Columbus: Scioto Trail State Forest Loop
This 11.2-mile loop traces an old Shawnee trail over ragged foothills, across view-laden ridges, and into quiet, wooded hollows with darting streams.
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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