Mohican State Park

Mohican State Park is a 1,110-acre (4.5 km2) Ohio state park in Ashland County, Ohio, United States, about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of downtown Loudonville. The state park sits on the south shore of Pleasant Hill Lake[2] and is surrounded by the 4,525-acre (18.31 km2) Mohican-Memorial State Forest. Mohican State Park is located along Ohio SR 3 and Ohio SR 97. The Clear Fork of the Mohican River flows through the park carving a narrow gorge and joins the Black Fork about a half-mile east of the park to form the Mohican River. The park is open for year-round recreation including camping, hiking, boating, mountain biking, fishing, and picnicking.[3][4]

Mohican State Park
Clear Fork Gorge as seen from the park overlook
Location in Ohio
LocationAshland
Coordinates40°37′08″N 82°15′57″W[1]
Area1,110 acres (4.5 km2)
Elevation991 ft (302 m)[1]
Established1949
Governing bodyOhio Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteMohican State Park

History

Mohican State Park was originally called Clear Fork State Park when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 and the park was created from Ohio Division of Forestry lands. In 1966, the name of the park was changed to Mohican to alleviate confusion between Clear Fork Reservoir in Mansfield, Ohio and the state park.[5]

Activities

Hiking

There are 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails in Mohican State Park, plus an additional 32 miles (51 km) of hiking trails in the adjacent State Forest. The designated mountain bike trails and bridle paths are also available for the hiker to use.

Mountain biking
A cyclist rides a trail in Mohican State Park

An 8.5-mile (13.7 km) mountain bike trail that passes through Mohican State Park and the state forest was opened to the public in 2005. The trail was created through a partnership between the Mohican/Malabar Bike Club and ODNR. Since then, work has continued to expand the mountain bike trail to a total of 24.5 miles (39.4 km). The trail is open to mountain bike riders and hikers. Each June the park is home to the Mohican MTB 100 race.

Naturalist programs

From Memorial Day Weekend through the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, the park offers daily naturalist activities for its camping and cottage visitors as well as the general public. Activities include movies at the Class A Campground amphitheater on weekends, nature hikes, family games, and grist mill tours. In addition, the Junior Naturalist program is offered for kids from ages 7 through 14. A restored cabin served as the park Nature Center and was located in the Class A Campground. It was moved to the space where the game room used to reside.[6]

Camping

There are three separate camping areas at Mohican State Park: the Class A Campground, the Class B Campground, and the Group Camp Area. There is also the Mohican Resort and Conference Center, built in 1974 and operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts.

In the Class A Campground located off of Ohio SR 3, there are 33 full service hook-up sites, 118 electric-only sites, and 10 walk-in tent camping sites. In addition, there are 25 Cottages near the west end of the Class A Campground along the Clear Fork and three Camper Cabins near the front of Class A. Campers can purchase souvenirs and gifts, camping supplies, some grocery items, and ice cream and coffee at The Commissary located in Class A. There once was a game room attached to the store where guests could sign out basketballs, volleyballs, and horseshoes for their personal use. It was discontinued and the Nature Center located near the entrance to the park was moved to this location.

The Class B Campground is located approximately two miles west of the Class A Campground, located off of Ohio SR 97. The Class B Campground is near the along the Clear Fork and has 24 electric-only sites, all of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

References
  1. "Mohican State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Pleasant Hill Reservoir". Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  3. "Overview". Mohican State Park. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  4. Cabins at Mohican State Park in Ohio, USA Today, John Smith
  5. "History & Natural Features". Mohican State Park. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  6. "Activities". Mohican State Park. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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