ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Reed is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Athens, Ohio. Her work has appeared in Backpacker, Ohio magazine, New River Gorge Guide, and many other publications. She is also the author of Hiking West Virginia and Best Easy Day Hikes Fort Collins (both FalconGuides). Learn more at www.maryreed.biz.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are too many public and private land managers and naturalists to acknowledge by name. Thanks to you all for giving me information and tips on your area and again for reviewing my finished entries. A thank-you also to the many Buckeye Trail Association volunteers who provided help with this manuscript. Thanks to Jessica dArbonne and Meredith Dias at Globe Pequot Press for their work on this project from beginning to end. Thank you to the people who hiked with me, including Marcia Goldstein, Kim Landsbergen, Mark Steinmetz, and Jaclyn Hamilton. Special thanks to the trail angels who helped out in between hikes. Those include Sabrina Gorbett, Fred and Colleen Lockwood, and Pat Dewees. Finally, thanks to my partner, Attila Horvath, who served as chauffeur, photography assistant, editor, number one supporter, and model.
APPENDIX A: HIKE INDEX
BEST HIKES FOR BIRDING
Boardwalk Trail, Maumee Bay State Park (NW), p. 21
Harkers Run to Bachelor Preserve East Loop, Miami University Natural Areas (SW), p. 133
Hemlock to Creekside Meadows Loop, Clear Creek Metro Park (SE), p. 191
North Loop/Alvar, North Pond, and East Quarry Trails, Kelleys Island State Park and North Pond State Nature Preserve (NW), p. 30
Old Valley to Highlights Trail Loop, Holden Arboretum (NE), p. 62
S. Rockbridge State Nature Preserve (SE), p. 220
C. Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve (NW), p. 39
Wetland to Waters Edge Trail, East Harbor State Park (NW), p. 26
Vondergreen Trail, Beaver Creek State Park (NE), p. 72
BEST HIKES TO SEE NATIVE AMERICAN EARTHWORKS
Earthworks Trail to Sun Serpent Effigy, Fort Ancient State Memorial and YMCA Camp Kent (SW), p. 142
Fort to Gorge Trail Loop, Fort Hill State Memorial (SW), p. 157
Orange Trail, Twin Creek MetroPark (SW), p. 124
Overlook and Dripping Rock Trails, Highbanks Metro Park (C), p. 88
Terrace to Ancient Trail Loop, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park (C), p. 102
BEST KID-FRIENDLY HIKES
Beechwood to Red Oak Trail Loop, Mount Airy Forest (SW), p. 147
Big Woods and Sugar Bush Trails, Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve (SW), p. 128
Boardwalk Trail, Maumee Bay State Park (NW), p. 21
N. Charleston Falls Preserve Trails (SW), p. 162
I. East Gorge and West Gorge Trails, Mill Creek MetroParks (NE), p. 83
G. Fort Hill Loop Trail, Rocky River Reservation (NE), p. 82
Glen Helen Loop Trail, Glen Helen Nature Preserve (SW), p. 119
Grandma Gatewood Trail: Old Mans Cave to Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park (SE), p. 181
Lake Trail with Japanese Garden Spur, The Dawes Arboretum (C), p. 93
Lookout to Geology Trail Loop, Rowe Woods, Cincinnati Nature Center (SW), p. 152
Old Valley to Highlights Trail Loop, Holden Arboretum (NE), p. 62
verlook and Dripping Rock Trails, Highbanks Metro Park (C), p. 88
Perimeter Trail: Flat Fork Picnic Area to Pioneer Village, Caesar Creek State Park (SW), p. 137
X. Stone House Loop Trail, Salt Fork Lake State Park (SE), p. 225
Terrace to Ancient Trail Loop, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park (C), p. 102
BEST HIKES ALONG RIVERS AND STREAMS
Blackhand to Quarry Rim Trail, Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve (C), p. 98
I. East Gorge and West Gorge Trails, Mill Creek MetroParks (NE), p. 83
Fort to Gorge Trail Loop, Fort Hill State Memorial (SW), p. 157
