Clear Creek Metro Park it is part of the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. It also contains the largest Ohio State Nature Preserve, The Allen F Beck State Nature Preserve.
Clear Creek Metro Park is a beautiful park that has something for everyone. From flat trails, rugged trails to fishing and picnicking. The area is breathtaking and contains prairies as well as thick forests.
The entire Metro Park area covers 5,470 acres as of 2019. It contains the 4,769-acre Allen F. Beck State Nature Preserve which has off-trail areas not normally open to the public, except for guided hikes and an annual hunting lottery. A number of trails also leads through most of the park area.
Address:
Clear Creek Metro Park 185 Clear Creek Rd. Lancaster, OH 43130
Creekside Meadows 25833 Clear Creek Rd. Rockbridge, OH 43149
Open 6:30 am until dark
Clear Creek is located within the Hocking Hills region of Ohio, with gorges and bluffs formed by Blackhand sandstone. Because it is farther west than most other lands within the region, the erosion-resistant sandstone occurs at higher elevations.
History:
In 1973, the Beck family from Columbus, who owned land in the Clear Creek Valley, gifted 1,159 acres of it to Columbus Metro Parks, with the stipulation that 75 percent of the land should be declared a state nature preserve.
At the time the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had plans to flood the entire valley and build a large reservoir. The Becks hoped a large nature preserve could prevent that.
Emily Benua, who also owned land that would have been flooded, gifted another 662 acres to the State Nature Preserve in her will. Her condition was that it "forever be held as a nature preserve for scientific, educational and aesthetic purposes".
Fortunately, the plan for the reservoir was scrapped.
About 3,700 acres were added to the park to make the total acres 5,470.
In 1995 Clear Creek Metro Park is opened to the public.
Clear Creek Metro Park Map:
Trails:
Benua
1.9 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Dirt & Gravel
Loop trail through woods and fields leading to Lake Emily.
Cemetery Ridge
2.5 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Dirt & Gravel
Begins with a steep zigzag ascent through the woods peaking at about 700 feet. At the top of the ridge the trail alternates between forest and meadows.
Chestnut
2.2 miles
Difficult – Hike – Dirt & Gravel
Goes through valleys with sandstone formations and crosses forested ridges.
Creekside Meadows
1.7 miles
Easy – Hike/Pets – Grass
Follows the banks of Clear Creek through open fields. A 1-mile section of the trail west of Starner Road is also a pet trail.
Fern
1.7 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Dirt
Goes along a steep ridge and through a forest with pines and hemlocks.
Good Prairie
0.3 miles
Easy – Hike – Dirt & Gravel
Loops around a prairie.
Hemlock
1.5 miles
Difficult – Hike – Dirt & Gravel
Descends and ascends a steep ravine and goes through shady hemlock groves, sandstone outcroppings, a carpet of ferns and ridges topped with hardwood trees.
Lake
0.9 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Dirt
Winds through the woods to an observation deck overlooking Lake Ramona.
Prairie Warbler
0.6 miles
Easy to Moderate – Hike – Dirt
Crosses a rolling hilltop, goes around a meadow and through the woods.
Tulip Tree
0.6 miles
Moderate to Difficult – Hike – Dirt
Loops through the woods along a rolling hillside.
Note:
Trails can be combined to allow for longer distances.
AllTrails has some combination hikes listed for Clear Creek.
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/ohio/clear-creek-metro-park
Other Areas of Interest:
Clear Creek Metro Park, Thomas-Mathias Cabins Area, 23233 Clear Creek Rd., Rockbridge, OH 43149
The Mathias Cabin
The cabin possibly built by John Arney, a captain during the Civil War, represents the type of log dwelling early settlers built prior to the availability of bricks and other building materials. Not typical, however were the pine logs that were used for pines were much less common than they are now. The building foundations and rock terracing were built from sandstone quarried nearby. A potable spring emerges from the sandstone outcroppings north of the cabin. The Mathias family moved in the cabin in 1922 and lived there for many years.
The Mathias Cabin is named after the family that purchased the cabin in the 1920s. It now a part of Clear Creek Metro Park. Thanks to restorative efforts from Columbus Metro Parks, it is available for the public to admire. It sits a short distance off Clear Creek Road. It can be reached by parking at the Thomas-Mathias Cabins Area parking lot. There is a short path from the parking lot to get to the cabin.
Behind the cabin is a towering cliff face. And to its left is a small stream. It is a peaceful area and would have been a beautiful place to live. There is a picnic table next to the cabin.
Like many old homes, it is believed to be haunted. During the day, the cabin looks innocent, but at night the ghosts show themselves. Stories have it that you can see lights in the windows and faces peering out. There has also been a man spotted walking across the porch. But he disappears as he reaches the steps. And don’t be surprised if you hear voices and laughter.
