83.2 mi total 6.3 certified 0.0 connecting 6.3 marked 0.0 bare
The route between the Buckeye Trail and the National Park Service planned route in Columbiana County is tenuous, at best. The first part, between Zoar and Minerva, is an unmarked roadwalk that tries to stay on lower use roads. A plan for routing rom Minerva to the state line, generally following the old Sandy and Beaver Canal, was published by the National Park Service in 1997 but to date, little has been done to follow up on the plan. The route given here stays as close as possible to the NPS plan, but is totally unmarked. The proposed route is shown as a dotted line on the accompanying maps.
0.0 [0.0] DOVER-ZOAR RD (CR82) OVERPASS OF OHIO AND ERIE CANAL
From the top of the overpass, the route proceeds a half mile northeast into Zoar.
ZOAR, OH 44697 (Pop. 200) is the center of what was once the Zoar Community. The village was founded in 1817 by German immigrants who acquired several thousand acres along the Tuscarawas River. Their community prospered, all citizens working and sharing alike, until it was dissolved in 1898. Open Wed-Sat Memorial Day - Labor Day; Sat. & Sun Apr-May and Sept-Oct. For more information, contact (216) 874-3011.
0.5 [0.5] CONTINUE NORTHEAST ON DOVER-ZOAR RD.
Follow Dover-Zoar Rd and SR212 north out of the village; at the north end of the village, the road forks, with CR82 leading to the northeast. Follow Dover-Zoar Rd. northeastward; after about 1.5 miles, TR405 intersects from the west and the road bends to the east. About 1.5 miles later, reach Sandyville Rd (CR107), which intersects from the north. CR82 and the suggested route head southeastward, until reaching SR800 after another 0.8 miles.
4.8 [4.3] CONTINUE SOUTHEAST ON TR83.
The route continues southeast; after 0.4 miles, at the intersection of TR109, it bends to the east for another 2.5 miles, where it bears northeast, the north, for another mile, until turning east, entering Carroll County and becoming TR180. 0.5 mile later, the route bends north, and intersects with TR177, which enters from the southeast. The route continues to the north for about 0.3 miles, then bends northeast on Imperial Rd. After another 0.8 miles, the route turns north on SR542, and after 0.5 miles enters the village of Magnolia and reaches SR183.
MAGNOLIA OH, 44643 Stores.
10.3 [5.5] CROSS SR183
Stark County is entered upon reaching SR183. The route follows SR183 northward for about 0.3 miles, until the highway bends to the east, and the route continues north for another 1.2 miles, until reaching Grovedale Rd.
11.8 [1.5] TURN EAST ON GROVEDALE RD.
The suggested route continues east for 2.0 miles until reaching SR 183 -- here combined with SR43/44 -- on the north edge of the village of Waynesburg.
WAYNESBURG OH, 45068 Stores.
13.8 [2.0] TURN SOUTH ON SR183
SR183 is followed south for about 0.3 miles until reaching SR171. SR 171 is followed east, then southeast, for another 0.7 miles until reaching Citrus Rd., which heads to the east.
14.8 [1.0] TURN EAST ON CITRUS RD.
Citrus Road is followed to the east. After about 0.2 miles, re-enter Carroll County. About 1.5 miles farther, the road bears to the north for a mile, then back to the east for another 1.5 mile, until reaching the village of Malvern. Streets are followed to the eastward, crossing Avalon Rd. and continuing eastward until reaching an intersection with SR43 and SR183.
MALVERN, OH, 44644 Stores.
19.1 [4.3] TURN EAST ON SR43
The route follows SR43 eastward for 0.7 miles, until it bends south at the intersection with Lemon Rd., which heads to the east.
19.8 [0.7] CONTINUE EAST ON LEMON RD.
