Your 2025 summer guide to the outdoors in North central Ohio

KNOX COUNTY — Summer is almost upon us and that can mean only one thing.

It’s time to get out and explore.

North central Ohio is widely regarded as the state’s outdoor adventure capital — and with good reason. Loudonville is the jumping-off point for Mohican State Park and the adjacent Mohican-Memorial State Forest, all readily accessible for residents of Knox, Ashland and Richland counties.

The Mohican and Kokosing Rivers offer lazy weekend floats and the region’s reservoirs provide some of the best fishing in the state. 

As the weather warms, do yourself a favor and sample all the outdoor adventure north central Ohio has to offer. Here are some of the region’s top picks for all things outdoors:

Hiking/Trail Running

Ashland: Mohican State Park near Loudonville is Ohio’s outdoor playground. Park at the covered bridge and you can access the best trails the park has to offer.

The Lyons Falls trail goes past Big Lyons Falls, up the adjacent staircase and over the boardwalk atop Little Lyons Falls before spilling out at the top of Pleasant Hill Dam.

Once at the dam, take the staircase down to the river and follow the trail back to the covered bridge to complete the three-mile loop.

For experienced hikers or runners looking for a challenge, take the Hog Hollow trail from the covered bridge to the fire tower. The 4.2 mile out-and-back includes 760 feet of elevation gain. 

Knox: Honey Run Waterfall and the adjacent Honey Run Highlands Park offer hikers and trail runners more than seven miles of trails near Howard. Honey Run Creek tumbles over the 25-foot falls on its way to the nearby Kokosing River.

Hikers and runners can reach the Kokosing after Knox County Park District bought an additional 19 acres of land from the Millwood Sand Company in 2009.

Spring is the best time to go because the waterfall can run dry during the summer months. A parking lot to reach the falls is located at 10855 Hazel Dell Rd.

Richland: If you’re new to hiking or trail running and not yet ready to tackle the elevation and terrain at Mohican, Gorman Nature Center is a great place to start. Trails crisscross the 150-acre preserve off U.S. 42 between Mansfield and Lexington.

The two-mile perimeter route takes you past a pond — keep an eye out for turtles sunning themselves on a partally-submerged picnic table — and across streams and a quaint covered bridge.

The trails are generally well-maintained, but can be muddy or under water depending on the season. When you’re done with your hike, take a look around inside the Nature Center.

Biking

Ashland: The Mohican mountain bike trail in and around Mohican State Park and Mohican-Memorial State Forest is among the best singletrack in the state, but the 24-mile loop isn’t for newbies. The trailhead is located adjacent to Mohican State Park’s main campground near Ohio 3 south of Loudonville.

The first couple of miles are almost all uphill as you climb from the river valley to the gorge. You drop down to the covered bridge about halfway through the ride, but immediately climb back up the gorge on the opposite side of the river. The decent to the main campground can be dicey.

Be careful. The trail is designated a multi-use trail, so watch out for hikers and trail runners. 

Knox: The 14-mile Kokosing Gap Trail runs from Danville to Mount Vernon, with access points in Howard and Gambier. The paved multi-use trail is built on a former railroad line and is ideal for road bikes. Be mindful of foot traffic and share the trail.

The highlight of the trip is the stone arch in Howard. It was built in 1874. Heading south from Mount Vernon, the Kokosing Gap Trail connects with the 16.9-mile Heart of Ohio Trail, which extends to the Knox-Delaware county line. Both trails are part of the Ohio to Erie Trail.

Richland: The 18.4-mile Richland B&O trail is another road biking hotspot. The trail runs from North Lake Park in Mansfield to Hitchman Park in Butler, passing through Lexington and Bellville along the way. It follows the former Baltimore & Ohio railway. Bike rentals are available at Y-Not Cycling & Fitness in Lexington, with easy access to the trail.

Canoeing/Kayaking

Ashland and Richland: All roads — and waterways — lead to southern Ashland County. The Clear Fork and Black Fork join forces just east of Mohican State Park, forming the Mohican River. The river meanders south and east across parts of Holmes and Knox Counties, collecting the Lake Fork along the way.

There are plenty of canoe outfitters near Loudonville, including Mohican Adventures, River Run and Loudonville Canoe Livery. For the DIYers, there are launch points along Wally Road. 

Knox: The Kokosing River Water Trail was the state’s first designated water trail in 2005. It begins in Mount Vernon with access points at Riverside Park and Memorial Park and includes several access points further downstream. Kokosing Valley Camp and Canoe near Howard rents canoes, kayaks and tubes by the hour. 

Fishing

Ashland: Charles Mill Lake, located near Mifflin, was voted one of the top lakes in the state for saugeye, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Saugeye are sauger/walleye hybrids and prefer the deeper water near the dam.

The lake is also home to crappie, largemouth and hybrid striped bass, yellow perch and several species of catfish. If you are fishing for catfish, be ready for a fight. Charles Mill has a 9.9 horsepower limit. Pontoon and fishing boats are available to rent at the marina, along with sit-on-top kayaks.

Knox: Knox Lake, located not far from Fredericktown, is one of north central Ohio’s largemouth bass hotspots. The 476-acre reservoir also is home to crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. The marina and main boat ramp are located at the end of Old Mansfield Road on the north side of the lake. There’s another boat ramp on the south side of the lake off of Park Street.

Richland: Clearfork Reservoir, southwest of Mansfield and not far from Lexington, was one of nine inland lakes stocked with muskie in 2024 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

In fact, the ODNR has released more than 10,000 advanced fingerlings into the reservoir in the past decade. Muskie can grow up to 50 inches, but hauling in a trophy-sized fish requires patience.

