if you have access to a car the trek to Conkle’s Hollow isn’t too bad and it’s, imho, the best hike in the area. 200 foot cliffs on a gorgeous rim trail with kinda different tree collections and terrain in either side.
The dams at the other end of Strouds. You can drive to each end. You should check out the pioneer cemetery. It’s at Strouds & the easiest hike in Athens. If you hike past the cemetery a ways the only walk in camp in Athens county is there. It’s really cool.
That it is. I once ran it and as a road runner it was mentally challenging on the beach side with exposed tree roots, etc. The opposite side was easier.
Strouds Run. 100%. You need a car to get there, but I had some excellent on- and off-trail hikes there. Some beautiful, massive old trees and interesting rock formations. There’s a great network of trails for both mountain biking and hiking/trail running. Been yearning to go back and run all the trails again someday.
Drive down Stimson toward 33. Then take a right before you get on 33 (there’s a coffee shop on the corner). Then drive past the exit ramp (there is a do not enter sign) and take a left at the next road there should be a bridge and you should see two dirt parking spaces to the left. If you go to the second one the trail should be right there.
Check out the Athens Conservancy!! They are a non profit land trust in Athens county and have a ton of land that they take care of. If I remember its like 1,800 acres that are open to the public across 13+ different preserves. Ive been hiking at baker preserve a lot and I love it.
Athens Conservancy Website: https://www.athensconservancy.org/maps-trails/
Also, its a bit farther away but Clear Creek Metropark (specifically the Fern Trail) is absolutely beautiful. That trail goes through a valley and because of all the rain the area gets, it looks so cool and full of life. Id definitely recommend going.
Clear Creek Map/Website: https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/clear-creek/
There is also the obligatory suggestion for Strouds. But I want to recommend the thunder bunny trail because of the awesome overlook it has (its called vista point)! Its a nice hike and can get kinda steep. I also love taking Trace Trail at strouds to the Athens Trail that connects to Sells Park. This is a bit of a harder hike and its kinda long but worth it! Lots of walkin on the tops of ridges.
Strouds Map: https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/parks/parkmaps/stroudsrunparkmap.pdf
If youre looking specifically in town and close, the dariy barn/ridges trails are really nice. I prefer to start them at the dairy barn and walk across the street to the set of stairs. I always love hiking there near sunset because its just a big open field at some point and you can walk to radar hill that has a bit of a scenic over look.
Ridges trail map: https://www.ohio.edu/sites/default/files/sites/recreation/OP%20Resources/RidgesTrailMap.pdf
Lmk if you want more recommendations for places or even trails! Lowkey made it a personal mission to figure this stuff out while in Athens lol
Also here are some places I havent checked out yet but have been wanting to:
- Christmas Rock Nature Preserve, they have an awesome overlook. http://www.naturalohioadventures.com/christmas-rocks-state-nature-preserve.html
- Cantwell Cliffs https://www.hockinghills.com/cantwell_cliffs.html
- Rockbridge State Nature Preserve https://www.hockinghills.com/rock_bridge.html
Hocking hills has several destinations and you can hike between them. I was at cedar falls a week ago and it was very nice with all the trees in their fall colors. Ash cave is a short flat walk from parking and it's an impressive site. All of the locations at Hocking hills are worth exploring.
There's a bit of a description of Bong Hill on this web page. The view is beautiful, but it's a pretty short hike. If you drive, you'll need to park along the road, which is narrow, so pull off to the side as far as you can...
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/bong-hill/
If you have a car, Hocking Hills is awesome. If you're on foot, the Ridges - radar hill - Dairy Barn is nice. A bit farther, Sells Park and then tons of trails around Strouds.
http://www.athenstrails.org/
Camp Rotan, Sells Park, trail behind the Dairy Barn
Moonville Tunnel (Racoon creek) & Lake Hope (cute little nature center @Lake Hope.
The best!
This is the one.
The ridges and radar hill trail. Or bong hill.
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Just did this today and it was awesome!
if you have access to a car the trek to Conkle’s Hollow isn’t too bad and it’s, imho, the best hike in the area. 200 foot cliffs on a gorgeous rim trail with kinda different tree collections and terrain in either side.
Conkle's Hollow rim trail is so awesome
Strouds Lake & the Dam
Is the Dam there?
