Pleasant Hill Loop

The Pleasant Hill Loop is the longest and most varied hiking experience at Mohican State Park, combining three of the park's signature attractions in a single outing. The route passes the historic covered bridge spanning the Clear Fork of the Mohican River — one of the most photographed scenes in Ashland County — before climbing to views of Pleasant Hill Dam and its 660-acre reservoir, which was completed in 1938 for flood control along the Muskingum Watershed. The trail then traverses the rim of Clear Fork Gorge through a mixed forest of oak, maple, beech, and scattered hemlock before looping back through the upland forest. Spring wildflowers are exceptional along the gorge-edge sections, with trillium, wild ginger, and hepatica appearing as early as March. The reservoir provides habitat for osprey, great blue herons, and migrating waterfowl in spring and fall. The trail is blazed but requires some route-finding attention at junctions. Footing is generally good on packed earth, though wet sections near the river can be muddy after rain. The loop is best hiked counterclockwise to save the gorge rim views for the second half. The $8 vehicle fee is collected at the main park entrance.