SENECAVILLE - ZOAR, OH
Noble, Guernsey, Harrison, Belmont, Carroll and Tuscarawas Counties
94.8 mi total 17.4 certified 0.0 connecting 94.8 marked 0.0 bare
The NCNST route returns for a distance to the Buckeye Trail through Eastern Ohio, passing several large reservoirs of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, organized in 1933 for the primary purposes of flood control, conservation and recreation. The district covers a fifth of the state and spreads over 18 Ohio counties. However, much of the NCNST route is still a roadwalk.
CAMPING possibilities have returned to difficult. There are campgrounds near each of the several lakes in this section. MAPS: The maps here should be adequate for most uses. The section uses the Belle Valley, Bowerston and Massillion Buckeye Trail map sections.
0.0 [0.0] BUFFALO HILLS CAMPGROUND ON SR566
The route rejoins the Buckeye Trail at this point. Senecaville Lake is the first and largest of several artifical water conservation district lakes passed along the Buckeye Trail. Seneca Lake is the largest of the MWCD lakes, at 3550 acres. For information about the several lakes, write Muskingum Water Conservation District, New Philadelphia, OH 44633.
From the campground, the trail heads northwest, passing a picnic shelter after 0.3 mile. The trail then turns to the east, and passes an abandoned firetower after another half mile, then descends to the bottom of the hill and continues roughly paralleling SR547, and continues until it leaves Buffalo Hills property and crosses the highway, following a sidewalk on Conservative Baptist Church property and through woods for 0.2 miles, then recrosses the highway, enters woods, skirts a high knob and a waste water treatment plant, follows a farm lane, passes through a patch of woods and crosses SR574 once again. The trail continues northward near SR574 for a short distance, then comes out to follow it.
2.5 [2.5] CONTINUE NORTHWEST ON SR574
The route follows SR574, enters Guernsey County, and continues north over Senecaville Dam. A picnic area is on the east side of the road, with a toilets and water. A fish hatchery is below the dam, and a state wildlife area is to the west. A short distance past the dam, reach SR 313. Senecaville, OH, is about 1.5 miles to the west, but the route goes to the east.
SENECAVILLE OH 43780. Stores.
3.2 [0.7] TURN EAST ON SR313
After about 0.8 mile, pass entrance to MWCD fee campground with marina, restaurant, toilets, and water. A short distance past the campground road, reach Nighthawk Rd. (TR59).
4.1 [0.9] TURN NORTHWEST ON NIGHTHAWK RD.
The route heads northwest, reaching a high point after about 0.7 miles, then descending to Salem Rd. (CR74), about another 0.5 mi.
5.3 [1.2] TURN NORTHEAST ON SALEM RD.
The route ambles northeast through farmland. After 1.7 miles, pass junction of New Gottigen Rd. (CR472). After another 1.5 miles, pass the hamlet of Gibson and crossing an old railroad grade. After another 2.4 mi, reach Putney Ridge Rd. (CR47).
10.9 [5.6] TURN NORTHWEST ON PUTNEY RIDGE RD.
The road heads northeast, crossing a ridge along the way. After 2.7 miles, reach Easton Rd. (CR670).
13.6 [2.7] TURN WEST ON EASTON RD.
The route continues west for 0.3 mile, reaching CR73.
13.9 [0.3] TURN NORTH ON COUNTY HOME RD.
The route follows County Home Rd. north for 0.1 mile, crossing over I70, enters Old Washington, then turns west on Main Street to SR 385.
OLD WASHINGTON, OH, 43768 Stores.
14.4 [0.5] TURN NORTH ON SR385
The route follows SR385 north out of Old Washington. After 0.4 miles, reach the junction with Norris Rd.
14.9 [0.5] TURN EAST ON NORRIS RD.
Follow Norris Rd. east; after about 0.4 miles, it bends to the northeast, forks to the north at Thumb Lane (TR6704) and ends at the limits of Salt Fork Wildlife area.
SALT FORK WILDLIFE AREA was created for wildlife management, rather than flood control, unlike the other artifical lakes along this route. The area is administered by the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation and the ODNR Division of wildlife. The area covers 20,143 acres, and contains 2,952 acre Salt Fork Lake. Information about the park can be had from Park Manager, Salt Fork State Park, Box 672, Cambridge OH 43725 (614) 439-3521.
