Shawnee National Forest/Park

[Dayton Sux]

There are two good gorge trails @ Cesars Creek.

One is near the dam, and takes you along the creek and then up into the woods, with an option to return via the woods or through some prarie land by the spillway.

The other, less visited one, is off the road btw Oregonia and Corwin, near the Little Miami. You hike along the creek, with big bluffs on the other bank, then go up hill, where you could loop through a red cedar forest (field reverting back to woodland still in the cedar phase of sucesssion), and along a fenceline with a farm field, befor heading back downhill to the parking.

I usually hike the second trail because I like the solitude...and you could walk across the road to follow the creek to where it meets the Little Miami.

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In re the thread header...I too would be interested in the Shawnee State Forest. This is called the "Little Smokies of Ohio", and is the largest tract of roadless woodland in the state. So it should be a great place for hiking or backpacking. There is a 7 mile day-hike trail, but supposedly this is more for backpacking. There's supposed to be a lodge on-site for overnight guests, too.

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In general there are plenty of neat hiking opportunities near Cincy. I hike a LOT, and have not run out of new places to visit yet. My favorite recurring hikes are closer to Dayton, of course, but I do get out to the "Edge of Appalachia" area which is also accessible to Cincy folks...places like Fort Hill, Buzzards Roost Rock, Lynx Prairie, and 'The Wilderness".

[wolden]

Originally Posted by Dayton Sux

"Edge of Appalachia" area which is also accessible to Cincy folks...places like Fort Hill, Buzzards Roost Rock, Lynx Prairie, and 'The Wilderness".

Great post, thanks. Can you say more about the "edge of appalachia, I've never heard of any of the places you mentioned, are they nearby? In Ky?

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by wolden

Great post, thanks. Can you say more about the "edge of appalachia, I've never heard of any of the places you mentioned, are they nearby? In Ky?

There are a large number of places in particularly Southeastern Ohio which may be called the edge of appalachia. Many of them do not have a large enough single attraction to have resulted in commercial development for exploitation. That is part of their great appeal today, they are not overrun by the types of things which have just about ruined the Smokey Mountains.

Another site which comes to mind is the Little Grand Canyon in Pennsylvania. It is smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania's Public Forest Preserve, which also shields it from exploitation. A great place for nature lovers to visit.

[kjbrill]

It should be pointed out that Ohio has 74 state parks of varying size. 8 of the state parks offer a state run Lodge, which also has dining and lounge facilities, indoor and outdoor pools. You can spend a lot of time investigating what is offered at the various state parks and even more time going there and enjoying them.