Hocking HillsWhere all the best roads lead . . .HIKE. STAY. PLAY. YOUR HOCKING HILLS ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!

Hocking Hills State Park - Upper Falls

Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve

Lake Katharine was once Camp Arrowhead, a boys’ summer camp operated from 1949 to 1965. In 1975 Edwin Jones and James McKittrick donated the land to the state, establishing it as a nature preserve. There are over 5 miles of hiking trails, most reminiscent of the Hocking Hills with their unique rock formations.

Calico Bush Trail - 0.5 miles

Lakeview Trail - 1.1 miles

Pine Ridge Trail - 2 miles 

Salt Creek Short Loop - 0.6 miles

Salt Creek Spur - 0.1 miles

Salt Creek Long Loop - 1.1 miles 

Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset and Stay on designated trails

Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve Parking lot

Lake Katharine Road Jackson, OH 45640

(39.086046, -82.669602)

The Salt Creek Loop trails are two of the five distinct trails at the nature preserve. Others include: Calico Bush, Lakeview, and Pine Ridge. All are accessed at the same parking area.

(No dogs allowed)

 

Lake Katharine: Salt Creek Long Loop

This is along the Salt Creek Long Loop Trail: About 1.1 miles. Can be soggy in the spring, but where Virginia Bluebells line the trail.


Lake Katharine: Salt Creek Long Loop Spur to creek

This is along the Salt Creek Long Loop Trail along spur trail: About 1.1 miles. Can be soggy in the spring, but where Virginia Bluebells line the trail.


Lake Katharine: Salt Creek Long Loop

This is along the Salt Creek Long Loop Trail Rock Formations

Lake Katharine: Salt Creek Long Loop

This is along the Salt Creek Long Loop Trail boardwalk through marsh/wetland. Spring is a great time of year to hear the frogs and toads.

Lake Katharine: Salt Creek Long Loop

This is along the Salt Creek Long Loop Trail boardwalk through marsh/wetland. Spring is a great time of year to hear the frogs and toads.

Lake Katharine:Long and Short Loops

Lake Katharine Trails

Lake Katharine: Calico Brush Trail

Calico Brush Trail

Lake Katharine: Trail Map

 

Lake Katharine

 

Lake Katharine near Jackson, Ohio

On the Fringe of the Hocking Hills outside Jackson, Ohio


 

 

Lake Katharine near Jackson, Ohio. Notable for wildflowers

OPEN ALL YEAR-ROUND FROM DAWN TO DUSK

There are seven major hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park - All are one-way trail systems.  

Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Whispering Cave Trail. These park areas offer a unique experience for those who walk its paths no matter what season (the park is open year-round from dawn to dusk)—located on the southern edge of Hocking County. But those are just a handful. There are many hiking trails in the Hocking Hills include those at Wayne National Forest, Clear Creek Metro Parks, Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County Park District's Moonville Tunnel, and Hocking College's Robbins Crossing (with park programs) and the Athens Hock-Hocking Adena Rail Trail bikeway.