Buckeye Trail - West Union

West Union Section

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Trail Description

Supervisor: Nikki Gerber
•

58.5 Total Miles / 6.9 Off Road Miles (11.8%)
Map Publication Date: January 2020

The West Union Section exhibits the transition between the relatively forested slopes in the eastern part of the state and the more highly populated and developed plains in the western part of the state. Overall, the trail undulates somewhat over 5000 ft along the way.
Beginning in the hilly, unglaciated portion of the Appalachian Plateau, the trail continues off road through The Nature Conservancys preserve named the Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve. The footpath ends at the George Rieveschl Jr. Creek Bend Center on the Ohio Brush Creek. West of this creek, the trail continues on road into a geologic region known as the Bluegrass Region, a less dissected, but still hilly region which is more amenable to agriculture and other development than the Appalachian Plateau. Here, the trail passes through Bentonville and enters Brown County. A little later, the trail crosses Eagle Creek and climbs up into a much flatter geologic region known as the Till Plains. Here, the trail passes through Russelville and near both Georgetown and Mt Orab. Between the latter villages, the trail goes very near two covered bridges, both out of service. The section ends at an intersection just after the trail crosses the dam that restrains Grant Lake, the main feature of the Grant Lake Wildlife Area.

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Trail Alerts

  • There are no Trail Alerts at this time.

Map Updates

  • (8/17/22)The BTA has been asked by the owner of property within Point 6 to change the text on the map at Point 6. Please note the entirety of the description is as follows:
    Point 6: CW 11.6 CCW 47.5 — SR 247 continues SE; turn SW onto Gift Ridge Rd past Paulette Ln (1.1 mi, exits S) and Jo Ann Ln (0.4 mi, exits S).
  • (6/27/22)Kent Daniels, a BTA Trail Adopter, has provided access to and stocked a roadside water cache for BT hikers in the West Union Section. Near the end of Point 5, after crossing Moore's Run on SR 247, in 0.4 mi on the west side of the road, is a black storage box containing bottles of water. Coordinates are 38°44'27.3"N, 83°31'05.1"W, A short gravel path leads from the road to the box.
  • (8/16/19)A major change in the routing of the trail through properties owned by The Nature Conservancy has favorably affected the route of the trail through the western end of the Shawnee Section and the eastern end of the West Union Section. The log below reflects these changes. The log specifically updates both the Shawnee Section Map Edition of December 2011 and the West Union Section Map Edition of August 2012.
    About the Shawnee Section map, the most significant change is that the Section no longer reaches old point 29 (Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156) at Long Lick Rd (T181)). However, because there have been a number of little changes, these little changes have been incorporated west from Point 25 to Point 28.
    The biggest changes begin now in what is best referred to, at least for now, as changes to the West Union Section. Following Point 28 below is a blank line. Following that begins the description of the new route of the trail. Future points will be referred to by capitalized letters. Numeric points will represent the same locations that the numeric points now represent in the current West Union Section map.
    There is another important change – a remote campsite has been added to the trail in this region. This campsite lies just off the trail about midway between Points A and B, i.e.- between the Moon Hollow Trailhead and Blue Creek Rd. Use of either the campsite or any official Nature Conservancy Trailhead for overnight parking have restrictions that are enforced. Be sure to read the section, Camping along the Trail, that follows the log below for campsite details. You must contact personnel at The Edge of Appalachia Preserve for free, written permits either to park overnight or to camp at the one official campsite. Contact the preserve at either or 937-544-2188 x13 for your permit. Remember, a written permit is required for either use.
    CW CCW Pt
    41.4
    N    		 4.1
    SE    		 25 Buckhorn Ridge Bridle Trail at Sunshine Ridge Rd (F17/T202B)
    Note: The Bypass Trail from Wamsley rejoins the BT here. Join Sunshine Ridge Rd that climbs N. After just 350', the trail reaches, arguably, the highest point it reaches anywhere in the state - 1276'. Continue to meander generally NW on Sunshine Ridge Rd.
    43.6
    SW    		 1.9
    SE    		 26 Sunshine Ridge Rd (F17/T202B) at Carter Run Rd (T173)
    A cemetery is located at this intersection. Meander generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd (now T202A); after 0.9 mi, pass a cemetery. The churches that were associated with the cemeteries seem to be gone.
    45.1
    W    		 0.4
    N    		 27 Sunshine Ridge Rd (T202) at Lower Twin Creek Rd (C4)
    Meander generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd that now seems to be C4.
    45.5
    W    		 0.0
    N    		 28 Sunshine Ridge Rd (C4/T156) at Slate Fork Rd (C4)
    Continue generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd, now designated T156D.
    After 0.26 mi (Location: N 38.71612, W 83.33181 ), exit Sunshine Ridge Rd onto a footpath; head generally W on a gradual descent. Soon, pass through a Mountain Laurel patch. After 0.35 mi, join an old road briefly (75’). Continue descent. After 0.12 mi, ford a stream. (Bad water. Do not consume!) Almost immediately, ford a second stream (potable after purification); soon turn NW. After 0.12 mi, join Johnson Run Rd in the middle of a turn marked with a wide spot on the E side of the road. Head SW briefly (60'). Exit the road W across a bridge over Johnson Run; begin a gradual ascent. After 0.7 mi, cross primitive Reel Ridge Rd (T289, Location: N 38.721658, W 83.342169). Very soon, turn parallel to road. For the next 0.5 mi or so, climb slightly to a high ridge. After 1.1 mi, ford an intermittent stream; begin steeper descent.
    3.2
    W    		 66.3
    SE    		 A Footpath at Moon Hollow Trailhead (C, P)
    Location: N 38.73361, W 83.35263. If you liked cowboy western music during the late 40's through the early 60's, you probably have heard of Cowboy Copas, Oklahoma Cowboy or The Waltz King of the Grand Ole Opry. Those sobriquets were adopted by a Lloyd Estel Copas who was born in this hollow on July 15, 1913. Among other accomplishments, he was the first to record and popularize Tennessee Waltz.

