Tour of Strouds Run State Park

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Features Drops/Jumps · Views

This route and direction is the best way to see all of the major trails in the park. Rocks, roots, drops, natural jumps (if you're looking for them and aggressive) and views await you on this classic Southern Ohio singletrack system.

This loop begins and ends at the car park on Strouds Run Road just after the entrance to the park. From the car park, the journey begins on Thunderbunny Trail, one of the more famous trails in the system. Thunderbunny Trail is sure to get your legs warmed up and features faces and a small stream to ford.

Upon reaching the end of Thunderbunny Trail after fording the stream, cross the road and immediately dive into Hollow Point Trail. Here, the technical obstacles are stepped up a bit as you zigzag your way south along the western face of the hillside past a plethora of interesting rock features.

After reaching the end of Hollow Point Trail, you are spit out back on Strouds Run Road. Pedal only a few dozen feet down the access road to the beach and boat ramp, and you'll find the north end of Sundown Trail off to your left at the back end of the small grassy area. Note: you can shorten the loop by cutting off this northern portion of Sundown Trail by pedaling past the beach to the end of the paved loop, then cutting left into the picnic area, where you can jump on Sundown Trail.

Sundown Trail is by far the most remote and longest section of singletrack in the loop, with a stream to ford, interesting rock formations, a recess cave and great views of the lake.

At the end of Sundown, you'll find yourself atop the dam at the south end of the lake. Pedal to the western end of the top of the dam to jump on Hickory Trail, which will be a flat, mild trail compared to the previous three. Mind the mud and the high amount of foot traffic.

At the next junction toward the north end of Hickory Trail, turn left on Trace Trail to continue the loop. Note: at this point you can keep right on Hickory Trail to bail out back to the car park. After turning onto Trace Trail, keep right at the next junction to stay on Trace Trail, and prepare yourself for a sustained climb, with a couple of historical sites to break at. Try to make it to the top without putting a foot down!

At the top end of Trace Trail, it joins up with Athens Trail. Keep right on Athens Trail to follow the ridge line westward, over fun and challenging rock features. At the westernmost point of Athens Trail, the trail makes a sharp left turn for a rowdy descent with some great drops. If you have a dropper post, make sure it's down before you descend!

At the bottom of this descent, you'll drop onto Rockhouse Trail by keeping left at the bottom of the hill. Follow Rockhouse Trail as it meanders along the hillside, past great rock features and over wooden bridges. The crown jewel of Rockhouse Trail is Turtle Head Cave, just off the left side toward the end of Rockhouse Trail. After passing the recess cave, you have a technical climb up out of the holler up over Turtle Head Cave to the top of the ridge, where you reconnect with Athens Trail.

Turn right on Athens Trail and follow the ridge line eastward. After a couple of short, technical climbs and good vistas, you'll encounter a fork in the trail with Finger Rock Trail jutting off to the left.

Keep left on Finger Rock Trail, and get ready to enjoy the longest, most "downhill" trail in the park. The highlight of Finger Rock Trail is the Finger Rock itself at the point of the ridge. The trail itself goes over Finger Rock, with a couple options for technical lines. After dropping down off of Finger Rock, the rowdiest descent in the park is up next. Drop that dropper post again and get ready for a rowdy descent.

Finger Rock Trail will then spit you out back onto Trace Trail. Turn right onto Trace Trail to pedal back toward Hickory Trail, where you'll turn left and pedal only a few hundred feet back to the car park.