Findley State Park
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Findley State Park
Once a state forest, Findley State Park is heavily wooded with stately pines and various hardwoods. The scenic hiking trails allow nature lovers to view spectacular wildflowers and observe wildlife. The fields, forests and quiet waters offer a peaceful refuge for visitors.
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Location and Driving Directions
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Description and Review
The trail is one way, but it shares access with other users, so pay attention. Pass through the gate at the end of the lot and follow the double-track a short distance until you dart left into some twisty, wooded single-track. Hint: Look down or you'll run off the twisting trail - look up or you'll miss the trail markers. It's rooty with a few short, steep ups and downs that might find a novice in the wrong gear. Some well-placed logs of all sizes are waiting for you also - many with small piles for easier crossing. The orange trail ribbons are very easy to follow, although the tiny orange arrows are sometimes tough to spot when you're dodging trees. There are a few mostly-avoidable mudholes throughout the circuit. The entire course seems to start out slow, twisty and bumpy, and becomes faster and smoother as you go. A good place for a beginner to learn a few things. For me, it's a good quick fix for ridin'. Distance ~7mi.
Here's the extended version...
...You'll exit the woods for a short turn around the spillway, then back you go into similar twisty, rooty trails. The entrance back in is not as easy to see as the footpath - the bike trail is to the right. It descends quickly and turns abruptly. After more twisties and roots you turn left onto a double-track where some serious speed is possible - try not to overshoot the next left turn off the double-track just past the pipe crossing (you'll see the pipe). This section seems faster, but no less demanding on your directional skills - with more logs. When at last you merge onto a section of the Ohio Buckeye Trail (marked by light blue blazes on the trees - the orange markers were not seen), you have more serious speed potential, which makes it a little dangerous in the limited sight distance sections (mainly, all of it). Smooth singletrack with sweeping turns - it is fun! When you come back out onto the double-track it's hammer down! I believe this is the Wyandot Trail. The trail is wider and smoother, but still with strategically-placed roots in all the turns. Don't take the Wyandot Loop. You will bust out of the woods right at the camp check-in. Go straight, cross the parking lot, and take a left into the woods just past the youth activity center (just before the amphitheater). You will be tempted to fly down this singletrack and catch air off the downhill roots in the soft pine needles, but those are the only soft things around. At the bottom you will cross a small bridge, and climb a short, steep hill, then descend the other side. You'll come back out on a doubletrack - go left down the hill to the bridge. You'll have to carry up onto the bridge unless you're an advanced trials rider. The exit off the other side is easier. After coming up an easy hill, there is a quick, very steep uphill right turn - lay down some power and up you go. You will come to another short, steep, rooty climb into the South Bike Parking Lot. Turn hard right. The rest of the trail threads through the boat launch, picnic area, then cross the road before the Point Picnic Area and enter the Larch trail. This will bring you back just past the North Bike Parking lot and you can go 'round again if you're not tired.