16.3 [1.4] CONTINUE NORTHEAST ON FORMER NORRIS RD.
The road is gated at the park boundary; trail continues northeast for a mile, before turning onto park road R58.
17.3 [1.0] TURN NORTHWEST ON PR58.
The road heads northeast. After 0.4 miles, it crosses SR285. A commerical camp, is located 0.7 mi. north on SR285. The route continues northwest, reaching US22 a mile later.
18.7 [1.4] TURN NORTHEAST ON TRAIL ALONG US22.
The route follows a powerline clearing parallel to US22 for 0.4 miles to the northeast, until reaching Parker Rd. (TR587).
19.1 [0.4] REACH PARKER RD.
The village of Winterset is about 1.5 miles northeast on US22. The Buckeye Trail/NCT continues north on the BT Bowerston Section map. The route proceeds northwest, at first along the road to cross over Brushy Fork, passes a primitive group campground after 0.3 miles, and turns westward into the woods. The trail continues northwest for about 1.2 mile on a wide, well-maintained pathway, then turns to the north for about another mile and a half, then turns northeast, emerging on Parker Rd. (TR587).
22.4 [3.3] TURN NORTH ON PARKER RD.
Follow Parker Rd. north for 0.3 miles, then turn east on Gunn Rd. (TR871) and follow it 0.2 miles eastward until reaching Brodhead Rd (TR585).
22.7 [0.3] TURN NORTH ON BRODHEAD RD.
Follow Brodhead Rd. north for about 0.2 miles, then turn northeast on Sugartree Rd, (CR84) and follow it along Sugartree Fork for 1.8 miles, until reaching Tuttle Rd. (TR877).
24.7 [2.0] TURN SOUTHEAST ON TUTTLE RD.
Follow Tuttle Rd. southeast. Shortly after the turn, it crosses Sugartree Fork, and after about half a mile, it turns to the east, following Grapevine Creek, passing intersections with Acorn Rd. and Stockdale Rd., until reaching Grapevine Rd. (CR73). The route follows Grapevine Rd. south for a short distance, until reaching Weepwillow Lane (TR8771).
26.9 [2.2] TURN EAST ON WEEPWILLOW LANE.
The route follows Weepwillow Lane northeast, then east, for about 0.4 mile, then the route leaves the road and enters private land, following blazed trail eastward past oil tanks, makes a sharp turn at a trailer, passes a gate, and emerges on Lodge Rd. (CR78).
27.7 [0.8] TURN NORTH ON LODGE RD.
The route follows Lodge Rd. North until reaching Agate Rd. (TR872) after 1.3 miles.
29.0 [1.3] TURN EAST ON AGATE RD.
The route turns east, follows Crab Orchard Creek for a ways, then climbs over a ridge and continues until descending to reach Crab Orchard Creek again at Crab Orchard Rd. (TR91).
30.8 [1.8] TURN NORTH ON CRAB ORCHARD RD.
The route follows Crab Orchard Creek northward. After about 0.2 mile, the route joins Titus Rd. (TR878), which comes in from the southeast, but after another 0.2 mile the road forks, and Titus Rd. leaves to the northwest while the route continues straight. After about 0.7 miles, the route leaves Guernsey County and enters Harrison County. The road name stays the same, but it now becomes TR117. After another mile or so, Hoop Rd. (TR118) joins from the southeast; shortly afterward, reach Mitchell Rd. (TR526).
33.2 [2.4] TURN EAST ON MITCHELL RD.
The route follows Mitchell Rd. east for about half a mile, then turns north on paved Dry Ridge Rd. (CR57) and follows it north for about a mile, until reaching Covered Bridge Rd. (TR123).
34.7 [1.5] TURN SOUTHEAST ON COVERED BRIDGE RD.
The route follows Covered Bridge Rd. southeast. For the first 1.2 miles, the road is abandoned, until it reaches paved Skull Fork Rd. (CR27). The route jogs south slightly, then continues east on Covered Bridge Rd., crosses over Skull Fork on the covered bridge. Continue southeast, then east on Covered Bridge Rd. until reaching the village of Smyrna.
SMYRNA OH, 43973 Stores.
