More Areas To Explore
5/15/07 by Don Williams
I appreciate your review of the Blackhand Gorge Trail. You mentioned the
tunnel on the opposite side of the Licking River. What you did not mention
was the sandstone locks of the old Ohio Canal in the area. Also, off the
main trail is a sandstone quarry from which the stone was used to build the
canal locks and other structures in the area.
Overzealous Ranger
6/29/04 by Rob Candor
...After plunking down $50 for a canoe trip (family of 4), the guy that takes us via school bus to the canoe drop-off, informs us that the area has a Ranger who lives to punish canoers with even the slightest infraction. This includes eating or drinking while canoeing, stopping the canoes to walk around on the banks, or even jumping out of the canoe to cool off in the river. He says the ranger hides behind trees and watches people with his binoculars, so he's very hard to spot. He had slapped canoers with a $100 fine just a couple days prior.
Needless to say, this totally ruined the experience for us. Try to imagine canoeing down a river in the sweltering sun with young kids and telling them we can't drink the Gatorade and water we packed or jump in the water because some idiot lurking in the trees might nail us with a fine. Man, what a waste of tax dollars, not to mention what it must do to the canoe livery business, as customers never return.
Trail Specs:
Class: A3-
Length: 4.3 miles - approx. 8' wide
Condition: Fair to good - Take it slow on skinny tires
Facilities: Latrine at east end of the trail (no drinking water).
Food: Pack a lunch or plan on traveling back into nearby Newark to eat.
Parking: At both ends of trail. Eastern trailhead: Take Rt. 16 east out of Newark, turn right on Rt. 146 (Nashport Rd.) & right on Toboso Rd. Look for Blackhand Gorge sign on right. Western trailhead: West end is off Brushy Fork Rd. Take Brownsville Rd. south (off Rt. 16), turn left on Brushy Fork & look for a small unmarked parking lot that will soon appear on your left.
