Exploring Loudonville, gateway to Mohican country, and one of Ohio’s best small towns

Buzzard's Family Shoes and Creative Outlet are both worth a stop in downtown Loudonville.

LOUDONVILLE, Ohio – Tucked away in southern Ashland County is Ohio’s outdoor adventure center — Mohican country, a mecca for hikers and mountain bikers, canoers, rafters and horseback riders.

The historic Blackfork Marken Inn in downtown Loudonville.

And the gateway to all that fun? Tiny Loudonville, population 2,780, a small town with a large embrace of the outdoors.

Ascending the ladder on the Gorge Overlook Trail at Mohican State Park.

To be sure, Loudonville isn’t Moab, the fun, funky Utah town between Arches and Canyonlands national parks, a haven for adventure seekers. And north-central Ohio isn’t exactly southeastern Utah.

Still, for outdoor explorers in Ohio, Mohican has long been a top destination. And Loudonville, with its retro downtown and unique places to stay, is part of the reason why.

I’ve been to Loudonville many times over the years, usually a quick stop before or after hiking at Mohican State Park. On this trip, I made the town the focus.

My first stop: The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, the local history museum, which traces the region’s past from its days as the former hunting grounds of Delaware Indians to the founding of the town in 1814 to the longtime headquarters of the Flxible Co., which first produced motorcycle sidecars, then funeral cars, ambulances and buses before going out of business in 1996.

Raby Hardware has been serving Loudonville residents and visitors for more than a century.

Mohican State Park, one of Ohio’s first, was originally called Clear Fork State Park, established in 1949, the same year that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created.

After brushing up on my history and enjoying a tasty lunch at downtown’s Black Fork Bistro, I had some shopping to do. My first stop: Creative Outlet, with a large collection of Native American arts and crafts, including turquoise jewelry, dream catchers, moccasins and a drum circle upstairs. Owner Jill Dunlap regularly travels to New Mexico to replenish her inventory.

Next door is Buzzard’s Family Shoes, a long-time Loudonville staple with a wide variety of footwear and knowledgeable staff. This is the place to go if you need a new pair of hiking boots.

A covered bridge crosses the Clear Fork branch of the Mohican River in Mohican State Park.

I also perused Miller’s Furniture, with all-Amish made items for the home; Gnat and Bee, new since my last visit, with all-natural bath and body products, teas, honey and other earthy items; and Raby Hardware & Outdoors, celebrating its 140th year in town, with a wide variety of merchandise, including camping and fishing gear, water shoes and rafts.

Exploring the park

But I couldn’t come all this way and not spend some time outdoors.

Loudonville is known as the canoe capital of Ohio, with at least four liveries near town, and I have paddled here many times. Dry conditions and low water levels this month, however, kept me off the river.

The Workman Cabin doubled as a house and church when it was built in 1838; it's located in Loudonville's Central Park.

I headed to the park instead to check out the new Mohican State Park Visitor Center, which opened last month.

Located on the river near the entrance to the main campground off Ohio 3, the visitor center features exhibits about regional geology, flora and fauna, plus information about hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and other pursuits.

There’s also a gift shop, restrooms and indoor and outdoor places to sit and relax.

A drum circle on the second floor of Creative Outlet, with Native American arts and crafts in downtown Loudonville.

I collected some maps, got some hiking advice and was on my way.

My go-to trail at Mohican is usually Lyons Falls, a lovely, moderately difficult 2.5-mile path that starts at the park’s covered bridge and winds through the forest, along the river and past two waterfalls. But because I knew the waterfalls would be reduced to a trickle, I decided to try something new.

The new visitor center at Mohican State Park offers maps, restrooms and a place to relax.

The Gorge Overlook Trail is short but mighty — listed as “extreme” because of its steep descent and ascent into and out of the Clear Fork Gorge. The 2-mile path features a short ladder to climb, but anyone in reasonably good shape should be able to hike it. I was huffing and puffing by the end, however. (Note to future hikers: After parking at the Gorge Overlook, take the trail down to the left for a more gradual descent, with the ladder on the way back up.)

Traversing the swinging bridge across the Clear Fork branch of the Mohican River, part of Mohican State Park near Loudonville.

This trail was originally blazed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was reconstructed and reopened a few years ago.

Small-town Loudonville is the gateway to Mohican State Park and a trove of outdoor activities.

The flat portion of the path features a fun swinging bridge across the Clear Fork, connecting the Gorge Overlook Trail to the longer Hemlock Gorge Trail, which links the park’s two campgrounds.

Afterward, even though my legs were screaming, I couldn’t resist climbing to the top of the nearby fire tower. In a few weeks, the view from up here will be filled with a panorama of reds and yellows.

For one final stop, I drove a few miles south of the park to Landoll’s Mohican Castle, the elegant, quirky inn that opened in 2002, deep in the woods.

The property, with 31 overnight suites and cabins, also features the Copper Mug restaurant and a new gift shop, the Crown and Cauldron Mercantile, both open to the public.

It’s a lovely place to stroll and dine, even if you’re not staying overnight.

But with so much to do in and around Loudonville, why wouldn’t you?

If you go: Loudonville

Where: Loudonville is about 90 minutes southwest of Cleveland, in southern Ashland County.

When: While most popular in summer and fall, the Mohican region has evolved into a year-round recreation destination with winter hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobile trails. You’re also a short drive from Snow Trails ski resort.

Where to stay: There are a half-dozen campgrounds in the region, including at Mohican State Park, which also has a 96-room lodge.

In town, the Victorian-era Blackfork Marken Inn features six guest rooms in a historic setting. Just south of town are two unique places to spend the night: Landoll’s Mohican Castle, with 31 rooms and suites in a resort setting; and the Mohicans Treehouse Resort and Wedding Venue, with 10 treehouses and four cabins surrounded by woods.

Activities: There are four canoe liveries in town, most operating through October, depending on the river level. Off the water, the state park features 13 miles of hiking trails, with another 32 miles in the adjacent Mohican Memorial State Forest. The 25-mile Mohican Mountain Bike Trail is one of the premier mountain biking trails in the country. Also nearby: Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill lakes, Equestrian Valley Farm and Snow Trails ski resort.

Nearby: Malabar Farm State Park is a short drive from Loudonville, with a farm, nature trails and guided tours of the Big House, former home to author Louis Bromfield in the mid-1900s.

Events: The Loudonville region is home to numerous special events, including the inaugural Mohican Bigfoot Festival this weekend and the Loudonville Free Street Fair, a tradition since 1876, which this year runs Sept. 30-Oct. 4.

The region has also become a destination for extreme sporting events, including the Mohican MTB 100 and the Mohican 100 Trail Run, both scheduled for May 2026. For details: ombc.net

Editor’s note: This story is part of an occasional series on Ohio’s best small towns. What makes a best Ohio small town? The criteria is subjective, of course, but includes a vibrant downtown, with a variety of places to shop and dine, along with some interesting activities nearby – whether museums, parks or other venues. Do you have a small town to suggest we visit? Send recommendations to [email protected].