36.6 [1.9] TURN NORTH ON US22
The route follows US22 north through the village for a short distance; at the north end of the village, the trail turns east onto private property, to follow a fence line eastward, and enters Water Conservancy District land. A side trail leads eastward to a campground at Piedmont Lake marina (67 sites, flush toilets, for more information, contact (614) 658-3735). Shortly past the side trail junction, the trail follows the shore of the lake, turns northwest, climbs a ridge, then turns back to the east until reaching the lakeshore, then follows the lakeshore north until turning northwest on an old woods road reaching a gate on US22.
41.0 [4.4] TURN EAST ON US22
The route follows US22 eastward over Piedmont Lake Dam, where there is a rest area with toilets, water and picnic tables, then leaves the lake, crosses the intersection of Piedmont-Freeport Rd. (CR10), crosses over a RR grade, and reaches McElhenny Rd. (TR308). The village of Piedmont is to the south, about 0.1 farther east on US22, then about 0.2 back to the southwest on CR16. There is a refreshment stand and a small grocery store.
42.2 [1.2] TURN NORTHWEST ON MCELHENNY RD.
The route follows McElhenny Rd. northwest. After a short distance, it turns to the north, and winds around. About a mile and a half after leaving US22, Possum Hollow Rd. joins from the west, but leaves after another 0.2 mi. The route continues north along a ridge on McElhenny Rd. for another 1.3 miles until reaching Scott Hill Rd. (CR62), which joins from the southeast. The route turns northwest along Scott Hill Rd, until reaching SR799 0.3 miles later. Clendening Lake Marina Campground is about a mile to the west and 0.2 mi. to the north. Open Apr-Oct., 70 sites, flush toilets, small camp store. (614) 658-3691. A private campground, Twin Hills Park, is farther to the west, then south on Cummins Rd. Apr.-Oct, 100 sites, flush toilets, pond, small camp store.
45.3 [3.1] TURN NORTHEAST ON SR799
Follow SR799 east for 0.4 miles until reaching Kennedy Ridge Rd. (CR20). The route follows Kennedy Ridge Rd. eastward. After about 1.6 miles, Valley Knoll Rd. (TR253) intersects from the south. After about another 1.7 miles, reach Drysart Rd. (TR345).
49.0 [3.7] TURN NORTH ON DRYSART RD.
The route follows Drysart Rd. north to Clendening Reservoir. After about 1.6 miles, Elk Run Rd. (TR340) joins from the southeast. Shortly afterward, cross Brushy Fork and reach Brushy Fork Rd. (CR1).
50.8 [1.8] TURN WEST ON BRUSHY FORK RD.
The route follows Brushy Fork Rd. west for 0.3 miles, then turns off the road to the north on marked trail, following a pine forest path and old roads, continuing northwesterly over a stream and climbs a hill, turns southwesterly, then descends to a rock outcrop overlooking the lake. The route heads northerly around an arm of the lake, then turns back to the southwest and follows an old dirt road north to US22. 0.4 miles to the northeast on US22 is Redeye Rd. (CR60) and the entrance to private campground (30 sites, year-round).
55.9 [5.1] CONTINUE NORTHWEST ON MARKED TRAIL
The route crosses US22 and continues northwest on Long Rd. (TR305). The route is wooded and steep, but soon flattens out and becomes more open. After 1.1 miles, reach intersection with Adams Rd. (TR303).
57.0 [1.1] TURN NORTH ON ADAMS RD.
The route continues following a ridge north on Adams Rd. until reaching Moravian Trail Rd. (CR2) in the edge of the village of Deersville. A white-blazed side trail goes east on Moravian Trail Road, then north to Tappan Lake Park campground (550 sites, flush toilets).
DEERSVILLE OH 44693 Stores
57.8 [0.8] TURN NORTHWEST ON MORAVIAN TRAIL RD.
The route follows the road northwest for 0.1 mile, then leaves the road and follows a mowed fire lane along the northeast side to McGonigal Rd. From there, the route continues north along McGonigal Rd. for 1.1 miles to the head of Bontrager Bay at Tappan Lake, the next of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District lakes.
60.6 [2.8] TURN NORTHWEST ON TRAIL
The trail follows an old gas line northwest, through hardwoods for a distance, then follows an old road near the top of a ridge for half a mile. Past Haney Rd (TR287) things get steep and stay that way until reaching Tappan Hills Rd (CR89) at Wye Bay.