Glen Helen Loop Trail, Glen Helen Nature Preserve (SW), p. 119
H. Glens Trail, Gorge Metro Park (NE), p. 83
Q. Gorge Trail, Sharon Woods (SW), p. 165
Harkers Run to Bachelor Preserve East Loop, Miami University Natural Areas (SW), p. 133
Hemlock to Creekside Meadows Loop, Clear Creek Metro Park (SE), p. 191
Hemlock Gorge to Lyons Falls Trail, Mohican State Park (NE), p. 77
South Gorge Trail to Narrows Trail, John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve (SW), p. 114
Stanford House to Brandywine Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NE), p. 54
B. Towpath Trail: Farnsworth MetroPark to Providence Metropark (NW), p. 38
O. Valley of the Ancients to Etawah Woods Trail, Highlands Nature Sanctuary (SW), p. 163
Vondergreen Trail, Beaver Creek State Park (NE), p. 72
I. East Gorge and West Gorge Trails, Mill Creek MetroParks (NE), p. 83
BEST HIKES TO VIEW ROCK FEATURES
W. Archers Fork Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 224
Blackhand to Quarry Rim Trail, Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve (C), p. 98
Cascade Falls to Devils Icebox, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park (NE), p. 67
Fort to Gorge Trail Loop, Fort Hill State Memorial (SW), p. 157
Glen Helen Loop Trail, Glen Helen Nature Preserve (SW), p. 119
H. Glens Trail, Gorge Metro Park (NE), p. 83
Grandma Gatewood Trail: Old Mans Cave to Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park (SE), p. 181
Hemlock to Creekside Meadows Loop, Clear Creek Metro Park (SE), p. 191
Hinckley Lake to Wordens Ledges Trail, Hinckley Reservation (NE), p. 43
Lake Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail, Wayne National Forest, Ironton Ranger District (SE), p. 168
Ledges Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NE), p. 58
L. Ledges Trail, Liberty Park, Summit Metro Parks (NE), p. 86
South Gorge Trail to Narrows Trail, John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve (SW), p. 114
North Loop/Alvar, North Pond, and East Quarry Trails, Kelleys Island State Park and North Pond State Nature Preserve (NW), p. 30
Overlook and Dripping Rock Trails, Highbanks Metro Park (C), p. 88
River Loop to Scenic River Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 208
S. Rockbridge State Nature Preserve (SE), p. 220
Rockhouse to Athens Trail Loop, Sells Park, Riddle State Nature Preserve, and Strouds Run State Park (SE), p. 199
P. Trail to Buzzardroost Rock, Edge of Appalachia Preserve (SW), p. 163
O. Valley of the Ancients to Etawah Woods Trail, Highlands Nature Sanctuary (SW), p. 163
T. Hemlock Bridge to Whispering Cave Trail, Hocking Hills State Park (SE), p. 221
BEST HIKES FOR SOLITUDE
W. Archers Fork Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 224
V. Covered Bridge Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 223
Lamping Homestead Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 212
Logan Trail: North Loop, Tar Hollow State Forest and State Park (SE), p. 177
E. Oak Openings Hiking Trail, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark (NW), p. 40
U. Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve (SE), p. 222
River Loop to Scenic River Trail, Wayne National Forest, Athens DistrictMarietta Unit (SE), p. 208
BEST HIKES TO SEE OLD-GROWTH FORESTS OR TREES
Big Woods and Sugar Bush Trails, Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve (SW), p. 128
Cottonwood to Toadshade Loop, Goll Woods State Nature Preserve (NW), p. 11
Fort to Gorge Trail Loop, Fort Hill State Memorial (SW), p. 157
Hemlock Gorge to Lyons Falls Trail, Mohican State Park (NE), p. 77
Red and Blue Trails, Dysart Woods (SE), p. 216
Terrace to Ancient Trail Loop, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park (C), p. 102
BEST TRAILS WITH VISTAS
Boardwalk Trail, Maumee Bay State Park (NW), p. 21