The Thomas Cabin
The Tomas Cabin was owned by Edward S. Thomas. He purchased the 80-acre tract in 1921. He called it Neotoma Valley. Ed was a writer for the Columbus Dispatch. His first article was titled “Our Birds.” It was published on March 5, 1922. He continued writing for the Columbus Dispatch for 59 years. Many of his articles were about the wildlife, plants and history of the Clear Creek Valley.
Unlike the Mathias Cabin, the Thomas Cabin cannot be seen from the road. To get to the cabin you must walk approx. 940’. There is a slight incline most of the way to the cabin.
The trail to the cabin is surrounded by trees and large stone outcroppings. Behind the cabin, the trail continues for a short distance.
Ed Thomas called his cabin and 80-acre tract of land Neotoma for the Allegheny wood rat. Ed Thomas and some friends found Ohio’s first specimen of the Allegheny Wood Rat. No longer found in the Hocking County, the docile rat’s preferred habitat was rocky areas in deciduous forests or small caves or rock crevices and fissures in steep cliff faces.
Today, the state endangered Neotoma Wood Rat is gone from Clear Creek Valley and Hocking County – a victim of increased predation, disease and habitat change.
However, Neotoma Valley is today a lush tapestry of maturing trees and thickets because Ed Thomas allowed the trees to reseed.
The Trails at Mathias and Thomas Cabins
Mathias Cabin
There is a very short trail from the parking lot. It is relatively flat and approximately 370 ft. long.
Thomas Cabin
The trail isn’t very long, only about 940’. However, there is an incline almost all the way to the cabin.
The trail isn’t very long, only about 940’. However, there is an incline almost all the way to the cabin.
Additional Trail
Sitting to the left of the parking lot is another trail. We walked it for almost a half a mile when we were forced to turn around. The trail was so muddy that it became impassible. The trail is all-natural and has moderate elevation changes. It was very peaceful and didn’t look as though it was as heavily travelled as other trails at Clear Creek Metro Park.
Allen F. Beck State Nature Preserve
The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves was statutorily established in 1975, it is the smallest and the newest of the land-managing divisions within the Department of Natural Resources. The Division operates a statewide system of state nature preserves, natural areas and scenic rivers, protecting the best remaining examples of Ohio's natural heritage. There are three programs in the Division - nature preserves, scenic rivers, and botanical inventory and monitoring. The Division administers the Natural Areas Act, Endangered Plant Law, Cave Protection Act and Ohio Scenic Rivers Act.
The 4,479 acres of the Allen F. Beck State Nature Preserve is located in Clear Creek Metro Park. A permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is required to visit. Permits can be requested below:
Lake Ramona
Lake Ramona Trails
Lake Ramona 23233 Clear Creek Rd. Rockbridge, OH 43149
Lake Ramona Trail
Lake Ramona covers 5 acres of land.
A-D
The “Lake Trail” (A-D) measures approx. .7 miles long. It is a steep trail that provides a pretty good workout. It is a natural trail that can be slick and has stones and tree roots. If there has been a lot of rain it can be muddy. We would recommend a good pair of hiking boots.
- A
The beginning of the trail can be reached from the Valley View Parking area.
- B
It starts with a gradual decline and is surrounded by tall trees and has a steep ravine on the right-hand side. The trail’s decline gets steeper decline and ends with wooden steps and sandstone rocks.
- C
At the bottom of the trail, you will find a small deck with a couple of metal benches. The deck overlooks the large lake. This side of the lake is serene. You can barely hear any vehicles in the distance.
Lake Ramona covers 5 acres of land.
It has bluegill, brown trout, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass.
- D
When leaving the deck, the trail follows the edge of the lake. Over the edge, you can see areas of water and undergrowth.
Once the trail curves away from the river, there is a steep incline. It continues all the way up to the top.
- E
The “Lake Trail” ends into the “Chestnut Trail.” Follow this trail back to the parking lot. It is about .1 miles in length and is downhill. This trail was an old road and is easy to walk.
F-H
There is a second entrance to Lake Ramona. It is often used by fishermen in search of bluegill, brown trout, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass. This side of the pond isn’t as tranquil as the upper trail side. The sound of traffic is very noticeable. Luckily, Clear Creek Road isn’t too busy.
- F
There is a very small parking area on Clear Creek Road. It is directly across the street from the Lake Ramona sign. There is enough room for two vehicles.
- G
There is a small boardwalk at the beginning of the path. After it ends, there is a steep grassy hill that you must climb. Once you get to the top, you will cross another boardwalk that ends with a deck. From the beginning of the path to the deck measures approx. 350’.
The hillside can be very slick and difficult to climb.
- H
Leaving Lake Ramona, you can head back down to your car or continue on another path. This path has a steady incline and measures approx. 400’. It ends on the road that leads to the Valley View Parking area.
Conclusion:
Clear Creek Metro Park is one of my favorite Metro Parks to visit. I have fished and hiked at the park numerous times. And it never disappoints.
If you have any questions or would like to add something to the blog, please let us know.