    NOTE: Parking at any time is restricted to 4 vehicles. In addition, any vehicle left overnight must display a valid parking permit in the windshield.     Exit the trailhead W onto Moon Hollow Rd (T415, 100'). Follow the road S for about 50'. Exit the road W across a bridge over a tributary to Blue Creek. Follow footpath SW across field behind barn and through a fence (Location: N 38.73269, W 83.35341, 350'). Continue generally W on footpath upslope. Ford a stream after 0.14 mi. After 0.6 mi on a ridge, pass a Carsonite Marker (Location: N 38.73390, W 83.35715) that marks the spur trail to the Moon Hollow campsite. Continue along the ridge with occasional views. After 0.8 mi, join Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156C, Location: N 38.72616, W 83.36442) and head W.
    4.9
    NW    		 64.6
    E    		 B Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156C) at Blue Creek Rd (C18)
    Continue on Sunshine Ridge Rd, now NW, with a new designation, T156B.
    5.5
    S    		 64.0
    E    		 2 Sunshine Ridge Rd at Morel Hollow Rd (T312A)
    Location: N 38.73029, W 83.37571. At this 3-way intersection, Sunshine Ridge Rd turns sharply S past the little-used, rutted Morel Hollow Rd. To the E, Sunshine Ridge Rd is designated T156B and to the S, T178B. Continue on Sunshine Ridge Rd, now S but, later more WNW, as it meanders along this tall ridge with some views.
    6.5
    W    		 65.0
    E    		 C End of Maintenance on Sunshine Ridge Rd (T178B) at Cox Cemetery
    Location: N 38.72582, W 83.38672. Exit from the NW corner of Cox cemetery onto a footpath that follows a little S of an ATV road that also exits from the same location but follows the ridgeline. After 0.13 mi near the top of a slight knob, join an extended intersection with the ATV road. After just 85', exit the ATV road NW onto a footpath. Continue on the footpath as it meanders westward between 50' and 500' of the ATV road which remains on the ridgeline. After 1.5 mi while heading W, ascend slowly to the ridgeline, cross the ATV road and descend slowly SE. The trail will soon continue its westerly meanders but now you are in the watershed of the Russell Fork of Stout Run. After 0.7 mi at about N 38.7247 and W 83.7247, you will cross another high ridgeline. Begin a gradual descent with some viewpoints.
    10.1
    NW    		 59.4
    E    		 D Footpath at West Fork Rd (C9)
    Location: N 38.72754, W 83.42139. For the first 0.4 mi, ascend generally NW on footpath steadily at an average 10 percent grade. The trail next turns back SE and essentially contours old ridges. After 0.26 mi, cross an old logging road. Soon, turn generally W with various views. After 0.3 at the Escarpment, the trail continues its meandering way but now generally NW and downslope, eventually through a region known as The Gap (0.6 mi) with some cliffs slightly above on your right. After 0.4 mi, cross an old ATV road. After another 0.35 mi, the descent ends with a low ridge ahead. The trail begins to contour past views of several waterfalls and cliffs. You will also ford 2 streams. After 0.5 mi, cross old Hamm Rd. From here N, the trail undulates a bit more. However, you will pass cliffs, pass a waterfall and ford a small stream. After 1.0 mi, ford Black's Run. Very soon, join Black's Run Rd (T155B) at N 38.7510, W 83.44206. Head N on the road.
    14.0
    WNW    		 55.5
    SSW    		 E Black's Run Rd (T155B) at Old Road