Lemon Road and the route heads east. After about 1.0 mile, a township road intersects from the southeast. Shortly afterward, Lemon Rd. bends to the north and becomes Leopard Rd.; after about 0.8 miles, it bends back to the east and becomes Lorric Rd. After another 0.7 miles, Linden Rd. intersects from the north; the village of Pekin is about a mile to the north, and the village of Minerva a mile further. The route continues east for another 0.6 miles until reaching Arrow Rd. (CR15)
23.1 [3.3] TURN SOUTH ON ARROW RD.
Arrow Rd. is followed southward for 0.7 miles, until reaching Lilly Rd. (TR228), which crosses.
23.8 [0.7] TURN EAST ON LILLY RD.
Lilly Rd. is followed eastward for about 0.6 miles, until reaching Magnet Rd., which comes in from the north.
24.4 [0.6] TURN NORTH ON MAGNET RD.
Magnet Rd. is followed northward for about 1.4 miles, until reaching Arbor Rd. (CR14), which comes in from the southeast.
25.8 [1.4] TURN SOUTHEAST ON ARBOR RD.
Arbor Rd. is followed to the southeast for 0.4 miles, until reaching Malibu Rd. (TR251), which comes in from the north.
26.3 [0.4] TURN NORTH ON MALIBU RD.
Malibu Road is followed northward. After 0.3 miles, Brush Rd. (CR43) joins from the east; after another 0.3 miles, it leaves to the west. Continue north on Malibu Rd. for another 1.2 miles, until reaching Major Road (TR250).
28.1 [1.8] TURN SOUTHEAST ON MAJOR RD.
Major road heads southeast, but soon bends to the northeast, and after 0.3 miles enters Columbiana County and becomes Ridge Rd. The suggested roadwalk continues east on Ridge Rd. for about 3.4 miles. The last half mile is right on the Columbiana/Carroll County Line, and in Carroll County, Ridge Rd. is known as Starling Rd. The road ends at Lippencott Rd. (TR709) (Columbiana County name) and Andora Rd. (CR10) (Carroll County name).
31.5 [3.4] TURN SOUTH ON ANDORA RD.
Follow Andora Rd. south in Carroll County for 0.1 mile until reaching Marble Rd (TR257).
31.6 [0.1] TURN EAST ON MARBLE RD.
Follow Marble Rd. east. After about 0.6 mi, cross March Rd. (TR258). Continue east; after another mile, Rockford Rd. (TR435) intersects from the north. After another 0.3 mile, Kensington Rd. (CR9) crosses.
33.2 [1.6] TURN NORTH ON ROCKFORD RD.
Rockford Rd. is followed to the north. After 0.3 miles, the route re-enters Columbiana County, and Carroll County is left for the last time. The route continues north as Myers Rd. (TR718); after 0.7 miles, the route crosses the Sandy and Beaver Canal route and US30, and continues north for another 0.4 miles until reaching Mardis Rd. (TR826).
THE SANDY AND BEAVER CANAL was another in the Ohio Canal System, and the only major canal in the state that was not part of the state system. The canal was a shorter connection with the Ohio River than the Ohio and Erie, connecting with the Ohio much farther north than the longer canal. Privately financed, it only operated from 1846 to 1884, and never made a dime, thanks to a rugged route that included 180 locks and 2 tunnels.
34.6[1.4] TURN EAST ON MARDIS RD.
Mardis Rd. is followed to the east, then north, then northeast for about 1.3 miles until reaching an intersection with Campbell Rd. (TR840).
35.9 [1.3] TURN NORTH ON CAMPBELL RD.
Campbell Rd. is followed to the north for 0.3 miles until reaching Buffalo Rd. (TR816).
36.2 [0.3] TURN EAST ON BUFFALO RD.
Buffalo Rd. is followed to the east for 1.2 miles, until reaching the village of Hanoverton. Once inside the village limits, it becomes Clinton Street. The first street to intersect comes in from the south, Second Street. Follow it to the south for two blocks, (about 0.1 mi) until reaching Howard Street. Turn easton Howard Street, and follow it eastward for five blocks (about 0.3 mi), then turn south, cross US30 again, and come to Hassley Rd.
