Escape the Crowds with These 4 South Central Ohio Parks
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find places to go with little to no people and Ohio is no exception. There are major cities scattered throughout all corners of the state except the southeast and central areas and that is precisely where we are headed in this post.
When most Ohioans consider parks in this part of the state, it always seems to come to one place in particular, Hocking Hills State Park. It's hard to argue that Hocking Hills is beautiful, but it has such a name for itself that the crowds flood in throughout the year and it can be difficult finding parking let alone a trail to yourself.
So to avoid that, I have compiled my list of 4 south central Ohio parks to avoid the crowds.
Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve
This destination is just a blip on the map. In fact it's so small, you really have to zoom in on Google Maps for it to even appear, but don't let its small size deceive you. It is jam packed with natural sights and there is a fair chance you will have the place almost to yourself.
How to Get There
The nearest town to Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve is Jackson, Ohio with a population of just over 6,200. It sits deep down in the part of the state where hills, cliffs, and pristine lakes reign supreme. Being just under an hour south of Hocking Hills you'd think there would at least be some traffic. Nope. The small parking area only had a few cars in it and the one family was leaving as we got there. Beyond that, we only saw one other group and someone fishing on a boat during the entire 2.5 hour adventure on a warm Saturday afternoon.
The address to the parking area is:
1703 Lake Katherine Road
Jackson, Ohio 45640
The parking lot is actually less than a quarter mile beyond where this address will take you.
Where to Explore
If there is one thing eastern Ohio is known for natural resource wise, it's the sandstone cliffs covered in green moss with waterfalls dropping from the ledges. Lake Katherine is no exception. There are just under 6 miles of trails here and they all pretty much feature one or more of those attributes listed above along with views of the lake.
Trails
Photo credit ODNR
We did either a portion or all of every trail in the park which isn't very difficult given that there are just under 6 miles to experience. Still, it's a very pretty area and no trail disappoints. So pick a couple or all of them and have fun!
Fishing
While I did not fish here, as an avid fisherman I wanted to touch on this. The lake is pristine and the way they keep it this way is by enforcing strict fishing rules. There is a sign at the lake that states:
Fishings is allowed April through October, Friday through Monday
There is a $10 permit
Bank fishing is not allowed, just non-motorized watercraft
There is a 5 watercraft limit on the lake per day
To obtain a permit, you must call (740)286-2487
With this said, I imagine the fishing could be very good since the pressure is low so if you can get a permit, it may very well be worth the drive!
Clear Creek Metropark
This prized pick of mine has big gains (literally) and not many people to share it with making it the perfect park for those who enjoy seclusion. It's towards the northern part of south central Ohio, but I'll let it slide.
While I will dive into the details momentarily, I must admit that I have no idea what happened to my camera photos. I can't find them so I have very few photos to share. Just the ones on my phone so you'll just have to go there yourself to really see it!
How to Get There
Located just 20 minutes south of Lancaster, Ohio and about 50 minutes south of Columbus, Ohio, it's an easy day trip for many.
There are a few different parking areas, but one of the main ones is:
Creekside Meadows
23833 Clear Creek Road
Rockbridge, OH 43149
Where to Explore
Our trip here was on a whim. I found it on a map one day and decided we should go see something new so we didn't have any prior recon of the park. At the time, we lived over 2 hours away so yes, it may have been a gamble to drive that distance and not know anything beforehand. However, this is how we often roll. In fact, it's not uncommon for us to get in the car and just drive, sometimes for hours, just to see what we might discover next in our backyard. Anyways...
As you get within the park boundaries, you encounter the beautiful Clear Creek which is one of only 2 streams in Ohio that have year round trout populations (the Mad River being the other). The park road follows the creek closely as you meander along. We decided to park at the first parking lot we came to which was Creekside Meadows. There were several cars here, but pretty much everyone stayed around the creek and picnic area. We looked at a map and decided on the Cemetery Ridge Trail.
Cemetery Ridge Trail
From Creekside Meadows, you must take the Creekside Meadows Trail east from the parking lot. Eventually you'll get to the road which you'll have a short road section before crossing the road and hit the Cemetery Ridge trailhead.
This trail goes up, and up, and up. It's steep and just attacks the hill. You'll ascend over 300 feet to the top of the ridgeline right off the bat, but once you're up there, it's relatively light rolling hills after that.
The views are very tree filled, but there are a couple openings. You'll see the Cemetery Ridge Barn part way through as well which is the last remaining structure from an old 1800s farmstead.
If you want a good trail running spot, check this place out as you won't be disappointed!
We only saw 1 person up here which helped this park earn a spot on my list.
Towards the end of the Cemetery Ridge Trail, it forks so we broke off to the south to stay on the same trail before hopping onto the Fern Trail. The Fern Trail also has a fork for the Hemlock Trail, but we stuck to the Fern. It's fairly steep in spots and technical at times so watch where you're stepping as the rocks can be loose. There are some really nice scenic spots throughout and even some namesake ferns scattered about.
We saw 3 other people on this stretch so still pretty secluded! Once at the bottom, there is the Fern Picnic Area which we crossed and hit up the red trail which just follows along the creek back to Creekside Meadows on a flat 1 mile stretch. You can't beat views of the creek so take it in!
Overall, we ended up doing a little under 5 miles. Not bad with young kids!
There are other trails as well as Lake Ramona on the other side of the park, but that'll have to wait until next time.
Cherry Street Pub
Photo credit - Cherry Street Pub
I'm going to halt the park talk for a moment so I can share a fantastic eatery, the Cherry Street Pub!
How to Get There
Located in downtown Lancaster, Ohio, it's just a short jaunt from Clear Creek. This is the hometown of one of my really good crayon chewing friends, but other than that, I don't know much about Lancaster (yet). Regardless, this restaurant rocks so don't miss out!
The address is:
202 N Cherry St.
Lancaster, OH 43130
The Eats
As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We don't eat out much because Laura is an excellent cook and we're often disappointed with restaurants. Cherry Street Pub, however, gets two thumbs up per person from us. While I had a reuben, everyone else split one of the delicious burgers and the OMG! pecan chicken and waffles. I was able to sample the others, and wow, this food was amazing! The online reviews will back that claim up so seriously, if you're ever in Lancaster, OH be sure to check this place out!
Edge of Appalachia Preserve
Now this is a park no one seems to have heard of. I have spoken about it many times to people from all over the state and no one knows what I'm talking about. Boy, are they missing out. I've been here 2 times so far and the incredible scenery was enjoyed without anyone else around. There are 27 miles of trails to explore and the Buckeye Trail, a 1400 plus mile trail that circumnavigates the state of Ohio, goes through here. Just look for the light blue blazes on the trees.
How to Get There
Hugging the Ohio Brush Creek just north of the mighty Ohio River is where you'll find this Ohio treasure. It's pretty much hilly back roads to get to this park after you leave West Union, OH so cell service may be intermittent.
Here is how to get to the main parking area which is called the Joan Jones Portman Trail & Rieveschl Overlook. First plug in the following address:
Eulett Center, 4274 Waggoner Riffle Rd, West Union, OH 45693
Then, continue down the road for another mile and you'll find a wooden building with bathrooms and picnic tables around. Park anywhere here. There are map stations to get your bearings and usually they have paper maps for the taking.
Where to Explore
If you park at the Joan Jones Portman Trail & Rieveschl Overlook area, there are a couple distinct places to go from here.
Dr. George Rieveschl Jr. Creek's Bend Overlook
This is at the building and you'll get a really nice view of the Ohio Brush Creek from here. Hang out and eat your lunch, launch a canoe or kayak at the ramp, or prepare for a nice hike.
Joan Jones Portman Trail
We decided on this hike as the trailhead was right where we parked. At 4.3 miles roundtrip, it's not terribly long, but can get up there for young children. It has a decent amount of ascending and descending and features outcroppings plus an abundance of plant life and trees. Wildlife is plentiful along the trail with tons of birds and deer. This preserve is considered to have some of the greatest flora and fauna diversity in the entire Midwest. Edge of Appalachia can harbor black bears too, while uncommon, you could be in for a special surprise. Bobcats are also known to be found out here so definitely keep your eyes open and cameras in hand especially in the early morning and evening hours.
At the turnaround point there is a nice lookout framed by a thick canopy of trees.
Buzzardroost Rock Trail
This is easily the pinnacle of the park both in terms of elevation and scenic views. If you're going to encounter people, it's likely to be here unless you arrive early and beat the crowds. That's exactly what we did at my brother's bachelor party weekend when I convinced everyone that we should check out the Buzzardroost Rock Trail since we were staying relatively close in Maysville, KY. We woke up early to hit the trail and beat almost everyone there. I think we saw a few people over the 4.4 mile lollipop loop.
Commanding views of the farms and forests below treat all who make the effort to reach Buzzardroost Rock. It has to be excellent up here during fall foliage.
The trailhead is a very small parking lot which is north of the main area. Use this address to get there:
Christian & Emma Goetz Buzzardroost Rock Trailhead, 38.770630, -83.425990, Lynx, OH 45650
Do yourself a favor and plan a trip to the Edge of Appalachia Preserve sometime. I don't think you'll have a reason to regret it!
Hopewell Culture National Historic Park
For this next adventure, you'll have to travel to the former capital of Ohio, Chillicothe. It held the seat for 2 short stints, but hasn't had this title since 1816.
Hopewell Culture National Historic Park sits on the north side of Chillicothe so it's far from remote in that sense, but despite the close proximity, crowds are manageable so you shouldn't have to worry about mobs of tourists like you would at other national park sites.
Historical Significance
The Hopewell name is not derived from a tribe, but rather, the former farmer who owned the property. It was known that Native American sites dating back nearly 2000 years were scattered throughout the region so archeological digging took place here in the mid 1800s.
Today, the Mound City Group, which is just behind the visitor center, enjoys the fame as the only fully restored eathenworks. While none of the mounds are original, you'll get a glimpse of how these ancient tribes used to live.
How to Get There
The Mound City Group Visitor Center can be found at the following address:
16062 OH-104
Chillicothe, OH 45601
There is no entrance fee for the park.
Where to Explore
As I often suggest, start your trip at the visitor center to learn about the Native American tribes that once lived within the region. After that, tour a mound. There are several mound groups within the park boundaries that are open to the public including:
Mound City Group
Seip Earthworks
Hopeton Earthworks
Hopewell Mound Group
Of these, we only checked out the Mound City Group. Ranger led tours are available if you have the time. We decided to walk the grounds ourselves and read the informational boards scattered about.
Please note that out of respect, walking on the mounds is not allowed. There is plenty of walkable grass to allow you to get close to most of the mounds.
Overall this is an interesting park with a lot of historical and archeological value which allows you to peer into a whole new culture altogether.
Useful Links
Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve - https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/lake-katharine-state-nature-preserve
Clear Creek Metropark - https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/clear-creek/
Cherry Street Pub - https://cherrystreetpub.com/
Edge of Appalachia Preserve - https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-preserve-system/
Hopewell Culture NHP - https://www.nps.gov/hocu/index.htm
As always, B.E. Adventurous!