and see you on the trail in 2023!

David Prager, aka Big Dave the Parker

Mistletoe State Park: Office/Campground Loop (Blog Hike #922)

Trails: Cliatt Creek, Office, Beach, and Campground Loop Trails
Hike Location: Mistletoe State Park
Geographic Location: north of Thomson, GA (33.64327, -82.38517)
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: December 2022
Overview: A rolling lollipop loop over low pine-covered hills.
Park Information: https://gastateparks.org/Mistletoe
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=926674
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: In eastern Georgia, take I-20 to SR 150 (exit 175).  Exit and go north on SR 150.  Take SR 150 north 8 miles to Mistletoe Road and turn left on Mistletoe Rd.  Drive Mistletoe Rd. 3 miles to the park entrance; continue straight to enter the park.  At the first intersection inside the park, turn left, heading for the Nature Center and park office.  Park in the blacktop parking lot in front of the Nature Center and park office.

The hike: For my introduction to Mistletoe State Park, see my hike on the Rock Dam Trail, which is this park's most famous trail.  The hike described here is not the most popular trail in the park, but it follows some lesser-used trails through some nice pinewoods.  Also, this hike passes through the park's campground, so if you are camping here you can go directly from the RV to the trail.

Start of rubberized surface trail

            Your first task on this hike is to find the start of the Office Trail.  Though other routes to the Office Trail exist, I suggest starting on the rubberized surface trail to the right of the park office because it is easy to find.  Made out of recycled car tires, the rubberized surface trail ends at an interesting place called the Canyons.  The Canyons is a deep ravine with highly eroded walls, and it makes an interesting short detour on this hike.

The Canyons

            About halfway to the Canyons, you need to turn left to leave the rubberized surface trail and begin the Cliatt Creek Trail, which in turn will take you to the Office Trail.  Only a wooden sign with an arrow marks this trail intersection.  Marked with white paint blazes, the Cliatt Creek Trail embarks on a winding northbound course with a shallow ravine to your right.  The pinewoods that will dominate this hike become apparent here, and a thick bed of pine needles cushions your steps.

            At 0.3 miles, you reach another trail intersection.  The white blazes of the Cliatt Creek Trail turn right here, but you want to stay left to begin following the magenta blazes that mark the (long-awaited) Office Trail.  The Office Trail climbs slightly to cross a seldom-used paved park road before descending gradually on an old dirt woods road.  As I hiked here, I kept thinking that "Office Trail" is such a boring name for this trail and that "Pine Woods Trail" or "Old Woods Road Trail" would be more appropriate.

Joining the old woods road

            At 0.75 miles, you reach the north end of the Office Trail where it intersects the Beach Trail, another uninspiringly named trail.  Angle left to continue north on the yellow-blazed Beach Trail, which continues following the old road for a short distance before angling left to roll off the top of the finger ridge.  Next you cross several small creeks on wooden footbridges.  These footbridges look suspicious, but they all got me across their bridged watercourses without incident.

Hiking the Beach Trail

            1.1 miles into the hike, you reach an intersection with the Campground Loop Trail, which goes straight and left.  For no real reason, I chose to turn left and use the trail going straight as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.  Marked with white paint blazes, the trail climbs slightly to cross the paved main campground access road.  A wildlife opening, an open grassy area designed to attract deer and other wildlife, sits to the left here, and some boulders placed around the opening make the only nice places to sit and rest on this hike.

Wildlife opening

            A park work area comes into view on the left as the trail curves right and descends gradually.  The pine woods that dominate this park persist as you reach the lowest elevation on this hike at 1.7 miles.  This point is only a few feet above Clarks Hill Lake, and a narrow arm of the lake comes into view to the left.

Best Clarks Hill Lake view

            A gradual climb comes next, and 2 miles into the hike you reach the campground entrance.  Walk along the shoulder of the campground road going straight, pass the dump station, and look for the brown metal sign that says "Trail to Office" to find the continuation of the Campground Loop.  Turn right to head back into the woods and begin the final leg of this loop.