Dick Martin, the late north central Ohio outdoor columnist, recommended plying the waters around and near Clearfork’s mid-lake islands. While landing a muskie is an inexact science, a strike can be provoked by jerking the lure through the water. A potential meal speeding away can trigger a chase.

Birding/Nature Watching

Ashland: The Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area sits on more than 1,500 acres in southern Ashland and southwestern Wayne Counties. The observation platform is located dow a gravel road off Ohio 95 near Funk in Wayne County. There’s no shortage of waterfowl and shorebirds, but the real stars of the show are the sandhill cranes.

They were driven out of Ohio in the 1920s and ’30s but returned to Funk in the 1980s. They are still listed as threatened, but volunteers observed 412 sandhill cranes during Ohio’s 2024 count, an increase of 15% over 2023.

A bevy of trumpeter swans drifted near the observation platform during a recent visit and bald eagles soared overhead. Bring a spotting scope. A word of caution: Wilderness Road and Clay Plant Road are often submerged. Don’t drive through flood waters. When in doubt, turn around.

Knox: With the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area, Ackerman Nature Preserve and Knox Lake all within shouting distance, Fredericktown is the epicenter of Knox County birding.

The 52-acre Ackerman Nature Preserve was especially active during a recent visit. The property includes a 22-acre pond and wetland area.

Bird blinds offer a great vantage point and many of the 165 species that have been documented in the area have become accustomed to the structures. Several birds flew inside the blind during our visit. We spotted or heard no fewer than 10 species, including American goldfinch, yellow warblers and colorful tree swallows.

Pro tip: download a bird ID app. The one we use has a song identification tool. Hit the record button and the app compiles a list of birds it hears. It’s a game-changer.

Richland: The Stoller Road Trail on the shores of the Clear Fork Reservoir is a bird-watchers dream. The 3.8-mile out-and-back trail is easy to moderate, but can be a little muddy depending on the season. Give yourself a couple of hours to take in the expansive views of the reservoir.

You’ll see plenty of ducks, geese and loons on the water and herons wading in the shallows. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a bald eagle overhead. The trailhead parking lot is located off Lexington-Ontario Road. If you don’t feel like walking the trail, there is a pull-off area overlooking the reservoir just south of the Stoller trailhead parking lot at the junction of Lexington-Ontario Road and Gass Road. It can get crowded, especially around sunset.

Picnicking

Ashland: Brookside Park has long been a summer destination for Ashland residents. The main park is easily accessible from Sandusky Street or West Main Street. There are three picnic pavilions on the property, which includes a popular public pool, the Guy C. Myers Band Shell and a mini golf course.

No trip to Brookside is complete without a stop at Yoder’s Red Barn, an ice cream shop not far from the mini golf course and main ball diamond.

Knox: Memorial Park, located at 255 Mount Vernon Ave. in Mount Vernon, boasts covered pavilions and plenty of open green spaces to throw down a blanket.

There are ballfields and a skate park, but the centerpiece is Harmony Playground, a 10,000-square-foot inclusive playground finished in late-2018. 

Richland: Lexington’s Bicentennial Park on Lex-Ontario Road has something for everyone. There are picnic pavilions with permanent grills, but bring your own charcoal. Pickleball and basketball courts were added in 2023 and the playground is second to none.

There is a creek that runs through the park, good for exploring and splashing. It dries up during the summer months. 

Horseback Riding

Ashland: Mohican-Memorial State Forest is home to an expansive network of bridle trails. The parking lot and staging area is located off Ohio 97 not far from the Mohican-Memorial Shrine. From the staging area, equestrians can access 35 miles of trails.

There are five bridle trails, all marked with different colored blazes. The Blue Trail is a 13-mile loop that features long climbs and stream crossings and is shared for a short span with the mountain bike trail. Riders can reach Mohican Lodge via the Green and Orange Trails. 

Knox: Thayer Ridge Park is just down the street from the Knox County Horse Park on Thayer Road southwest of Mount Vernon. The 70-acre park boasts six miles of bridle trails through open meadows with an occasional stream crossing.

The lower trail network is open to horseback riders as well as hikers and bikers. The upper perimeter trails is reserved for equestrians. There is a horse trailer lot south of the traditional parking lot.

Richland: Malabar Farm, owned by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield until his death in 1956, is home to 12 miles of bridle trails. The seven-mile Pleasant Valley Bridle Trail is the crown jewel of the Malabar network.

It meanders through old growth forests and past rocky outcroppings and a waterfall. There’s a spur trail to the top of nearby Mt. Jeez. There’s a parking lot that doubles as a staging area and a nearby 15-site primitive campground for horse camping.

Camping

Ashland: For experienced backpackers, Mohican-Memorial State Forest offers several park and pack campsites. Park-and-packers have to register at the forest service center kiosk on Forest Road 60.

Park and pack sites 1 through 4 are easily accessible through the Bridle Trail parking lot and staging area off Ohio 97. The camp sites are less than a mile from the parking lot and are marked with numbered green signs. Site run requires a stream crossing. Park and pack sites are undeveloped. Water (and everything else) needs to be packed in.

Knox: Tucked away in a valley off Keys Road, Rustic Knolls has been in business for more than 50 years. Campers can fish and swim on the property, which features 150 sites. Cabin rentals are also available.

Rustic Knolls has an extensive summer schedule, including a Father’s Day Weekend on June 14 to 15 and an Independence Day Celebration that includes a fireworks show July 5.

Richland: The campgrounds at Pleasant Hill Lake Park on the Ashland-Richland county border near Perrysville is hard to beat. There are 380 camp sites available, including full hook-up sites for RVs and primitive sites for tent campers.

Cabin rentals are also available. There is no horsepower limit on the 850-acre lake, which makes it the region’s best option for water skiing. The park also includes a beach and basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts.