Trails in the Athens, Ohio Area

Trails in the Athens, Ohio Area
Athens, Ohio features great hiking, walking, bicycling, rollerblading,
and even cross-country skiing opportunities. These are located in the
City’s preserve lands, in adjacent Strouds Run State Park, at The
Ridges (owned by Ohio University), and other lands. Please note that
no motorized vehicles are allowed on any trail, and all trails require
that dogs must be on a leash.
More trail opportunities can be found at other public lands in our area.
Information on many of these can be found at the websites.
This publication is sponsored by the
Friends of Strouds Run State Park.
Trail Heads (for more than one trail):
Sells Park: At the end of Avon Place, off East State Street; turn at Larry Schey
Chevrolet. Access to the Athens Trail, Rockhouse Trail, and minor trails.
Bike Path Terminus: On East State Street near the Pepsi plant. Access to the
Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path and Athens Trail.
Pioneer Cemetery: On Strouds Run Road in Strouds Run State Park. Coming
from Athens, first parking area on the right in the park. Access to Hickory Trail,
Finger Rock Trail and minor trails.
Dow Lake Dam: On US-50 / OH-32, east of the end of East State Street. Access
to the Lakeview, Hickory, Sundown, Indian Mound, and horse trails.
Dow Lake Swimming Beach: On Swimming Beach Road off Strouds Run Road in
the state park. Access to Lakeview, Broken Rock, Chestnut, horse trails.
McLaren: At end of road going north from East State Street at the credit union
light. Park by barn.
Baker Tract: On OH-690, ½ mile north of US-50, gravel parking area on left.
Access to Baker Tract trails.
Trails:
Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path: An 18-mile paved multi-use path, from a trail
head near Pepsi on East State Street in Athens (east end) to Robbins Crossing at
Hocking College (west end). Extensions to Dow Lake Dam and Nelsonville are
planned. This trail connects with the Athens Trail at the Pepsi trailhead. It is open
to walkers, bicyclists, rollerskaters, and other non motor users (no horses).
The Ridges Cemetery Nature Walk: The Cemetery Nature Walk is 1.3 miles long,
extending from Dairy Lane at the Dairy Barn to the Tower Cemetery ( near the
water tower on The Ridges). It is moderately strenuous. It will be coincident with
the Athens Trail for a distance. This is a historically-oriented trail that connects all
the old cemeteries.
The Ridges Nature Trail: A scenic 1-mile nature loop, built by children from
River Valley School, accessible from a small parking area off SR-682 about half
way between Richland Ave. and White's Mill, or via a mown trail leading northeast
from the top of Radar Hill. Moderately strenuous.
Athens Trail, The Ridges Section: So far, the part of the Athens Trail that is open
is about a quarter- mile, from Radar Hill down to White’s Mill. At Radar Hill, look
west into the woods for a red blaze. The Athens Trail will eventually go from
Southside Park to Whites Mill Road at Union Street, and will coincide with the
Cemetery Trail partway, and with the ridgetop road partway.
Other Paths at The Ridges: Ridgetop gravel roads at The Ridges that be walked,
as well as a multi-use paved path connecting the two sections of the City’s
Southside Park on Dairy Lane. Bicycles are not allowed on gravel paths.
Athens Trail, Strouds Run Section: This trail extends 3.5 miles through Strouds
Run and the City preserve. The western terminus is in Sells Park. The eastern is at
the Bike Path Trail Head on East State. This trail is open to hikers and bicyclists.
There are long, steep climbs near the two ends, but most of the trail is relatively
easy, with a few short climbs. The Athens Trail intersects with the Rockhouse
Trail, Finger Rock Trail, and several connectors. It is blazed with a modified white
“A” (that looks like an arrowhead) on a red background.
Rockhouse Trail: This trail is 2.7 miles, from Sells Park to Blue Ash Run east of
Turtlehead Cave, where the White Oak Trail connects to the Athens Trail. It also
connects with the Lookout, Redbud, Sourwood, Pawpaw, Basswood, Cucumbertree,
and White Ash Trails. It is open to hikers and bicyclists. It is an easy trail with a
few moderate climbs. It is an excellent trail for cross-country skiing. It is blazed
with a white arch on an orange blaze.