Exiting the campground

            The trail undulates somewhat with the lake in view downhill through the trees on the left.  Cross the road that leads to the park's cabin and primitive camping areas, and at 2.6 miles you close the Campground Loop.  Retrace your steps along the Beach, Office, and Cliatt Creek Trails to return to the park office and complete the hike.  Be sure to take the short detour to the Canyons on your way back if you did not do so on your way out.

James River State Park: River/Cabell Loop (Blog Hike #921)

Trails: River and Cabell Trails
Hike Location: James River State Park
Geographic Location: north of Appomattox, VA (37.63436, -78.81154)
Length: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: November 2022
Overview: A lollipop loop along the James River.
Park Information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/james-river
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924852
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 460 and SR 26 in Appomattox, take SR 26 north 13 miles to US 60, where SR 26 ends.  Continue straight across US 60 to begin following SR 605, and drive SR 605 for 7.2 miles to the park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to its end at the park's boat launch on the James River.  Park in the boat launch parking lot.

The hike: Opening only in 1999, James River State Park protects 1561 acres on the south bank of its namesake river.  At this point the James River is about 1/3 of its way into its 348 mile eastward course, and it has just exited the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and begun its winding route across the Piedmont toward Hampton Roads.  The river is deep and broad here, but a few small cascades, remnants of the river's more youthful segment through the mountains to the west, persist.

            James River State Park offers many amenities including a 30-site developed campground, several primitive camping areas, a canoe launch on the James River, 18 cabins, several picnic shelters, and 3 fishing ponds.  For hikers, the park offers 14 trails totaling over 22 miles, and most of these trails are also open to horses and mountain bikes.  I came here late one morning with a long afternoon of driving ahead of me, so I chose the short and easy lollipop loop along the James River described here.  Plenty of longer options are available, and I left wishing I had more time to explore more of this park's trails.

Trailhead at boat launch

            From the boat launch, pick up the wide grassy River Trail as it heads west with the river on your right.  All of the trails on this hike are also open to horses and mountain bikes, and a few wet areas need to be negotiated.  Overall, although I did see a couple of equestrian users on my hike, these trails show no signs of heavy horse use.  A row of trees separates the trail from the river, but a few clear views across the wide and scenic river emerge.

James River

            At 0.5 miles, you reach a riverside picnic area with some swinging benches perched beside the river.  Follow signs for the River Trail as it heads up a dirt road that leads away from the river and then turns right to cross a small creek.  Just past 0.6 miles, you reach the trail intersection that forms the loop portion of this hike.  The Cabell Trail continuing straight will be our return route.  This description turns right to stay on the River Trail and hike the loop counterclockwise.

Hiking the River Trail

            True to its name, the River Trail heads back out to the river and continues its southwestbound course in a narrow riverside corridor of trees.  The James River on the right now features some small cascades, and a seasonal wetland appears to the left.  I saw many birds here including redwing blackbirds, woodpeckers, blue jays, and cardinals.

View of seasonal wetland

            At 1.35 miles, you reach another trail intersection.  If you want to extend your hike, you can turn right and continue the River Trail to a primitive camping area where it links up with the Cabell Trail; this option adds about 1.5 miles to the hike.  Because I had a long drive home that afternoon, I continued straight to hike the short connector trail to the Cabell Trail and turned left on the Cabell Trail.

Hiking the Cabell Trail

            When you start the Cabell Trail, the character of this hike temporarily changes.  Gone are the sunny grassy riverside areas, and they have been replaced by a single track dirt trail that undulates through dense maple and beech forest.  The change of scenery only lasts about 0.25 miles, at which point you reach a sunny bench that overlooks the wetland to your left.  At 1.8 miles, you return to the River Trail to close the loop.  Retrace your steps on the River Trail to return to the boat launch parking area and complete the hike.

North Bend Rail Trail: Cairo to Silver Run Tunnel (Blog Hike #920)

Trail: North Bend Rail Trail
Hike Location: North Bend Rail Trail
Geographic Location: east of Parkersburg, WV (39.20856, -81.15603)
Length: 6.4 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: An out-and-back on gravel rail-trail to a supposedly haunted old railroad tunnel.
Trail Information: https://wvstateparks.com/park/north-bend-rail-trail/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924770
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: From Parkersburg, take US 50 east 18 miles to SR 31 and turn right on SR 31.  Drive SR 31 south 4.2 miles to the town of Cairo.  Park at the perpendicular street parking in downtown Cairo.

