Sinking Spring Section Trail Alerts:

• (7/09/2007) The Ohio Historical Society has requested that the Buckeye Trail be routed off the Deer Trail and onto the Gorge Trail within Fort Hill Reservation for several reasons. First, the Deer Trail fords the Baker Fork at two locations. Over the years, the condition of the both fords has deteriorated. Second, the condition of the Deer Trail itself has deteriorated due to many blow-downs with which neither Fort Hill personnel nor Buckeye Trail Adopters have been able to remove. Effective June 2007, the BT lies upon the Gorge Trail.

  Fort Hill State Memorial (800 283-8905) is a nature preserve containing one of the best preserved Indian hilltop enclosures in North America. The facility is owned and operated by The Ohio Historical Society (OHS). The Hopewell Indians (100 B.C.-A.D. 500) constructed the 7500’ long earthwork hilltop enclosure as well as at least two ceremonial buildings and probably a village in the Brush Creek Valley. Lying at the western edge of the Allegheny Plateau and just S of the glacial boundary, this hilly area contains an impressive diversity of bedrock, soils, flora, and fauna, including seven natural bridges. Facilities: P, Pr, PS, PT, soft drink machine. The preserve and Museum are open April 1 through Labor Day during daylight hours. Hikers may use the trails year around.

  This change in the trail alters the accumulative mileages shown in the Sinking Spring Section Map as follows:
  Before Point 14, subtract 1.4 miles from the CCW distance.
  After Point 15, subtract 1.4 miles from the CW distance.
  The log of the 2006 Edition of the Sinking Springs Section at Point 14 should now read:

  CW	CCW	Pt	Description
  21.9 NW	29.1 E	14	Parking Lot at Picnic Area in Fort Hill State Memorial After undulating along or above the Baker Fork for 4600', BT reaches a point (See sketch, pt. A) where the Deer Trail diverges from the Gorge Trail. Although BT formerly followed the more primitive Deer Trail, it now continues S on the Gorge Trail. In 300', BT goes through rustic cabin (Camping for Backpackers) and continues S on Gorge Trail. The Ohio Historical Society has improved the Gorge Trail with minor reroutes and many sets of steps to eliminate formerly steep, slippery slopes. In 4700’, trail nears the Baker Fork and a large natural bridge can be made out across the stream. The bridge carries the Deer Trail above a small tributary to the Baker Fork (Pt. B). BT ascends SE and in 850', BT again approaches the Baker Fork. Here, the Deer Trail rejoins the Gorge Trail from across the Baker Fork. The congruent Deer/Gorge Trails undulate over two steep dolomite promontories before climbing slowly through dolomite cliffs away from the Baker Fork on a well-graded, former road. In 1600' as Deer/Gorge Trails turn N (Pt. C), BT goes S on a service road past a barn (1300'). At park boundary (500', Pt. D), BT continues now SE through gate onto Tanyard Rd. past working farm.
  25.7 SE	25.3 NW	15	Tanyard Rd. at SR-124 (no changes to text)
  			In addition, please note several typographical errors to the distances reported at Points 7, 8 and 9. Add 0.6 miles to the CW distance and subtract 0.6 miles from the CCW distance at each point.

• (11/01/2006) Division of Forestry has closed The so-called Sprague Leg of the Buckeye Trail within Pike State Forest. This segment includes all of the off-road trail that begins at Pt. 3, BT at Greenbriar Road, and ends at Greenbriar Road 1900' before the trail reaches Pt. 4, Auerville Road at Fire Tower Road. The closure is temporary while forestry operations are conducted across the region the trail uses. In the meantime, Forestry has marked an alternate route along Greenbriar Road. The route is marked with Boundary Marker Blue blazes.

  From Pt. 3, the trail turns east onto Greenbriar Road. In time, Greenbriar Road descends to rejoin existing trail 150' uphill from Auerbach Road (2.12 Miles). Amazingly, the length of the reroute is exactly the same as that of the closed segment.

End of Trail Alerts

The Sinking Spring section offers some beautiful scenery and hiking as it's northern half passes through Pike State Forest. Almost 24 miles of the trail passes through the forest or adjoining Pike State Park, utilizing forest roads, abandon dirt roads and plain old trail. Plenty of facilities are available in the park. After crossing SR 41, the trail enters the Fort Hill historical area, site of a Hopewell Indian ceremonial mound built 2000 years ago.  A side trail leads to the mound atop the hill. Nearby is Butler Springs Christian Center, site of several BTA Annual Meetings, including 1999. The Buckeye Trail continues through Fort Hill on trails before finally going on roads. After passing through Sinking Spring, the trail goes by another Indian mound at Serpent Mound. South of SR 32 are several miles of trail, over Tolle Hill, through Davis Memorial and near Mineral Springs Lake.

Services:

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Photos courtesy of Diane Abney, November 2006

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: March 6, 2009
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