Date: 09/24/2022 – Distance: 10.7 mi – Elapsed Time: 6.5 hr – Ascent: 1545 ft – Descent: 1568 ft – Difficulty: Difficult
Tar Hollow State Park is a beautiful, rugged, wilderness nestled within the larger 16,446 acre Tar Hollow State Forest just south of Laurelville, Ohio. There is a good sized campground, a 15 acre lake with a beach, Nature Center, activities at the campground, and numerous miles of hiking trails including an over 20 mile backpacking trail. The hills are rugged, the trees huge, and the wildflowers and wildlife is diverse. I’ve been here numerous times, and this weekend I spent 3 nights and hiked the North Loop of the backpacking trail which I consider one of the toughest trails in Ohio.
The sign at the entrance off SR 327.You are immediately presented with a very large tree tunnel.I was at the Pine Lake Campground in the non-electric site #90. Very spacious.There is a pit toilet, reservable shelter, and trash. On the other side of the lake there is a nicer, flushable restroom and showers in the Ross Hollow Campground.Pine Lake supports kayaks and canoes and has good fishing.The Camp Store is a restored cabin and has wifi, which I used for weather reports, since I had no cell service unless I was on higher ground.In front of the store there is this kettle on a rock.The plaque explains how this area got its name.The Nature Center is behind the store, but is closed for the season.A few other of the stalls feature games, bikes, kayak rentals, and wood for sale.There is also a putt putt course.The beach is popular during the summer, and is pretty clean.There is a kayak/canoe launch.Late summer Golden Rod is in bloom.Below the dam is my campsite.The State Park trails are the blue and yellow trails and the red loops are the State Forest backpacking trail. I was hiking the North Loop clockwise today, which leaves below the spillway. You can see the sign and the bridge on the right.The bridge crosses the bottom of the spillway.Here’s a closer view of the North Loop.Trail is blazed red.There are also occasionally these markers. “L” stands for Logan Trail.This trail can get overgrown in the summer.Looks like a type of mint.Some of the leaves are starting to show fall color.White Snakeroot.Look for the red blazes. The blue one is another trail coming in.It’s the 1400 mile Buckeye Trail passing through.Notice the two trails joined.Could be some type of pea or a false foxglove.Watch the signs as the two loops join for a bit.Brush Ridge Fire Tower.There is parking here and the backpacking campsites are just beyond it.Some history of forestry in Ohio.More history about fire management. Fire can actually be good for the health of forests. Some tips on home safety.Watch out for these Bald Faced Hornets. They will attack in masses and bite multiple times.The trail continues opposite of the parking lot on the other side of the tower.Pay attention here. The north and south loops split.I had to contend with a few downed trees.Purple Mistflower.This section of the trail follows a creek.Pinesap is a close relative to the white Ghostpipe, a parasitic plant, which can’t create its own food.Its hard to tell from the photo, but this climb was a bitch.Mushrooms are always cool.On the ridge, about to descend.That was a steep descent. The trail turns right at a road.It’s not far up the road before the trail continues. It may be your last mushroom if you eat it.Another challenging tree fall.My pic is burry, but the Great Blue Lobelia is cool.Snake shed.The backpacking trail is called the Logan Trail.Another road crossing.I need a better camera.This one is better.Hard to see, but this side trail goes to the campground. Site #53 is where you can connect to the North Loop of the Logan Trail.Mam’s Rusted Skillet in Laurelville has beer and food.Appetizer Menu.Entre Menu.Be aware, it could be hunting season. Although these hunters should not be hunting on the hiking trails.
I am hoping to put together 16 miles for our hiking group. We will be staying in the group site which is listed on the camp map as the sycamore shelter. what milage did you come up with from the North Loop? I see reviews on ALL TRAILS of 9.2 and I read in a book of 50 hikes in Ohio that it is a 12 mile loop! I would appreciate your feedback and perhaps ideas on taking on more to come up with about 16 miles!
Thank you!
Judith M with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits
Combine the loop on this current blog where I cut the North Loop short right at the campground. Then hike down to the Ross Hollow Trailhead and do that one. The North Loop continues from the spillway from there.
Ok I see where that Sycamore Shelter is now. That Ross Hollow Trailhead is about half way between the shelter and the showers. Really close.
That shortcut I took on the North Loop is at campsite #54 and the other end is right at the spillway. You can see the dotted line on the map at the very top of this blog post on the bottom right of the image.
Leave a Reply