HANOVERTON, OH 44423 Stores, historic Spread Eagle Tavern.
38.0 [1.8] CONTINUE SOUTH ON HAESSLEY RD.
Hassley Rd. crosses over the Sandy and Beaver Canal, then turns east to follow the canal for a distance, crossing it to the north side again after about 1.2 miles. The route continues to the southeast, now on the north side of the canal for about 0.7 mi., until reaching Gavers Rd. (CR407); to the south of the intersection, it's Bethesda Rd. (TR731). The route continues straight to the southeast along the north side of the canal, now on Gavers Rd., until reaching Laughlin Mill Rd. (TR742) in the village of Dungannon after about 1.4 mi.
42.3 [4.3] TURN NORTH ON LAUGHLIN MILL RD.
The route follows Laughlin Mill Rd. north, still along the Sandy and Beaver. After about 0.8 mile, it turns to the northeast and continues for another 1.2 mi, until reaching Trinity Church Rd. (TR756)
44.3 [2.0] TURN NORTH ON TRINITY CHURCH RD.
The route continues to follow along the canal route northward, though some distance away, until about 0.8 miles north of the intersection, where the road breaks away from the canal and heads northeast, intersecting with US30 after about another 0.3 mi.
45.4 [1.1] TURN EAST ON US30.
Be careful of the traffic on US30. The route follows US30 "The Lincoln Highway" eastward for about 0.2 miles, until reaching Depot Rd. (CR410).
45.6 [0.2] TURN NORTH ON DEPOT RD.
Depot Rd. is followed north for 1.4 miles until reaching SR172, which crosses. A campground at Guilford Lake State Park is located about to the northwest; to get to it, continue north for another 1.6 miles on Depot Rd, then turn west on Wisner Rd. (CR411) for another mile. There are 42 sites and flush toilets; for more information, Guilford Lake State Park, 6835 E. Lake Rd, Lisbon OH 44432. (216) 222-1712.
47.0 [1.4] TURN SOUTHEAST ON SR172
The route goes southeast, then east on SR172, crossing the canal again. After about 2.5 miles, the route bends to the southeast; after another 0.4 miles, reach Furnace Rd. (TR868).
49.9 [2.9] TURN EAST ON FURNACE RD.
After about 0.3 miles on Furnace Rd., the canal rejoins, and parallels the route eastward until reachng Logtown Rd. (TR760).
51.2 [1.3] TURN SOUTHEAST ON LOGTOWN RD.
Follow Logtown Rd. southeast for about 0.4 miles, paralleling an old railroad grade. At the city limits, the railroad grade becomes the Leetonin-Lisbon Greenway, which it follows through town. The route continues southeast, following the railroad grade along the canal and the Middle Fork of the Little Beaver River, crossing US30, and turning east, and after about a mile, crossing US30 again, and continuing until reaching Lincoln St. (SR154).
LISBON, OH 44432 Eight miles south of Libson on SR518, there's a Confederate monument that commemorates the surrender of John Hunt Morgan, in one of Ohio's few Civil War skirmishes. The trail passed the site of another one, in which Morgan was also involved, way back on the Little Miami Trail, and another at Pike Lake State Park. Stores.
53.0 [1.8] TURN EAST ON LINCOLN ST.
SR154 is followed east. After 1.5 miles, cross under four-lane SR11; continue east on SR154 another 1.6 miles to the intersection with Middle Rd. (CR419) at the west edge of the village of Elkton.
56.1 [3.1] CONTINUE EAST ON MIDDLE RD.
