Old Man's Cave Section

Trail Alerts

• (7/30/24)This trail alert affects the Old Mans Cave printed map dated October 2018 and both the FarOut and Avenza maps updated February 2024. The alert is due to information from Byron Guy, Section Supervisor, who reports that weather conditions this year are responsible for unmanageable vegetation growth and unstable soil compositions along the hill side from the 2021 tornado damage near and past Pt 24.
  
  Hikers who intend to hike from Pt 23 to Pt 25 should be aware of the possibility of high weeds and slippage in benched locations, especially in the area at Pt 24.
  
  Hikers can avoid the area by continuing SW on Macedonia Rd from Pt. 23 to Pt. 25 at Lady Run Rd (unmarked), a distance of 1.8 mi. Pt 25 is just south of the junction of Macedonia Rd and Macedonia Church Rd.
  
  All services at the campsite are still available near Pt 25 and accessed from Macedonia Church Rd, .25 miles east, across the creek, and behind the main gate.
  
  

Map Updates

• (1/3/24)This map update is to inform hikers of the closure of Big Sycamore Campground which was located between Points 9 and 10 in the Old Man's Cave Section. On the 2018 map, the only reference to this campground is the camping symbol on the map portion of the section map. There is no text reference to the campground in the description of Point 9 or in the Camping Along the Trail portion of the section map.



• (9/12/23)This map update corrects several directional instructions in the Pt. 18 (Bridle Trail at Unger Rd (T59A)) description. Pt. 18 had been Pt. 17 on the 2018 Old Mans Cave map edition, but was renamed in the map update of 6/12/2023 below this update notice.
  
  The corrections are noted in bold print:
  
  Pt. 18 Bridle Trail at Unger Rd (T59A)
  
  Enter woods on the bridle path that begins S but gradually turns W. After 0.11 mi, turn sharply SE and continue a gradual descent. After 0.22 mi, ford a stream and ascend E across a major ridge. After 0.28 mi, ford a stream and begin a steep ascent E. Near the ridge summit, turn S to SE and begin a gradual descent. After 0.5 mi, reach a utility line. In the next 400', leave the utility line, ford a stream and cross Culp Rd. Continue E on the bridle path over a low hill. Soon (0.1 mi), ford Old Man’s Cave Creek. Go E. After 0.1 mi, turn S at the entrance to the archery range parking area and cross SR 374/664.



• (6/12/23)Byron Guy, Old Man’s Cave co-Section Supervisor, has announced a major reroute of the BT between Point 14 and 17 which now takes the trail back into restricted access areas in two State Nature Preserves, Little Rocky Hollow and Scheik Hollow. The effort to gain trail back in this area has taken 10 years to accomplish. Please respect this privilege – Leave No Trace and stay on the trail. This update applies to the 2018 map.
  
  This reroute moves Point 15 to 0.2 mi north of its former location on Kreshbaum Rd, inserts Point 16 to a location on Hockman Rd (T238), adds 1.5 mi between new Point 16 to newly designated Point 17, and increases the remaining Point numbers by 1. The section now has 29 Points and a total of 52.5 mi. In the Point descriptions, the CW miles increase from Points 17 to 29 by 1.5 mi. The CCW miles increase by 1.5 mi from Points 16 to 1. See the new information below:
  • Pt. 14 Rocky Fork Rd (T232) at Hocking State Forest HSF) — Reroute starts here at the end of Pt. 14 with this text rewrite: After 1.9 mi, ford Big Rocky Fork and climb S, then generally W past trailhead parking sign (white blazes) on steep skid road. After .5 mi cross Kreshbaum Rd (C9) through horse styles.
  • Pt. 15 Footpath w/horse styles at Kreshbaum Rd. (C9) CW 22.6 W, CCW 29.9 E
    CW UNAUTHORIZED TRAIL USE STRICTLY ENFORCED ODNR and DNAP have allowed the BT to reestablish the trail across two State Nature Preserves, Little Rocky Hollow and Scheik Hollow. Please follow Leave No Trace principles closely and stay on trail in this fragile environment.
    
    BT continues SW and soon enters Little Rocky Hollow SNP. STAY ON TRAIL. In 1000' the BT turns SE, and after switchback descends NW then SW into the creek valley. Continue across small intermittent stream and passing through hollow valley generally NW before ford of Little Rocky Branch. BT ascends from branch and turns NW below massive sandstone cliffs before crossing small stream and turning W ascending steeply. Crossing small foot bridge BT leaves SNP and enters HSF. BT turns S, then W before crossing unmaintained Extine Rd (T229) and passing through remnants of hilltop farmstead before entering Scheik Hollow SNP. STAY ON TRAIL. BT descends into lush hemlock valley before small intermittent creek crossing and soon after above large waterfall through (name of the creek/branch?). BT soon leaves SNP into HSF and ascends steeply through wooded valleyside before passing through horse styles onto Hockman Rd (T238).
  • Pt. 16 Hockman Rd (T238) at horse styles (P) CW 24.6 S CCW 27.9 NE
    CCW UNAUTHORIZED TRAIL USE STRICTLY ENFORCED ODNR and DNAP have allowed the BT to reestablish the trail across two State Nature Preserves, Little Rocky Hollow and Scheik Hollow. Please follow Leave No Trace principles closely and stay on trail in this fragile environment.
    
    BT turns S on Hockman Rd past styles and soon after (0.2 mi) turns W into Airplane Rock Parking Lot. Past service gate BT follows gravel road to orange blaze bridle trail and turns S into HSF on bridle trail. Bridle Trail follows gorge rim of Long Hollow, past view of Chapel Cave (2250' facing N) before descending into creek valley. Bridle trail meanders through creek valley for 0.5 miles past HSF trail kiosk before entering into HSF Climbing Area Parking Lot and crossing Big Pine Rd (C11).
  • Pt. 17 Big Pine Rd (C11) at Entrance to Hocking State Forest Climbing Area (P) CW 26.1 S CCW 26.4 E
  • Pt. 18 Bridle Trail at Unger Rd (T59A) CW 28.3 S CCW 24.2 NE

Trail Towns

• There are no Trailtowns in this Section at the present time.

Section Blogs

• (5/22/23) Old Man's Cave Section Blog - Provided by Victoria Livingston, BTA hiker. Join Victoria and her husband Dave as they hiked from Point 9 to 15 in the Old Man's cave Section. They had several stream crossings, saw large rock formations, and enjoyed the dusting of snow. Follow their adventure here .
• (11/6/23) Old Man's Cave Section Blog - Provided by Victoria Livingston, BTA hiker. Because a thunderstorm was predicted, Victoria and her husband Dave decided to hike on Saturday instead of Sunday. They needed someone to carpool with and got lucky enough to arrive at the trailhead at the same time as four other hikers. They all carpooled, and one of the hikers taught them new tricks for dealing with dogs along the trail. Follow their adventure - Sometimes You Get Lucky and New Trail Friends.

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