The hike: With a current population of 174, Cairo, WV is one of those kind of creepy two-thirds abandoned industrial towns that are scattered throughout West Virginia and more generally throughout Appalachia.  During the town's hay day in the early 1900's, over 650 people lived here.  Early settlers were attracted to this site by the fertile land and the abundant water provided by the North Fork of the Hughes River, which runs through town.  Later lumber and coal dominated the area, and the town's population declined along with these industries.

            Glimpses of Cairo's glory days remain, and they include the North Bend Rail Trail, which follows a former spur of the famous Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad.  Another remnant of this town's industrial past is the the two-story brick building that formerly housed the Bank of Cairo.  Built in 1897, that building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it presently serves as the town's City Hall.

            The North Bend Rail Trail is regarded as one of the best bike paths in Appalachia, and it is famous for its long tunnels and mountainous scenery.  The hike described here starts in downtown Cairo and heads west on the rail trail to a particularly famous tunnel: the 1376-foot long Silver Run Tunnel.  Not only is the tunnel an impressive construction, but it is supposedly haunted by a young ghostly woman who was seen by several railroad engineers when the railroad was operating in the early 1900's.  Honestly, even though I did this hike on a cloudy damp Halloween afternoon when dense fog made the tunnel an eerie setting, I did not observe anything paranormal during my hike.

North Bend Rail Trail's Cairo trailhead

            From downtown Cairo, head west on the North Bend Rail Trail as it crosses the North Fork of the Hughes River on an old railroad bridge.  This bridge has been repurposed with a wooden deck to support hikers, bikers, and horses, and strategically placed boulders block vehicle access.  The historic Bank of Cairo building stands to the left here, as do an old black bell and some smaller brick buildings.

Historic Bank of Cairo building

            The gravel rail trail heads west with the hillside rising to your right and houses on CR 31/4 downhill to your left.  Because this route was built for trains, the grade is very gradual.  Nevertheless, you gain about 200 vertical feet of elevation between downtown Cairo and the Silver Run Tunnel.  Where steep driveways exit right or left, choose the more gradual gravel trail to remain on the North Bend Rail Trail.  Mile markers appear at 1 mile increments and help you track your progress.

Picnic table beside the trail

            Near 1.5 miles into the hike, you pass a picnic table that makes a nice place to rest about halfway to the tunnel.  Tall rock outcrops, probably exposed during the railroad's construction, tower over the trail to the right here.  Other subtle reminders of this trail's railroad past such as wooden posts and ties can be seen occasionally if you look carefully.  Also, CR 31/4 often stays in sight downhill to the left even though houses become fewer and further between.  The forest here is a nice mixture of pine and broadleaf trees.

Rock outcrops towering over trail

            At 2.6 miles, you cross gravel CR 31/4 near where it intersects CR 18/2.  The surrounding hills grow taller now, and soon the trail enters the deep rock cut that leads to Silver Run Tunnel.  At 2.9 miles, you reach the tunnel's east portal.  This long tunnel has a curve, so you can't see the other end of the tunnel from here.  Thus, a flashlight is highly recommended if you want to enter the tunnel.

East portal of Silver Run Tunnel

            Once you enter the tunnel, the cool subterranean air causes the warmer moister air from outside the tunnel to condense, forming fog.  Also, the brick walls cause sound to reverberate in odd ways.  Thus, I found the tunnel rather eerie even though I did not see anything paranormal while walking through the tunnel.  The rail trail continues another 23 miles to the west, but the tunnel is a good place to turn around.  Retracing your steps back to Cairo completes the hike.

Kroger Wetlands in Marietta, OH (Blog Hike #919)

Trail: Wetland Loop
Hike Location: Kroger Wetlands
Geographic Location: east side of Marietta, OH (39.41232, -81.42615)
Length: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A short loop through urban wetlands with good bird-viewing opportunities.
Wetlands Information: https://www.mariettaoh.net/index.php/30-city-government/buildings-parks-cemetery-and-recreation/public-facilities/98-kroger-wetlands
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924723
Photo Highlight:

Full Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Just north of the Ohio River, take I-77 to SR 7 (exit 1).  Exit, go west on SR 7, then turn right onto Acme Street at the first traffic light.  Drive Acme St. north just over 0.1 miles and park in the small signed gravel lot on the right.  This lot is located behind the Kroger store.