After a mile, Middle Rd. bends sharply to the south and enters Beaver Creek State Forest; after about half a mile, the road bends back to the southeast, and after another mile, it crosses Lusk Lock Rd. About half a mile to the south on this road is Lusk Lock, the best preserved lock on the Sandy and Beaver, and one of the largest locks in the world when built. The route continues straight east on Middle Rd.; it bends to the northeast, turns back to the east, then bends sharply to the south after about 1.1 miles, and reaches SR7 after another 1.3 miles, at the intersection of Bear Hollow Rd. (TR896). A private campground is located to the west along Bear Hollow Rd.; no details are available.
61.0 [4.9] TURN SOUTH ON SR7
Continue south on SR7 for 0.1 mi. until reaching Carlisle Rd. (TR897). Carlisle Road heads northeast for about a mile, then bends to the southeast, and intersects Leslie Rd. (CR1034) after another 0.4 mi.
62.5 [1.5] TURN SOUTH ON LESLIE RD.
Follow Leslie Rd. to the southeast for about 0.3 mi, then turn east into Beaver Creek State Park. After about 0.1 mile on the access road, the certified trail heads off to the southeast from the "Family Camp" are of Beaver Creek State Park. There are 55 campsites and pit toilets. The 3038 acre park, established in 1945, follows Little Beaver Creek, part of Ohio's Wild and Scenic River System. For more information, contact Beaver Creek State Park, Rt. 1, Echo Dell Rd., East Liverpool OH 43920, (216) 385-3091.
62.9 [0.4] TURN SOUTHEAST ON MARKED TRAIL
The trail heads southeast for about 0.2 mile, then turns south on the "Dogwood Trail", which heads south, then southwest, for about 0.7 mile before turning to the northeast, then northeast, to generally follow Little Beaver Creek. After about 0.4 mile, the route bends to the northwest, then back to the east around the Gaston's Mill millpond. The trail continues southwast along the river for another 3 miles on Gretchen's Lock Trail, passing a primitive group campsite along the way, and a picnic area until reaching Sprucevale Rd. (CR428).
69.2 [6.3] TURN SOUTH ON SPRUCEVALE RD.
Until a connection can be worked out to the east, there's no real alternative but to turn to the south on Sprucevale Rd. for 2.8 miles, and continuing until reaching the Calcutta-Smith Ferry Rd., in the village of Calcutta.
72.0 [2.8] TURN EAST ON CALCUTTA-SMITH FERRY RD.
Follow Calcutta-Smith Ferry Rd. east. After 0.1 miles, reach SR170. Follow SR170 northeast about 0.9 miles to Old Fredericktown Rd. Follow Old Fredericktown Rd. north. After about 3.5 miles, it bends to the east, and after about half a mile reaches SR170 again.
75.3 [3.3] TURN NORTH ON SR170
The route turns north on SR 170. After 0.2 miles, reach the village of Frederickton. It's hoped that the trail can follow the former Youngstown and Southern railroad grade northward from Frederickton, but for now, the suggested route continues north on SR170. After 3.6 miles, cross Pancake-Clarkson Rd; after another 2.8 miles, reach SR154 in the village of Negley.
81.7 [6.4] CROSS SR154; TURN EAST ALONG RAILROAD LINE.
Continue to follow SR170 north for about 0.1 miles, until reaching the former Youngstown and Southern railroad line, now the Little Beaver Creek Valley Railroad. Though there have been several suggestions of the trail following an active railroad line, this is the only place, so far, where it happens. The trail follows the Little Beaver Creek Valley Railroad, a steam tourist line which runs from Negley, where the trail heads, to Glasgow, on the Ohio River. There is supposedly a separate treadway, but if you follow the railroad tracks keep your ears open for what sounds like an old steam locomotive: it is one! It won't be traveling very fast, but can't stop quickly, and it has the right of way! The line runs eastward; after about 1.4 miles, it reaches the Pennsylvania state line.
83.2 [1.5] REACH PENNSYLVANIA STATE LINE
Description of the route in this section, and in Ohio, ends at this point, 933.1 miles from entering the state north of West Unity, Ohio. The North Country Trail has taken a big loop through the state; this point is only about 250 miles on an airline route from the point it entered the state.