There are some fantastic trails to explore in Ohio’s Appalachian foothills and you’ll find an especially memorable path in Strouds Run State Park. The Vista Point Trail takes hikers through some dense forest and Native American history and a view from the trail is simply breathtaking.
Grab your hiking boots – here’s what you can experience on this beautiful trail.
Strouds Run State Park is located near Athens, Ohio. It covers 2,600 acres and it's heavily forested, with many trees that are more than 100-years-old. The park is filled with narrow valleys, narrow ridges, steep hillsides, and many sandstone bluffs—glaciers that covered Ohio 12,000 years ago missed this place but melting glacier water sculpted the land.
Because of the terrain, the hiking can be a little challenging but Vista Point Trail is well worth it. It's an out-and-back hike of about 1.5 miles and the terrain is rated "moderate."
The park is teeming with wildlife. You may encounter a deer bounding through the forest or a vulture circling above. If you look down, you might see one of the smaller inhabitants of the park.
The park also has a long Native American history. There are mounds in the area that were built during the Woodland Period more than 2,000 years ago. More recently the area was inhabited by the Shawnee Nation until the Treaty of Greenville forced them to abandon their lands in the region.
The Vista Point Trail will take you to an overlook with a view of Dow Lake. It's a 160-acre artificial lake in the center of the park that's used by small boats and anglers.
Ohio State Parks are a great way to enjoy nature if you’re on the budget. The state is one of the few in the country that does not charge admission or parking fees. Feel like exploring the park? Here’s a map of Strouds State Park and here are some more parks you might want to explore.
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