Distance: 3 miles off-road and 4 miles for the return trip along forest and township roads.
Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty:Moderately difficult with up to 100-foot elevation changes accumulating to an overall 250 feet of climbing and descending. A compass is strongly recommended, for the fire trails you will follow are crossed by other fire trails and confusing. This is a Wildlife Area and you should not hike during deer hunting season.

Description: This circuit hike starts at the primitive camp ground at Salt Fork State Park. It takes you through meadowlands, mature forest and along beaver flooded roadside lands. The walking is moderately hard. There are some steep climbs to elevations from 820" to 1100". On high ridges, there are strikingly scenic views for many  miles.

This short-hike description replaces the directions given in “Featured Hike number 3” found in Chapter 11 of “Follow the Blue Blazes,” the official guidebook to the BT. All else in the Featured Hike remains the same and the guidebook may be consulted for further information. This is a great hike on well-maintained wildlife fire trails following high ridges with broad vistas during winter months.

Directions: From I-77, take SR 22 for 8 miles. One mile past Salt Fork State Park main entrance, turn left on T-587 (Parker Road).

Parking & restrooms: Park in Primitive Camp Ground. If your visit is before the campground gate is open, park outside the gate and follow the blue blazes. There are open pit restrooms in the camp ground area.

Salt Fork Creek was impounded in 1967 to create the 2,952 acre Salt Fork Lake. The area is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Parks and Recreation and Division of Wildlife. The wild life area* where this hike is located has elevations of 790 to 1065 feet above sea level. The environment is 1/3 mature woods, 1/3 grasslands and 1/3 is home to a variety of small trees and shrubs. Vehicles are not permitted on the park’s trails.
 

Start at the southwest corner of the campground and follow the blue blazes first southwest and then west through a low area bordering a field on a well-defined state fire trail. In the spring or anytime there is wet weather, the trail here may have standing water, so wear suitable footwear. The trail soon turns northwest and gains in elevation, passing through hardwood forest with walnut, hickory, and wild cherry. After one-third mile turn north continuing uphill and in 20 minutes encounter an open field where the course of the fire trail turns more north. Always look for blazes and realize that in most cases at confusing spots there will be a blaze within 10 yards. In about a mile from beginning the hike, you will climb to a high, wooded knob with a magnificent view in winter (in summer the foliage blocks the view).
From the knob hike northeast to east, still following the fire-trail and then turn more northerly along a ridge trail with vistas, especially in winter. Continue to follow the well-defined fire trail as it undulates north. Blazing here is sparser. Soon climb another steep grade and find a few persimmon trees with sweet red fruit in September-October.
After the climb the trail turns east at an apparent dead-end with a blaze on the BT soon afterward. Two miles from the beginning spot an open field to the right with a blue-blazed post to show the trail beyond. This area is near the shooting range on Parker Road where you may hear a lot of gunfire. Crossing fire trails in this area are confusing, so watch that you are heading generally north and that there are periodic blazes. A strikingly huge oak or “wolf tree” that has escaped the early settler’s ax stands off to the right. Almost three miles from the beginning of the hike, the trail turns west on another fire trail after a game break, which eventually leads to a forest road. The first blaze as you turn west is at least 50 feet down the trail. You will now descend to R-55 with some up and down. (At this point you could decide to return by the route you just completed, for the road may be less interesting.)
At the road is a turn blaze showing that you turn right. The road descends sharply and turns north after a curve. Aspen trees with beautiful mottled black on white bark appear on the right side of trail.
R-55 soon passes an intersection with R-52. Stay on R-55 and immediately cross Sugartree Fork on a bridge, then traverse an interesting marsh until the forest road dead-ends into R-54.

Turn right on R-54, which becomes Gunn Road (T-871). Turning right (south) at the first intersection on Parker Road (T-587) will return you to your vehicle in the Primitive Campground. Leave BT and blue blazes and turn south on Parker Road.

On the way pass a firing range on the left-hand side of the road. Later look for beaver sign along the small run to the right of the road. This is a fun and somewhat challenging hike that is a lot of fun. Get out and do it!

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Last updated: September 28, 2005
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