61.3 [0.7] TURN SOUTH ON TAPPAN HILLS RD.
The route follows Tappan Hills Rd. south for a short distance, then turns to the west and climbs a hill, crossing several footbridges, then follows a pipeline to a horse bridge on private land. The trail continues to Wye Bay Fisherman's Camp (no camping) on the west short of the bay, then follows hills above the shoreline in a northwesterly direction, descends to the dam, following it out to Eslick Rd (TR180).
63.5 [2.2] TURN NORTHEAST ON ESLICK RD.
The route follows Eslick Rd. above the dam northeast to US250. Traffic caution on this narrow road. NOTE: BTA maps note a motel 0.4 miles west of the US250 intersection. Talone warns users off this motel in the strongest possible terms.
64.1 [0.6] TURN EAST ON PATH ALONG US250
The route follows a path between the lake and US250 east for 0.2 miles, until reaching the bridge over Willis Bay. A rest area (water, picnic tables, toilets) is another quarter mile further east.
64.8 [0.2] TURN NORTH ON PATH ALONG WILLIS BAY
The trail follows a path through a pine forest along the west side of Willis Bay north to the head of the bay, until reaching Willis Run Rd. (TR213).
65.9 [1.1] CONTINUE NORTH ON WILLIS RUN RD.
The route continues north for about 2 miles along Willis Run, then climbs and crosses Gundy Ridge Rd. The route continues north on Willis Run Rd. for another mile, until reaching Hickory Rd. (TR216). The route then turns west on Hickory Rd. for 0.3 miles, until reaching Plum Run Rd. (CR8).
69.9 [3.9] TURN NORTH ON PLUM RUN RD.
Heading north, CR8 climbs over a ridge and descends into Bowerston; in the village, Plum Run Rd. becomes Liberty St. About 0.2 mi. inside the village limits, CR8 ends at Main Street; turn east for a short distance, then reach State Street. Turn left on State Street, cross Conotton Creek and railroad grades, and continue north until reaching Penn Ave.
BOWERSTON OH 44695 Stores.
70.9 [1.0] TURN NORTHWEST ON PENN AVE.
At the city limits, Penn Ave. becomes Autumn Rd. (CR19) in Carroll County. Continue north on Autumn Rd. until reaching the village of New Hagerstown. Deacon Road (TR115) joins from the southeast; follow it northeast a short distance, until SR164 joins from the east. Continue northwest another 0.1 miles; SR115 leaves to the west, and Autumn Rd. turns off to the northeast. Continue northeast on Autumn Rd. for another 0.7 mi until the road forks, with Deer Rd. (TR116) coming in from the northwest. A private commercial campground is located a short distance down Deer Rd.
72.4 [1.5] TURN NORTHWEST ON DEER RD.
The route follows Deer Rd. northwest for about half a mile, until a marked trail leads off into the woods to the north, and runs near the shore of Leesville Lake to the north, then to the west, emerging at Clows Marina. which has 88 campsites and flush toilets. For more information, Clows Marina, 4131 Deer Rd., Bowerston OH 44695 (614) 269-5371.
73.8 [1.4] TURN WEST ON DEER RD.
The route follows Deer Rd. to the west past Leesville Dam to Azalea Rd. (CR22), and turns north on Azalea Rd to cross a creek and continues for a short distance, before Deer Rd. turns back to the west. The route then follows Deer Rd. west for 1.1 miles, until reaching SR212 just past the intersection of SR52, which comes in from the north. The route follows SR212 south for 0.3 miles, until reaching Crowder Rd. (TR110).
76.2 [3.6] TURN WEST ON CROWDER RD.
Follow Crowder Rd. west. As it heads west, it bends slowly to the northwest. After about 1.7 miles, Crane Rd. (TR108) joins from the south. About 0.3 miles later, Cutler Rd. (TR111) joins from the east. Shortly after this, the road forks, and the route takes the left fork to the northwest, on Cutler Rd., emerging after about 0.7 miles on SR39.
78.8 [2.6] TURN NORTHEAST ON SR39
Follow SR39 northwest for 0.1 miles, until reaching Dana Rd. The town of Sherrodsville is a mile to the northeast on SR39; a restaurant/gas station is 0.7 miles northeast.
SHERRODSVILLE OH, 44675 Stores, restaurant .
