Mohican State Park in Loudonville, Ohio has lots to offer when it comes to outdoor adventure. I’m sharing more about the top things to do during your visit to Mohican State Park and the surrounding area nearby.
Top Things to Do at Mohican State Park
A visit to Mohican State Park takes you to three outdoor recreation areas within close proximity. Located centrally between Columbus and Cleveland, this is a great Ohio getaway.
Mohican State Park is 1100 acres located 5 miles from downtown Loudonville, Ohio. Pleasant Hill Lake and the 4525-acre Mohican-Memorial State Forest are both next to Mohican State Park too.
The area has hiking trails, scenic views, wildlife, snowmobiling, mountain biking, fishing, bird watching, and more.
Scenic Views at the Gorge Overlook
Enjoy scenic views within a short walk from the parking lot at the Gorge Overlook.
Clear Fork Gorge overlook is a beautiful stop year round.
Mohican State Park Fire Tower
1012 O D N R Mohican Rd 51, Perrysville, OH
The views from the top of the Fire Tower Overlook provide 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
The fire tower can only have up to 6 people on the structure at a time.
Views beneath the Mohican Fire Tower are impressive too if you don’t want to make the climb.
Ohio Memorial Shrine at Mohican-Memorial State Forest
Dedicated in 1947, The Ohio Memorial Shrine is technically in the Mohican-Memorial State Forest located 4 minutes from the Mohican State Park.
The Ohio Memorial Shrine honors Ohioans who died in:
- World War II
- The Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Persian Gulf War
- Afghanistan and Iraq Operations
Inside the Ohio Memorial Shrine, you can read the names of the men and women who gave their lives. Thanks to the efforts over 60,000 Women’s Club members from all over Ohio who fundraised for two years.
Government legislation required that all materials and companies involved in the construction of the Shrine be native to Ohio.
There is a set of eight binders located in the center of the room that duplicates the “great book” listings by county and by war for the convenience of visitors seeking names.
Admire the Mohican Covered Bridge
Visitors can drive through the covered bridge or walk on the pedestrian walkways located on either side of the bridge.
Walk down by the creek to appreciate the covered bridge from below.
Hike to Big Lyons Falls
The trailhead for the Lyons Fall Trail is located within a short distance of the covered bridge.
You can choose your own hiking adventure near the covered bridge. Lyons Falls Trail takes you to Big Lyons Falls and connects to Little Lyons Falls and the dam.
If you park your vehicle near the covered bridge, you can make a large loop by using connecting trails.
I would recommend starting at the Lyons Falls Trailhead. The second half of the hiking trail loops by the dam. Pleasant Hill trail is relatively flat and an easy hike back to your vehicle near the covered bridge after the stairs down.
The Stage Coach Trail is an easier option along the creek if you dont want to hike to the falls.
Unfortunately, we didn’t see a lot of water in the waterfall at Big Lyons Falls. Hikers can easily connect to Little Lyons Falls after stopping at Big Lyons Falls.
There is a large section of stairs near Big Lyons Falls that will get your heart rate up.
Hike to Little Lyons Falls
We didn’t see a lot of water at Little Lyons Falls in the summer either.
I think that you would have better luck after a good rain or in the spring or the fall.
Visit Pleasant Hill Dam at the Mohican State Park
This is a nice scenic area with plenty of nearby parking. You can hike down the stairs to Pleasant Hill hiking trail or to Lyons Falls Trail and the Covered Bridge.
If you want to start a hike near the dam you can go down a lot of stairs. We noticed a few fisherman who were fishing at the area at the bottom of the stairs.
I would recommend wearing hiking shoes on the trails if possible for more secure footing.
For a longer hike, you might want to try Hemlock Trail that’s 7.5 miles out and back.
View Vista of the Gorge from Vista Point at Mohican State Park
A scenic stop at Vista Point provides another beautiful view of the 300 ft gorge. There are picnic tables nearby if you want to pack a lunch.
Watch the Sunset From the Mohican Lodge and Conference Center
Mohican Lodge has a restaurant with an outdoor patio where you can watch a gorgeous sunset over Pleasant Hill Lake.
Lodging Options Near Mohican State Park
The area has LOTS of campground options in the area including the Mohican Lodge and Mohican State Park Campground.
For a unique getaway, I highly recommend checking out the treehouse and cabin rentals at The Mohicans.
Experience the “Canoe Capital of Ohio”
No visit to the Mohican area is complete without a canoe trip on the Mohican River!
Loudonville, Ohio is known as the “Canoe Capital of Ohio” with its abundance of canoe liveries within such close proximity. Canoe rentals are VERY popular in this area. Many canoe liveries also offer rentals for rafting, tubing, or kayaking too.
Mohican Adventures Canoe Livery & Fun Center
This is a fun stop with something for everyone. Mohican Adventures has mini-golf, an aerial course, go-karts, and canoes, kayaks, rafts, or tube rentals.
For the best value, check out the Fun Pack Specials if you want to try more than one attraction.
Adventures at Landoll’s Mohican Castle
Landolls Mohican Castle has ghost hunts and special holiday events. Or you can get pampered with one of their spa services.
Go Ziplining at Tree Frog Canopy Tours
Tree Frog Canopy Tours offers zip line canopy tours that include zip lines, sky bridges, and rappels. This is Northern Ohio’s only canopy tour and lasts 2.5-3 hours.
Make sure that you check out these great restaurants while you are near The Mohicans.
