Scioto Trail Section Trail Alerts:

• (11/06/07)

  Effective immediately and until further notice (8 weeks we hope) The Buckeye Trail will be closed between Points 28 and 33 on the Scioto Trail Map. This is necessary because there are logging operations underway on parts of the trail between these two points. A bypass has been blazed between these points on Morgans Fork Road and Pike Lake Road. Clockwise stay on Morgans Fork Road until it joins Pike Lake Road and then turn right (NW) on Pike lake road and proceed until the blazed turn into the woods going SW (left).
  Counterclockwise when you emerge from the woods onto Pike Lake Road turn SE (right) and go to until Morgans Fork Road joins from the left going NE. This will then pass Point 28 and proceed into Nipgen on blazed trail as it is on the map. This detour is all on road and slightly shorter.

• (7/08/06 and 5/18/06)

Effective immediately the BT in Scioto Trail Section is changed between points 10 and 12. Clockwise at point 10 the trail turns west on Musgrove Road and after a short distance turns south up a valley. It proceeds south over a hill and comes out on US 35 where it goes through a pedestrian underpass. On the SE side of US-35 it proceeds through a series of switchbacks up to the top of the hill (about a mile). It then follows a logging road around the hill, traverses along a short section of off-road trail to avoid a steep hill, rejoins the logging road and continues to a parking area adjacent to a cell tower. The trail then follows this road down the hill to the south, crosses the railroad tracks, over a low locked gate, across old US 35 and on to Higby Road. Follow Higby Road SW to Three Locks Road (point 13). This eliminates the road hike down Vigo Road through Richmond Dale and out old 35 to Higby Road. SEE map and detailed information below:

CW	CCW	Pt	Description
0.0 W	6.9 N	10	Lickskillet on Musgrove Rd. (C-213B) Note that Pt. 10 is actually somewhat E of where it is drawn on the June 2005 Edition of the Scioto Trail Section map. This error affects the drawing only and has no affect on the distance between Pt. 9 and 10. On the attached drawing, new trail is marked in red. Off-road trail is marked by a solid line. On-road trail is marked by a dotted line. BT turns W onto Musgrove Rd. past Goshen Run Church and Myers Rd. (1460', T-525, exits N).
1.3 S	5.6 E	11	Musgrove Rd. at Driveway BT leaves Musgrove Rd. and turns S onto the more westerly of the two driveways that exit S here. In 1000', BT leaves driveway and continues S across lawn towards an electric utility pole. Just past utility pole, BT fords intermittent stream and continues S on mowed path. In 540', BT fords a second intermittent stream and immediately turns NW in a broad turn. For the next 5000', the trail will be on an old forest road that was important enough to be recognized on the Richmond Dale Quadrangle. However, several other traces with similar footprint intersect this forest road. The blazing was adequate but not transparent when I walked the trail in early June. In 400', BT reaches a low ridge and turns sharply S.In 1100' at a "crossroads", BT makes an ascending turn and heads NW. In 1200', BT passes an interesting log house in an advanced state of disrepair. Associated outbuildings have mostly collapsed. BT continues W but soon rounds a hogback and turns SE. Approaching another hogback, BT turns back W.
2.6 S	4.3 E	A	Hogback From this vantage point, you can see the culvert that ODOT constructed for the North Country Trail to pass beneath US-35. Fortunately, BT and NCT are partners. Otherwise, one can only guess that permanent loss of trail, as occurred in Hocking County when US-33 was reconstructed, would have resulted. The blue line that passes just SW of Pt. A more correctly represents the route of US-35 than does the blue line marked with the shield and shown on the original map. BT descends towards the culvert and passes beneath US 35. BT turns S on bench built by ODOT on grassy fill. In 360', BT turns back towards corner in highway fence (no bench). At corner of fence, BT begins arc that leads to an opening in the pile of logs that line the north edge of this area of grassy fill. Remember that this is all grassy fill. There is no established, marked trail. As long as you do not climb the highway fence and manage to hit the gap in the logs mentioned above, you will do just fine. In 920', BT fords an intermittent stream in broad swale and then begins a long ascent on newly benched footpath in woods with graceful climbing turn and several switchbacks. In 3900', BT turns SE onto an inactive skid road that undulates and winds along a wooded ridge. In 2300' as skid road begins an ascent, BT turns SW onto footpath that returns to the skid road in a saddle in 780'.
4.6 W	2.3 E	B	Crossroads near Microwave Relay You have come this far. The wonderful view across the Scioto R. valley from Hang Glider Hill is just 560' SE past the fenced tower. Go for it! BT joins service road and descends W to saddle. Here, service road turns sharply S and descends more steeply. At the bottom of the hill (2100'), service road turns NW parallel to CSX tracks. In 1500', service road turns W across the CSX tracks and through a gate.
5.6 W	1.3 E	12	Service Road at US-35 and Higby Rd. (C-206) BT joins Higby Rd. heading E past the drive that was Pt. 12 on the June 2005 Edition of the Scioto Trail Section map.
6 S	0.0 NE	13	Higby Rd (C-206 NE and C-205 S) at Three Locks Road (C-205) This location marks the end of the log changes that were created by the US-35 relocation. Although some trail remains on road, the relocation created 4.3 miles of off-road trail that was formerly all on road and reduced the length of the segment, and the section as well, by 1.3 miles.

End of Trail Alerts

The Scioto Trail Section traverses portions of Vinton, Hocking, Ross and Pike counties. These are the legendary foothills of the Appalachians - beautiful southern Ohio hill country. The BT passes through three state forests - Tar Hollow State Forest, Scioto Trail State Forest, and Pike State Forest. These forests have state parks nearby, affording plentiful camping and recreational facilities for individuals and groups. The trail through the state forests is either off-road or on state forest access roads. The Scioto Trail Section begins on State Route 327 just east of Tar Hollow State Forest. It works its way northwest through the forest up to the Tar Hollow Fire Tower, then southward through state forest and private lands to US Route 50, just west of Londonderry. These miles provide some beautiful sections of forested off-road trail as well as some spectacular views of the surrounding countryside from a variety of ridgetops. The Buckeye Trail then connects to Scioto Trail State Forest via pastureland, backcountry roads and picturesque off-road ridgetops overlooking the Scioto River valley, crossing the Scioto River just before entering the Scioto Trail State Forest. The trail west of Scioto Trail State Forest follows mostly remote, scenic backroads to the small crossroads of Nipgen, just outside of Pike State Forest. The western terminus of the section is in Pike State Forest, southeast of Pike Lake Dam.

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Information on this page is provided as a service by the Buckeye Trail Association. It is believed accurate, but not guaranteed.  Changes may occur at anytime. When known, such changes will be noted on this web site, and in Trailblazer, the BTA's bi-monthly publication. The Buckeye Trail Association is not responsible for any errors, omissions or changes to the information on this page. If you note any errors, please contact the Buckeye Trail Association, PO Box 254, Worthington, Ohio, 43085, or E-Mail the webmaster.

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Last updated: Feb. 9, 2009
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