78.9 [0.1] TURN NORTHWEST ON DANA RD.
Follow Dana Rd. northwest. After about a mile, Dawn Rd. (TR114) intersects from the east and the road takes that name. Shortly afterward, the route enters Tuscawaras County, and becomes TR320. The route continues northwest, crosses a railroad track and parallels it westward for about 0.6 miles, then crosses it again, and continues west until reaching New Cumberland Rd. (CR90), which the route follows for about 200 yards, until New Cumberland Rd. turns off to the northeast. Buckeye Trail maps change to Massilion Section.
81.9 [3.0] CONTINUE WEST ON BUCK HOLLOW RD.
The route continues to parallel the railroad grade westward along Buck Hollow Rd. After about 0.3 miles, TR320 intersects from the south. The route continues to the west, then bends to the north, reaching Henderson School Rd (CR89).
83.2 [1.3] TURN NORTH ON HENDERSON SCHOOL RD.
The route turns to the north to follow Henderson School Rd., crossing under the railroad tracks once again, and continuing north about a mile until reaching SR212 at the intersection of Tabor Ridge Rd. (CR86). The village of New Cumberland is 0.6 miles to the east on SR212 and CR90; a year-round campground is located at Attwood Lake, 3.0 miles east on SR212 and Attwood Lake Rd. (CR93). Attwood Lake Park, has 569 sites, with flush toilets, laundry, and a camp store. For information, contact Attwood Lake Park, 4956 Shop Rd., Mineral City OH 44656, (216) 343-6780.
84.3 [1.1] TURN WEST ON TABOR RIDGE RD.
Follow Tabor Ridge Rd. west; after half a mile, cross RR tracks again. After another 0.6 mi, Tall Timber Rd. (CR84) intersects from the southwest (left). After about another 1.3 miles, reach Brown Hill Rd. (TR388). Follow Brown Hill Rd. northwest for half a mile to Johnstown Rd. (CR 85).
87.2 [2.9] TURN WEST ON JOHNSTOWN RD.
Follow Johnstown Rd. west for half a mile to TR315. Turn north on TR315. After 0.7 miles, TR386 intersects from the west, and the road takes that number. Follow TR386 north, then northeast, then north again, crossing a flood plain until reaching the village of Somerdale.
89.7 [2.5] TURN EAST ON SR 212
The route follows SR212 east for about 100 yards, then turns northon Somerdale Rd (CR109), and follows this for about 0.1 miles until turning back to the northwest to follow an old railroad grade along the shores of Conotton Creek. At the point the trail reaches the creek is private property where the owner, permits "leave no trace" camping if kept close to the trail; there are no facilities. The trail follows the creek quite closely for a short distance, then re-emerges on SR212, which it follows northwest for a few yards, until reaching CR83 in the village of Zoarville. The route then turns southwest on CR83 and follows it for half a mile, until reaching an old road (closed to traffic).
91.4 [1.7] TURN NORTHWEST ON CLOSED ROAD
The trail uses the old road and an abandoned bridge to cross Conotton Creek, and shortly afterward reaches SR800; the route turns southwest and follows SR800 for about 200 yards, until reaching the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath.
The Ohio and Erie Canal was with the Miami and Erie Canal, which the trail follows far to the west, the other and longer canal built in the 1840s that linked the Ohio River with Lake Erie; north from this point it provides a well-used towpath trail used by the Buckeye Trail.
92.0 [0.6] TURN NORTHWEST ON OHIO AND ERIE CANAL TOWPATH
The trail heads northwest, generally sandwiched between Canal Rd. (CR81) and the Tuscarawas River. After 2.1 miles, the route briefly leaves the towpath and makes a jog to cross the Norfolk Southern railroad grade, then returns to the canal towpath. The route continues northwest, after 0.7 miles, reaching the crossing of Dover-Zoar Rd (CR82), which passes overhead. The village of Zoar is about 0.5 miles to the northeast.
94.8 [2.8] REACH DOVER-ZOAR RD.
North Country Trail certification ends at this point, as does the discussion of the route in this section. The route discription in this guide will leave the Buckeye Trail here, after following it off and on for nearly 700 miles. The Buckeye Trail continues on a northwest heading toward the Cleveland area, using Ohio and Erie Canal lands for much of the route.