Login | December 21, 2024
Coshocton calling
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: October 7, 2024
If you’re on the hunt for a fun little “athletically inspired” one-day getaway this fall, well, I just discovered a pretty sweet venue.
I’m talking about Coshocton County, Ohio, an area that’s been on my hit list for the better part of the summer.
And that was because of a rather interesting gravel road cycling video I stumbled across back in May on Youtube, the very hilly and insanely scenic Wooly Pig gravel grinder––a route who’s namesake is a cool micro brewery situated at the route’s start/finish point.
If you’re not familiar with Coshocton County, you’re not the only one.
I had to get out my aged Ohio gazetteer for a quickie review, whereupon I found that it’s situated southwest of New Philadelphia/northeast of Columbus.
And if you check out a map that shows topographic relief, you’ll quickly realize that this area sports some pretty hilly terrain.
Indeed, Coshocton Cty. is a mass of undulating hills and dales that virtually stretch south all the way down into West Virginia where they eventually morph into mountains and valleys.
And getting to Coshocton County is simple.
From the Akron-Cleveland area it’s a two-hour drive on I-77 south to SR36 west. From there you’ve got a big wide open county to explore.
And what I discovered during my Wooly Pig gravel ride is that Coshocton Cty. is a spectacularly scenic area that contains a host of quiet Amish communities, a nice selection of wineries and breweries and some of the most picturesque farms and gravel thoroughfares I’ve ever experienced in the state of Ohio.
So stumbling across that Wooly Pig Youtube video definitely put Coshocton County on my radar screen, so much so that I’ve begun digging deeper into what this southern Ohio county has to offer with respect to recreational possibilities. Here’s what I’ve found.
Hiking
Scar Forest Trail
A moderately challenging trail with some nice scenic views as well as some pretty cool cliffs and rock formations, this two-mile loop trail is located outside of the city of Coshocton.
AEP Fallon Park Loop
This eight-mile loop is also near Coshocton. Considered a moderately challenging route, the Fallon Park loop typically takes several hours to complete. And much like the Scar Forest Trail the Fallon Park loop also contains plenty of hills and lots of cool limestone formations.
Bouldering/Rock Climbing
Auttie’s Boulders Climbing
Located along the Scarr Forest Trail, this cozy little bouldering area is an interesting collection of short bouldering climbs. Auttie’s Boulders are challenging to work yet they’re still beginner friendly, especially since the ground beneath most of the routes is flat and easy to protect with crash pads. For more information go to https://www.mountainproject.com/area/117585126/autties-boulders.
Canoeing & Kayaking
Tuscarawas, Walhonding and Muskingum Rivers
The city of Coshocton is perfectly situated as a great start/finish point for any number of canoeing/kayaking excursions via its Tuscarawas/Walhonding/Muskingum tri-river junction in the center of town. Not only is this three-way water trail surrounded by miles of undeveloped, wild woodlands but it also flows by numerous rural and urban landscapes which are rich in Ohio history
Cycling
Wooly Pig Loop
Now if you want a pre-established route, I highly recommend the 40-mile Wooly Pig loop (with 3500 feet of gain), a wonderfully scenic as well as amazingly challenging gravel cycling ride. The route can be downloaded at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44650793 so your cycling computer can give you turn by turn instructions. Want to put together your own routes? Well, Coshocton Co. contains so many backcountry roads that it would take a few years to really explore all the possibilities. Go to https://www.coshoctoncounty.net/gis/Website/Highway%20Maps/2021CountyHighwayMapsPDFDownload.pdf for a county roadmap pdf.
Coshocton Three Rivers Bakeway
This picturesque three-mile bike & hike trail connects downtown Coshocton with Lake Park and historic Roscoe Village, a restored 1830s canal town featuring old-fashioned shops, restaurants, a museum and horse-drawn canal boat rides.
Breweries & Vinyards
And finally, no Autumn recreational road trip is complete without ending the day by sampling some locally produced beverages. Coshocton Co. has a host of great establishments, many of which you can visit via Coshocton County’s famous Three Rivers Wine Trail, https://www.visitcoshocton.com/threeriverswinetrail/, a route that features seven unique wineries and breweries which are all within a short drive from one another.
Coshocton County…yup, it’s definitely got my attention.