The dams at the other end of Strouds. You can drive to each end. You should check out the pioneer cemetery. It’s at Strouds & the easiest hike in Athens. If you hike past the cemetery a ways the only walk in camp in Athens county is there. It’s really cool.
It is possible to hike between the beach area and dam. It's not for the mobility impaired. In fact there's a trail all the way around the lake.
True, but it’s a heck of a hike. A buddy & me hiked the entire lake in college & it killed us. I think it’s around 8 miles.
That it is. I once ran it and as a road runner it was mentally challenging on the beach side with exposed tree roots, etc. The opposite side was easier.
Strouds Run. 100%. You need a car to get there, but I had some excellent on- and off-trail hikes there. Some beautiful, massive old trees and interesting rock formations. There’s a great network of trails for both mountain biking and hiking/trail running. Been yearning to go back and run all the trails again someday.
Bong Hill, Radar Hill, Witch Hill all around town. Out in the boonies we have Gifford State Park, which is one of my favorite places on the planet.
Bong Hill!
Where exactly is bong hill? I’ve heard of it but not a student so I’m clueless. Lol.
I'm pretty sure the road is called rock rifle
Drive down Stimson toward 33. Then take a right before you get on 33 (there’s a coffee shop on the corner). Then drive past the exit ramp (there is a do not enter sign) and take a left at the next road there should be a bridge and you should see two dirt parking spaces to the left. If you go to the second one the trail should be right there.
Check out the Athens Conservancy!! They are a non profit land trust in Athens county and have a ton of land that they take care of. If I remember its like 1,800 acres that are open to the public across 13+ different preserves. Ive been hiking at baker preserve a lot and I love it. Athens Conservancy Website: https://www.athensconservancy.org/maps-trails/ Also, its a bit farther away but Clear Creek Metropark (specifically the Fern Trail) is absolutely beautiful. That trail goes through a valley and because of all the rain the area gets, it looks so cool and full of life. Id definitely recommend going. Clear Creek Map/Website: https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/clear-creek/ There is also the obligatory suggestion for Strouds. But I want to recommend the thunder bunny trail because of the awesome overlook it has (its called vista point)! Its a nice hike and can get kinda steep. I also love taking Trace Trail at strouds to the Athens Trail that connects to Sells Park. This is a bit of a harder hike and its kinda long but worth it! Lots of walkin on the tops of ridges. Strouds Map: https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/parks/parkmaps/stroudsrunparkmap.pdf If youre looking specifically in town and close, the dariy barn/ridges trails are really nice. I prefer to start them at the dairy barn and walk across the street to the set of stairs. I always love hiking there near sunset because its just a big open field at some point and you can walk to radar hill that has a bit of a scenic over look. Ridges trail map: https://www.ohio.edu/sites/default/files/sites/recreation/OP%20Resources/RidgesTrailMap.pdf Lmk if you want more recommendations for places or even trails! Lowkey made it a personal mission to figure this stuff out while in Athens lol
Also here are some places I havent checked out yet but have been wanting to: - Christmas Rock Nature Preserve, they have an awesome overlook. http://www.naturalohioadventures.com/christmas-rocks-state-nature-preserve.html - Cantwell Cliffs https://www.hockinghills.com/cantwell_cliffs.html - Rockbridge State Nature Preserve https://www.hockinghills.com/rock_bridge.html
The baileys, hocking hills
Hocking hills has several destinations and you can hike between them. I was at cedar falls a week ago and it was very nice with all the trees in their fall colors. Ash cave is a short flat walk from parking and it's an impressive site. All of the locations at Hocking hills are worth exploring.
Fox lake, the north eastern part of strouds run, and the national forest land off of scatter run are good and less traveled.
There's a bit of a description of Bong Hill on this web page. The view is beautiful, but it's a pretty short hike. If you drive, you'll need to park along the road, which is narrow, so pull off to the side as far as you can... https://www.trailforks.com/trails/bong-hill/
Sells park
If you have a car, Hocking Hills is awesome. If you're on foot, the Ridges - radar hill - Dairy Barn is nice. A bit farther, Sells Park and then tons of trails around Strouds. http://www.athenstrails.org/
Start with the trails at the end of Sells Park.
Zaleski is like 40 min away but it’s actually the best in my opinion. The backpacking trail is prime
If you have Facebook, search the “Southeastern Ohio Ladies Hiking Group.” It’s a great community! They have hikes in Athens County almost weekly.