Shawnee Lookout Park

Saturday, September 26, 20015.

I went to Shawnee Lookout Park in the absolute southwest corner of Ohio.  The park offers great views of Kentucky, Indiana, the Oxbows of the Great Miami River (an important stop along the migratory routes of more than 200 species of birds), and a power plant with power lines extending out in all directions (No, this isn't something my soul craves, but it is kind of cool the first couple times you see it).

It is also has an old Indian fort (ceremonial, not for defense), many burial mounds, and a Watchamacallit.  That is the remains of a stone-lined hole in the ground built by early 19th-century settlers used as a .................... so they could ............... well, no one knows what purpose it served.  I say remains but the entire thing is still there, they just filled it in so people and animals would quit falling into it.

The 1.3 mile Blue Jacket trail does not stand out in my mind as anything special.  In the spring before leaves are on the trees it has good views westward.  At this time of year I didn't bother hiking it.

The 2 mile Little Turtle trail shares the same parking area (so I guess laziness is the only reason I didn't hike them both) and is on the other side of the road, just past the Watchamacallit with a sign telling you that nobody knows what it is.  The trail starts out in early successional woods and slowly matures as you take a right at the fork in the trail and approach the Ohio River.  As the trail goes along the cliff above the river there are some fairly large oaks (30" + diameter).  If you somehow get lost and proceed beyond the benches and railing you are not supposed to cross there are some 40" + oaks.  On this day there was a light misty rain driven by a moderate wind.  I couldn't feel the rain until I reached the river overlook where it was unimpeded by trees.  The wind was blowing all the leaves on the pawpaws in the same direction.  They looked like flags.  A couple minutes later it stopped raining and the wind died down.  The view was better as I could see further but the day lost its magic.

The 1.4 mile Miami Fort trail is the most historical/educational.  It should not be hiked in September.  There are hundreds of walnut trees along the trail that will try to knock you senseless with their nuts.  I survived the hike, but a week earlier I might not have been so lucky.  This trail provides lookouts to the west (when there are no leaves on the trees) and the south.  There are many informational signs along the trail explaining the way things were back in the day.

Shawnee Lookout is great for early spring and late fall hikes.  I compromised and hiked in early fall.  I live and you learn.

Doug
9/28/2015.