The hike: Sometimes hikes do not go according to plan.  While driving south on I-77 through eastern Ohio, I had planned to hike at Wolf Run State Park, which is only a few miles off of the interstate.  Shortly after I started that hike, the trail became completely overgrown with thorn-bearing bushes, thus making the trail more or less impassible to anyone without a suit of metal armor.  Disappointed, I continued driving south to my lodging and resupply point in Marietta.  While I was resupplying at the Kroger in Marietta, I noticed a small nature preserve with a signed trailhead behind the store.  I spent that day's last hour of daylight exploring that preserve, and I had a nice hike.

            Owned and maintained by the City of Marietta, tiny Kroger Wetland protects 20 acres of natural wetlands along Crooked Creek.  The wetland features mostly natural plant growth including arrowhead, water plantain, and cattails, and many animals and birds live in the wetland.  The area gets its name from the Kroger Corporation, which donated the land to the City after building their store on adjacent property.  A single short loop trail accesses the heart of the wetland, and that trail is the one described here.

Trailhead at Kroger Wetlands

            The trailhead is marked by a simple sign at the edge of the woods that says "Wetland Loop Trail."  The single track dirt trail heads into the woods and quickly splits to form its loop.  For no particular reason, I chose to stay right and use the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.

South arm of loop

            The south arm of the loop heads through some of the higher terrain in the wetland; silver maples are the most common trees here.  Cattails carpet the wetland area to the left.  Signs talk about birds commonly seen in this wetland, including the tree swallow and the yellow warbler.  Near 0.2 miles, you reach a spur trail that heads left to an overlook platform.  While you may be able to do some good bird watching here, this point lies close to I-77, and better wetland views lie ahead.

            Continuing around the loop, at 0.25 miles the Drayer Spur Trail exits right to head to a residential street.  Angle left to remain on the main loop and pass some osage orange trees.  The trail curves more left than right, and at 0.35 miles you reach a bridge and boardwalk near this wetland's deepest and most open water.  I saw a family of mallard ducks gliding across the water on the late afternoon that I came here.  Take some time to see what you can see.

The wettest wetland

Bridge over outlet to Crooked Creek

            Past the bridge, a few more hundred feet of level walking closes the loop.  Turn right to walk back out the entrance trail to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Cascade Valley Metro Park: Overlook and Oxbow Trails (Blog Hike #918)

Trails: Overlook and Oxbow Trails
Hike Location: Cascade Valley Metro Park
Geographic Location: north side of Akron, OH (41.12848, -81.52180)
Length: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A lollipop loop with Cuyahoga River views from near and far.
Park Information: https://www.summitmetroparks.org/cascade-valley-metro-park.aspx
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924724
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Akron, drive Main Street north 3.1 miles to Sackett Avenue and turn left on Sackett Ave.  Drive Sackett Ave. west 0.7 miles to the signed parking lot for Cascade Valley Metro Park's Overlook area on the left.  Park here.

The hike: Established in 1921, Summit Metro Parks owns and maintains 16 parks totaling 15,000 acres in Summit County, Ohio.  Many of these parks have excellent amenities that include picnic shelters, athletic fields, and hiking trails.  Roughly 5.5 million people visit Summit Metro Parks each year, and the people of Akron are blessed to have such a nice park system in their county.

            Located on the north side of Akron, Cascade Valley Metro Park is one of the more central properties in the Summit Metro Parks' collection.  The park gets its name from the Cuyahoga River's nearby cascades and from the steep-sided ravines that lead down to the river.  The surrounding developed and residential areas give this park an urban feel even though some of the areas deep in the ravines feel far away from civilization.

            Cascade Valley Metro Park is divided into 5 areas, each of which offers at least one hiking trail.  This hike features two of those areas: the Overlook Area and the adjacent Oxbow Area.  The Oxbow Area features some athletic fields and rapids in the Cuyahoga River, while the Overlook Area features the most famous view in Akron.  By combining trails in both areas, this hike allows you to explore all these two areas have to offer.

