Columbus: Scioto Trail State Forest Loop

Trail Facts

• Distance: 18.1

Waypoints

SCI001

Location: 39.2200889587402, -82.959228515625

Trail begins N side of rd., bears L into hollow; in .2 mi., veer R up hill

SCI002

Location: 39.2268905639648, -82.9621887207031

Hike oak-wooded ridge; stay R and descend

SCI003

Location: 39.2297515869141, -82.9550933837891

Before Lake Rd., head R, then hike W shore of Caldwell Lake

SCI004

Location: 39.2256889343262, -82.9461975097656

Stay L past white blazes before parking lot; in .4 mi. scan for abrupt L @ T to ascend ridge

SCI005

Location: 39.2318687438965, -82.9393463134766

Bear R; in 200 ft., L @ Y onto crushed limestone
forest rd., wind around rugged ridgetops with sweeping vistas

SCI006

Location: 39.2388610839844, -82.9525299072266

Turn R to leave forest rd. onto remote ridgeline

SCI007

Location: 39.2458000183106, -82.9409027099609

R @ Y onto Long Branch Trail, descend into Long Branch Hollow; look for rare dutchman’s breeches (native flower)

SCI008

Location: 39.2297592163086, -82.9222030639648

Keep straight into flat valley floor, where white-tailed deer (scioto is “deer” in Shawnee) feed in prairie grasses

SCI009

Location: 39.2246589660644, -82.9182662963867

Veer slightly L over Stony Creek Rd.; R @ T; switchback on faint trail up hill to trail sign; turn R

SCI010

Location: 39.2184982299805, -82.923942565918

Trail parallels FR 5, leading downhill

SCI011

Location: 39.2132301330566, -82.9475936889648

At Estep Hollow trailhead, turn R onto Forest Road 5. In .3 mi., swerve L off road back onto trail

SCI012

Location: 39.2117309570312, -82.955680847168

R @ Y, gentle climb up ridge then descend 150 ft. to Stoney Creek Rd. Turn L; return to car

Overlook

Location: 39.2321357727051, -82.9381103515625

Varicolored foliage above Stony Creek. ©Gary Clark

Hillsides draped in yellow

Location: 39.2204360961914, -82.9392166137695

Autumn in Scioto State Park.©Gary Clark