Great challenge!
TERRIBLE! AWFUL! SO SO BAD! I normally don't leave negative reviews but this trail was SUCH a negative experience. First of all, the trail was clearly made by somebody who hates hikers or somebody who has never actually hiked it themselves.The ups and downs we're awful. We ended up turning around after awhile and only did about 9 miles total.It was like climbing mountain after never-ending mountain. It wasn't fun in any way. The views we're mostly boring, the trail was much too rocky, almost at times like it was all gravel. And the bugs were so incredibly bad. I mean spiders EVERYWHERE! I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! Eery 50 feet to a hundred feet you would run into a spider web right at face level. Probably thousands and thousands of them right across the trail, one after another. And the worst part of all was the tick infestation. I mean infestation! I wore deep woods bug spray all over me but within 2 hours, I noticed my arms and legs were covered in probably hundreds of tiny ticks!!! My husband was wearing shorts and he got so many bites, if I were to guess, probably close to two or three hundred, maybe more. I almost feel like they should have a warning sign about this. I'll love hiking and do it every weekend and typically during the week too. I've never had a hiking experience so awful. I included a pic of his tick bitten foot and leg. He was wearing long crew cut socks too!!
If you want an escalator, go to the mall. If you want a workout, go to Shawnee. I love Shawnee-- I've hiked there 6 times in the last 3 months, and I have to drive a couple of hrs to get there. That is a strong endorsement. I'm referring specifically to the backpack trails- there is the north trail and the south trail, each > 20 miles long. I like the north trail most because it's a bit tougher than the south trail, but both are considered "hard". Bugs- I never noticed. Wear long pants. Spiders? I don't recall but there are spiders in nature. If you backpack, expect them. They don't eat much anyway. Switchbacks? There are some but my suspicion is that the trail was designed by someone in good physical condition. This is an athletically hard trail, the hardest in OH. Athletically hard is likely the main attraction for Shawnee. We need at least one such trail in Oh. Shawnee is it. If you want easy or moderate, seek another trail. Maintenance? This trail is the best maintained in OH in my opinion. In my 21 mile hike 10 days ago, I stepped over maybe 2-3 fallen trees. The rangers do an incredible job caring for this resource. The trails are well marked. You cannot get lost unless you purposely leave the trail. The camps are spaced every 6-7 miles. There is potable water at many camps. To reiterate, if you hike for exercise or you hike with a goal of longer, multiday trails, Shawnee is more than a warmup. It's a preparatory workout.
Not a trail for beginners!
Several elevation climbs and descents in the thick woods of Ohio. Not very many cut backs, lots of high pitched sections. Closest camp is 6-7 miles from parking lot.
Shawnee State Park Backpacking Trailhead is a US Parking based in West Portsmouth, Kentucky. Shawnee State Park Backpacking Trailhead is located at 4316-4344 OH-125, West Portsmouth, OH 45663, USA.
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