Trailhead at Overlook Area

            From the Overlook Area parking lot, pick up the asphalt ADA-accessible Overlook Trail as it heads south.  A restroom building and information kiosk stand at this trailhead.  The Overlook Trail is marked with light red arrows that contain a semicircle with hash marks.  Where the Overlook Trail splits to form its loop, continue straight to begin heading around the loop counterclockwise.

Start of Oxbow Trail

            At 0.25 miles, the Oxbow Trail exits right.  We will continue the Overlook Trail later, but for now turn right to leave the asphalt and begin the dirt Oxbow Trail.  Marked with blue arrows bearing a horseshoe-like symbol, the Oxbow Trail assumes a winding course that heads down into the Cuyahoga River's floodplain.  Three short steep areas with wooden steps need to be negotiated, but otherwise the terrain remains rather flat.

            Ignore side trails that exit right to a baseball field or left to the other side of the loop, and at 0.7 miles arrive at a parking lot for the Oxbow Picnic Area.  Continue following the blue Oxbow Trail arrows as you begin a small riverside loop with the park entrance road on the right.  Large amounts of honeysuckle dominate the understory in this young forest, and some mud will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently.

Hiking in the river's floodplain

            Just shy of 1 mile, you reach the bank of the Cuyahoga River for the first time, and what has thus far been a rather uninspiring hike starts to gain interest.  Although the Cuyahoga River is about halfway through its course here, it acts like a young river with shallow water and rippling cascades.  The picnic area up ahead is easily accessed from the parking area you passed earlier, so take a few minutes to enjoy the river alone before you get into the more congested picnic area.

Cuyahoga River

            After passing through the riverside Oxbow Picnic Area, the trail climbs a long series of wooden steps.  In total, you gain about 125 vertical feet of elevation, but you gain it all in one chunk with these steps.  The grade becomes more gradual at the top of the steps.  Ignore short-cut trails that exit left.

Climbing toward the overlook

            At 1.3 miles, you reach the end of the Oxbow Trail where it rejoins the asphalt Overlook Trail at this park's famous overlook.  A concrete platform juts out from the top of the cliff.  The Cuyahoga River now lies directly below you, but the North Main Street Bridge that spans high above the river to the left may be the first thing to catch your eye.  (Aside: if you followed the directions to the trailhead above, then you drove over this bridge on your way in.)  This overlook stands above a tight 180-degree bend in the river, so the view is fantastic.  You may not be alone here due to the paved trail access, but be sure to spend some time enjoying the most famous view in Akron.

Cuyahoga River overlook

            Past the overlook, the asphalt Overlook Trail heads north with private property close to the right.  After curving sharply left, you close the Overlook Trail's loop.  A right turn and a few hundred feet of level walking on asphalt trail return you to the parking lot to complete the hike.

Malabar Farm State Park: Doris Duke Woods Trail (Blog Hike #917)

Trail: Doris Duke Woods Trail
Hike Location: Malabar Farm State Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Mansfield, OH (40.65111, -82.39265)
Length: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A lollipop loop featuring sandstone cliffs and large beech trees.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/malabar-farm-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924606
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Ohio, take I-71 to SR 13 (exit 169).  Exit, then go east on Hanley Road, which intersects SR 13 south of the southbound exit but north of the northbound exit from I-71.  Drive Hanley Rd. east 2 miles to Little Washington and turn right on Pleasant Valley Road.  Drive Pleasant Valley Rd. east 5.5 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, then take the first left to park in the parking lot for the working farm.  The trailhead for the Doris Duke Woods Trail is 0.2 miles further down the road.

The hike: Malabar Farm became a state park only in 1976, but its history as a travel destination dates all the way back to 1820 when the Malabar Farm Inn, a two-story brick building, began operation as a stagecoach inn.  Today the former inn is located just down Pleasant Valley Road from the main park entrance, and the renovated building houses the Malabar Inn Restaurant.  The farm as we see it today began to take shape in 1938 when Louis Bromfield, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, began buying several farms in this area.  In 1939, Bromfield built the 32-room "Big House," which would be his home until his death in 1956.  That house is located west of the working farm, and it is still the park's largest building today.