    Location: N 38.75156, W 83.44167. Facility: Limited P. Exit Black's Run Rd onto an old road; head W through an iron pipe gate. After 150', exit the old road onto footpath that meanders generally W over a low hill. After 0.7 mi, pass "The Throne" and, soon, exit deciduous forest into prairie that is being overtaken by trees. After 55', cross an ATV road. After 300', now in broken woods, cross a stream.
    15.1
    WSW    		 54.4
    ESE    		 F Flood's Grave
    Location: N 38.74738, W 83.45379. William Flood served during the Revolutionary War as a private in the Continental Army. He may have signed with the militia from Lancaster (Massachusetts) militia in 1776 and trained there at Camp Hull. He was credited for participating in the battle for Quebec City that same year under General Benedict Arnold; however, he was under the direct command of Captain Morgan who was from Virginia. Again, in 1783, he signed into the Continental Army for 6 months from Lancaster and, in early 1787, he served for 4 months during Shay's Rebellion; he was counted in the census of 1820 as a resident of Adams County, Ohio.
    Continue generally westward on this meandering footpath with minor undulations through broken woods and prairie across an ATV road (0.1 mi) and past a footpath (0.4 mi) that leads in a few feet to Flood's Point, which offers a very pleasant view of the Ohio Brush Creek valley. Descend steadily from Flood's Point. Descend first through the dolomite cliffs that support the viewpoint. After 0.22 mi, cross an ATV road in open prairie. Shortly after passing an open "badland", cross a small, rocky stream (0.16 mi); later, cross a bridge (300') over a larger stream that drops into a deep ravine.
    16.3
    S    		 53.3
    NNE    		 G George Rieveschl, Jr, Creek’s Bend Center on Waggoner Riffle Rd C5)
    Facilities: P, PT. This location is a unit within the Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve, The Nature Conservancy. Join Waggoner Riffle Rd and head S.
    17.0
    WNW    		 52.5
    N    		 7 Waggoner Riffle Rd (C5) at Beasley Fork Rd (C1)
    Exit Waggoner Riffle Rd onto Beasley Fork Rd; go WNW. Here is the end of the route change. Resume use of the current West Union Section Map Edition of August 2012.
  • (8/16/19)Camping Along the Trail
    Primitive camping for backpackers along the trail is possible at the Moon Hollow Campsite. This campsite is located along the trail between the Moon Hollow Trailhead (Pt A) and Blue Creek Rd (Pt B). You must possess a free, written permit from The Edge of Appalachia Preserve. Contact the preserve at either or 937-544-2188 x13 for your permit. No facilities are available at the campsite. Find water at the stream you will cross about 0.16 mi from Moon Hollow Rd. Camp only in the designated area which is about 0.8 mi from the road. Open fires are prohibited; use all “leave-no-trace” camping procedures. Camp near the Carsonite post located a little E or W of the trail. No more than four individuals may occupy the campsite at any one time. Your stay is limited to one night.

Trail Towns

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

Section Blogs

  • (11/6/23) West Union Section Blog - Provided by Victoria Livingston, BTA hiker. While hiking the Buckeye Trail, near point 21 of West Union, Victoria and her husband Dave encountered a character unloading a gizmo from his trailer. He asked us, “Can you guess what this is?” Who knew the fascinating hobby of prospecting for gold was occurring in Ohio?