East Fork State Park

We hiked a couple of miles at Eastfork Lake yesterday. It was a beautiful day (3-2-08) even though it misted on us during our hike, it was 52 degrees. The first time hiking in a long while without my cuddleduds!

We drove in Ohio Pike 125 and took a left on 222 then a right on Slade Road. I've never been in this entrance and it was cool because it takes you over the dam.

We started at the Visitor's Center where a very nice Army Corp employee let us in and gave us some maps and pointed us in the direction of Deer Trail to start. It's a half mile loop just across from the parking lot of the Vistor's Center. We were looking for more of a hike, but figured we'd start there. The hiking maps are not detailed at all, and we had no idea where we were going.

Deer Trail is a nice little loop. The trails are wide and well mulched. The trail name held true and we saw three deer. They were in camo though, so we couldn't get a great picture.

While on this trail, we met a guy out with his dogs who pointed us to another trail. Coming out of Deer Trail, with the Visitor's Center directly across the street, we took a left on the road and walked about a half mile up. On the right was another Dam and on the left a large well maintained field. At the end of the road is a cul-de-sac for cars to turn around. On the left is a white gate marking the trail head. Immediately at the trail head there is a left fork and a right fork. We took the right fork which turned out to be wrong. We ended up at a road. But it still was a nice hike.

We turned around when we hit the road and came back to the original left fork and found the trail the guy directed us to. It was a very muddy trail!! So if you go make sure to where your boots and bring an extra pair of shoes to wear home. This is a good hiking practice anyway. Even if your boots stay clean on the outside, if you are moving they are probably getting sweaty on the inside.

Well, back to the trail! It took us along a pretty nice ridge top and then to the bottom of the large clearing that I referred to earlier that could be seen from the road. Then we followed a couple of switchbacks and ended up at the Little Miami River where it flows out of the Dam. It moves pretty fast. Facing the river, the trail to the right is marked for the American Discovery Trail: http://www.discoverytrail.org/ and the Ohio Buckeye Trail: http://www.buckeyetrail.org/

We went to the left and headed back to the clearing and made our way back to the road and the Visitor's Center. There are 2,160 Acres in this State Park - a lot of ground to explore. There are 10 named trails that are anywhere from 1/2 mile to the Steve Newman Worldwalker Perimeter Trail which is 31.5 miles. For us, this trail is very close to home so we'll be back to explore!