            Most of the farms were in poor condition when Bromfield bought them, but using skills and labor from the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps and Soil Conservation Service he turned Malabar Farm into a national model for sustainable agriculture.  After Bromfield's death, his children gave the farm to the Louis Bromfield Malabar Farm Foundation for continued operation as a demonstration farm.  After the Foundation nearly went bankrupt, the deed was transferred to the State of Ohio to form the park we visit today.

            The demonstration/working farm is still this park's centerpiece, and additional amenities are limited to a few picnic areas, some bridle trails, and several short hiking trails.  The park's longest hiker-only trail is the Doris Duke Woods Trail described here, and the only way to form a longer hike is to use the park's roads or bridle trails.  What this hike lacks in length it makes up for in solitude.

Trailhead: Doris Duke Woods Trail

            Because no parking is allowed at the trailhead, this hike starts with a road walk.  From the parking area for the working farm, continue south on Bromfield Road, cross Swinter Creek on the road bridge, and then look to the left for the signed start of the Doris Duke Woods Trail.  Marked with white rectangular paint blazes, this trail is named for Doris Duke, a conservationist friend of Bromfield who was instrumental in establishing the state park.

Climbing the hill

            Almost immediately the trail forks to form its loop.  For no real reason, I chose to turn left and use the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.  Typical of northeast Ohio, the trail heads directly up a low but steep hill.  The difference in maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is just under 200 vertical feet, but you gain all of this elevation in just over 0.2 miles.

            Near 0.4 miles, you reach the top of the hill as a picnic shelter comes into view ahead.  The trail never reaches the shelter but instead curves right to begin tracing a relatively constant contour around the hillside.  Unmarked spur trails head left for the picnic shelter, but these trails are hard to find if you are starting at the shelter.

Cliffs below the trail

Farm demonstration buildings

            After curving right a couple more times, the trail approaches the top of a line of cliffs at 0.7 miles.  While they are not Hocking Hills, the boulder-filled cliffs make for a nice change of scenery, and some large beech trees live atop these cliffs.  Soon the cliffs subside, and the trail descends gradually to close its loop.  Retrace your steps along the road, noticing the old farm ponds and buildings on the way, to complete the hike.

Pike Lake State Park: Greenbrier/CCC/Lake Double Loop (Blog Hike #916)

Trails: Greenbrier, CCC, and Lake Trails
Hike Location: Pike Lake State Park
Geographic Location: west of Piketon, OH (39.16063, -83.22211)
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A double loop on seldom-used trails exploring the hollows around Pike Lake.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/pike-lake-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924544
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

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

The hike: For my introduction to Pike Lake State Park, see my hike on the Mitchell Ridge Trail, which is this park's hardest trail.  The hike described here uses some lesser-used trails as it explores the hollows around Pike Lake.  While this hike does not have a lot of elevation gain, the primitive trails make the difficulty higher than you might expect for a hike of this type.

Trailhead for Greenbrier Trail

            Start by picking up the Greenbrier Trail, which heads west from a signed trailhead across the road from the Nature Center.  Note that this trail used to start several hundred feet south of here near the park's amphitheater, but the trailhead was relocated a few years ago.  Marked with green paint blazes, the seldom-used trail heads uphill through dense broadleaf forest.  The thick layer of leaf-litter combined with the trail's uneven surface made my going slow, but careful stepping got me through this hike without any twisted ankles or significant injuries.

            The trail climbs about 100 vertical feet but never approaches the top of the hill before descending back into the hollow.  At 0.4 miles, you reach the west end of the Greenbrier Trail at its intersection with Egypt Hollow Road, a lightly used but paved road.  To continue this loop, turn left and walk along the road a few hundred feet to the signed trailhead for the CCC Trail, which appears on the right.  Turn right to head back into the woods on the CCC Trail.

Start of CCC Trail

            Marked with yellow paint blazes, the CCC Trail stays within a few hundred feet of the road as it heads downstream toward the mouth of Egypt Hollow.  This trail is also seldom-used, and the leaf-litter forced the same careful stepping here as on the first part of this hike.  A couple of narrow wooden bridges may look suspicious, but they got me across the dry rocky creek without incident.