Finger Rock Trail: This trail is 1.2 miles long, and connects the Athens Trail with
the Hickory Trail at Dow Lake. The Athens Trail intersection is 1.5 miles from
Sells Park, and the Hickory Trail intersection is 0.1 mile from the Pioneer Cemetery
Trailhead. It is open to hikers and bicyclists. It is moderate on the ridgetop, but
moderately strenuous at the north end. It also connects with the Pioneer Cemetery
Trail. The trail is marked with blue blazes; a modified white “F” will soon be
painted on these.
Connector Trails, Athens Trail System: There are several short connector trails in
the Athens Trail system. From west to east, these are: Lookout Trail, to Sells Park
Lookout; Redbud, Sourwood, Pawpaw, and Basswood Trails, connecting Athens
and Rockhouse Trails; Cucumbertree Trail, connecting to the McLaren Trailhead
on East State Street; and the White Ash and White Oak Trails, connecting Athens
and Rockhouse Trails. They range from 0.1 to 0.6 mile.
Lakeview Trail: This 3-mile trail follows the northeast shoreline of Dow Lake. It
can be reached from the end of the Swimming Beach Road in Strouds Run or from
Dow Lake Dam. It connects with the horse trails, Sundown Trail, Indian Mound
Trail and Broken Rock Trail.
Hickory Trail: This 2.8-mile trail follows the southwest shoreline of Dow Lake. It
can be reached from Dow Lake Dam or from the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead. This
trail is open to bicycles, and is moderately easy except for a few short, steep climbs.
It connects with the Finger Rock Trail, Pioneer Cemetery Trail, and Trace Trail.
Vista Point and White Pine Trails: The Vista Point Trail begins at the
amphitheater at the campground just north of Strouds Run Road. It is a 1.5-mile
trail that loops back to the campground road. The Vista Point, overlooking the
north end of the lake, is on this trail. The 1/3-mile White Pine Trail begins at a
parking area off Strouds Run Road just inside the state park, and connects with the
Vista Point Trail. Both are moderately strenuous. The Vista Point Trail also
connects with the Thunderbunny Trail.
Broken Rock Trail: About 2 miles long, it begins on the swimming beach road
near the concession stand in the state park, and ends on the North Lakeview Trail.
It is a strenuous trail. The Chestnut Trail connects the middle of this trail with the
area of Shelterhouse 3. It is strenuous.
Beaver Pond Trail: This trail begins on the State Park Road north of Strouds Run
Road and extends to the beaver ponds up the valley. It is easy.
Indian Mound Trail: This trail begins at the Lakeview Trail near the Dow Lake
Dam, and loops back to the same trail. It is 0.7 mile by itself, or 1.5 miles hiked
from the dam and back. It is moderately strenuous.
Thunderbunny Trail: This 2.5-mile bicycle trail is also open to hikers. It begins at
the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead, and ends at the upper footbridge in the
campground, but will end instead north of there on State Park Road. It intersects
with the Vista Point Trail. It is moderately easy.
Sundown Trail: This 3.2-mile bicycle trail, also open to hikers, extends from the
Swimming Beach Road at Strouds Run Road (first gravel parking area on the left),
and ends at Dow Lake Dam. It intersects with many of the horse trails, as well as
the Broken Rock and Chestnut Trails. It is moderately easy.
Baker Tract Trails: The Athens Conservancy is developing a system of hiking,
biking and horse trails on the Baker Tract (see trailhead list). These trails are under
development but are open to users.
Buckeye/North Country/American Discovery Trail:
The Buckeye Trail circles the state of Ohio; in our area, the North Country Trail, a
national scenic trail, and the American Discovery Trail coincide. This trail loops
through northern Athens County, including Burr Oak State Park.
For more information:
Friends of Strouds Run State Park: www.friendsofstroudsrun.org
Athens Trails: www.gasp.athens.oh.us/trails
Athens Conservancy: www.athensconservancy.org
Ohio Horsemans Council: www.ohiohorsemanscouncil.org
Buckeye Trail: www.buckeyetrail.org
North Country Trail: www.northcountrytrail.org
America Discovery Trail: www.discoverytrail.org
Hockhocking-Adena Bikeway: www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx088
Moonville Rail-Trail: www.moonvillerailtrail.org
Athens Bicycle Club: www.athensbicycleclub.org
CyclePath (informational resource): www.athenscyclepath.com
State Parks, Wildlife, Forests, Preserves: www.dnr.state.oh.us
Strouds Run State Park:
www.ohiodnr.com/parks/strouds/tabid/790/Default.aspx
Wayne National Forest: www.fs.fed.us/r9/wayne