Final bridge on CCC Trail

            At 0.8 miles, you cross a final bridge to reach the east end of the CCC Trail at Egypt Hollow Road near the #10 tee of this park's disc golf course, which I have reviewed in my Disc Golf Reviews.  Turn right and walk the road back out to the main park road.  Your car is a couple hundred feet to the left here, so this point marks the end of the first of this hike's two loops.  To start the second loop, continue east and walk across the dam that forms Pike Lake.  Great views of the lake and its surrounding hills can be had here, and some benches make perfect places to rest and admire the scenery near the midpoint of this hike.

Crossing Pike Lake's dam

            At the east end of the dam, you reach a major trail intersection.  The aforementioned red-blazed Mitchell Ridge Trail heads up its namesake hill, but this hike turns left to begin the Lake Trail, which is marked with blue paint blazes.  True to its name, the narrow Lake Trail follows the east shore of Pike Lake.  A narrow and intricate collection of wooden steps and boardwalks make the hiking more interesting, and a couple of downed trees needed to be negotiated on my visit.  The downed trees are noteworthy because the trail maintenance on the rest of this hike was quite good.

Hiking the Lake Trail

            A sand beach and picnic shelter located on an island come into view on the left, but you have to hike all of the way out to the park road to find a route across the creek.  Upon reaching the park road, turn left to walk the road back to the main parking area.  A final roadside view eastward across the lake concludes the hike.

Hocking Hills State Park: Ash Cave (Blog Hike #915)

Trails: Gorge and Rim Trails
Hike Location: Hocking Hills State Park
Geographic Location: south of Logan, OH (39.39612, -82.54559)
Length: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Dates Hiked: May 1998, October 2022

Overview: A short loop featuring towering Ash Cave.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924420
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Logan, drive SR 664 south 12.5 miles to SR 374.  Turn left on SR 374 and proceed south past Cedar Falls.  Where SR 374 ends at SR 56, turn right on SR 56 and drive SR 56 west for 0.5 miles.  The small hiking trail parking lot is on the right.  A larger parking lot for the picnic area is directly across SR 56 on the left in case the smaller lot is full.

The hike: For my introduction to fall hiking in the Hocking Hills, see the previous hike, which features this park's Old Man's Cave unit.  Though not as popular, I have always found the scenery at Ash Cave to hold unique appeal.  For one, the waterfall at Ash Cave lies lower in the watershed compared to Old Man's Cave, and indeed I found this one flowing nicely even though the waterfalls at Old Man's Cave were mostly dry.  Also, unlike the trail at Old Man's Cave, which features many stairs, the trail at Ash Cave is partially ADA accessible.

Trailhead at Ash Cave

            From the signed trailhead, pick up the concrete trail as it crosses this gorge's small stream.  The first 0.25 miles are ADA accessible, so this trail's ease makes up for and partly accounts for its popularity.  The forest here contains a large number of hemlock trees.  Thus, the scenery stays very green even during the fall and winter.

Entering Ash Cave

            At 0.25 miles, the concrete trail ends as you reach the entrance to Ash Cave.  A large rock overhang rather than a typical cave, Ash Cave gets its name from the thick layer of sand deposited at the overhang's base.  Some people wonder who trucked all of this sand in here, but knowledgeable hikers realize that all of the rock above you is sandstone, which turns into sand when it erodes.

Exiting Ash Cave

            The trail heads across the sand and follows the base of the rock overhang, passing behind a tall but low flow waterfall.  Next you climb a sequence of wooden and stone steps to reach Ash Cave's rim and a trail intersection.  The famous Grandma Gatewood Trail goes left to head first for Cedar Falls and then for Old Man's Cave, but this hike stays in the Ash Cave area by turning right.

Hiking the Rim Trail

            Compared to the Gorge Trail, the Rim Trail is rather uneventful.  The gorge stays to the right as the trail descends gradually over a couple of rocky areas.  At 0.6 miles, you close the loop.  The parking lot lies just ahead.

Hocking Hills State Park: Old Man's Cave (Blog Hike #914)

Trails: Gorge and Rim Trails
Hike Location: Hocking Hills State Park
Geographic Location: south of Logan, OH (39.43950, -82.53370)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Dates Hiked: May 1998, October 2022
Overview: A loop hike with lots of stairs past 2 waterfalls and through a rock-walled gorge.
Park Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924419
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Logan, go south on SR 664 for 13 miles to the large parking lot for Hocking Hills State Park's Visitor Center and Old Man’s Cave on the left.  The hike starts at the northeast corner of this lot.

The hike: Hocking Hills State Park is easily my favorite state park in Ohio.  I am not sure which state park is my second favorite.  (Mohican? John Bryan? Maumee Bay?)  With over 4 million annual visitors, many people agree with my assessment.  The park's tight gorges lined with nearly vertical Blackhand sandstone remind me of those found at New York's famous Watkins Glen, and I have not been disappointed with any of my 5 visits to Hocking Hills.

            Hocking Hills State Park has several subsections, but the park's Visitor Center and campground are located at the very central Old Man's Cave area.  A gorge rather than a cave, Old Man's Cave is named for Richard Rowe, a hermit who lived here in the late 1700's.  Old Man's Cave passes through the entire 150-foot thick layer of Blackhand sandstone for which the park is famous, but it also contains 2 significant waterfalls and some other whitewater features.

            As I hiked here on a seasonally warm afternoon in late October, I thought back to my first hike through Old Man's Cave in May 1998.  The large state-of-the-art Visitor Center with concession area did not exist back then, the parking lot was 1/3 as large as it is today, and nearby SR 664 had a completely different road bed.  Also, crowds were about 1/10 what they were on my most recent visit, and the waterfalls were more scenic with the higher water tables of spring.  Many things change, but the allure of Old Man's Cave remains.

Entrance to Gorge Trail

            Due to the higher visitor count, foot traffic through the Old Man Cave's gorge is restricted to one-way: all hikers must hike downstream through the gorge and return upstream along the rim.  To execute such a route, start from the Visitor Center and head north with the main parking lot on your left and the gorge on your right.  When you reach a large information board on the left, look to the right for the entrance for the Gorge Trail, which heads down a wooden ramp.

Upper Falls

            After crossing Old Man's Creek on a stone bridge, turn right and descend some stone steps to reach the base of Upper Falls.  Upper Falls is one of the postcard sites in Hocking Hills: the bridge you just crossed and the sheer rock walls make a perfect frame.  Water falls in two short drops into a large plunge pool when there is enough water to fall, which there was not on my most recent visit.

Devil's Bathtub

            Continue downstream through the tight gorge, soon passing Devil's Bathtub, a round area where rocks carried by the creek scoured the sandstone walls.  The statewide Buckeye Trail also uses this route, as indicated by the powder blue blazes you see in the gorge.  The trail crosses back and forth over the creek using several bridges.  At 0.4 miles, you pass under the A-frame bridge that spans the gorge and connects the Visitor Center with the campground.  Just past this bridge, an unusual rock formation called The Sphinx juts out from the left gorge wall high above you.

The Sphinx

            After passing through a short man-made tunnel, the short-cut exit trail climbs out of the gorge to the right.  Unless you are getting tired, stay left to head for Lower Falls.  Climb a short set of stone steps and then descend a long set of steps to reach a trail intersection.  The famous Grandma Gatewood Trail heads left to continue further down the gorge first to Cedar Falls and then to Ash Cave.  This hike turns right to stay in the Old Man's Cave area.

Lower Falls

            0.7 miles into the hike, you reach the base of Lower Falls.  Lower Falls is taller than Upper Falls and it has higher water flow, but its lack of symmetrical framing makes it less photogenic.  Now the hardest part of the hike begins: you must climb a long and intricate series of stairs and tunnels to get back to the rim.  This section of trail gains about 150 vertical feet in less than 0.1 miles.

Tunnel leading to rim

            At 0.8 miles, you reach the rim.  Angle softly left to begin heading east along the north rim with the gorge to your right.  The rim walk is rather uneventful, and 0.3 miles of level walking along the rim returns you to the Visitor Center and the A-frame bridge to the campground.  The parking lot lies just beyond the Visitor Center.