Grouse Rock
- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 909 ft
- climb
- 1,196 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Nov
- best months
Grouse Rock is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.3 miles in Great Seal State Park in southern Ohio, managed by the State Department of Natural Resources. The trail rises about 271 feet from a low point of roughly 914 feet to a high of about 1,196 feet, with the steepest stretch of about 13% grade near the start. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Chillicothe show May highs around 74°F and September highs around 79°F, with temperatures on the rock running cooler than those figures because the station sits several hundred feet lower. The Rock Garden Loop starts just 0.1 mile away, and Annie's Trail and Sharp's Trail are each about 0.3 mile off. Climbers can head to the Great Seal State Park climbing area, about 0.2 mile from the trail.
Best time to go · Apr–Nov
Best time to visit Grouse Rock
Best months: April–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
39° / 21°
Feb
43° / 24°
Mar
53° / 31°
Apr
66° / 41°
May
74° / 52°
Jun
83° / 61°
Jul
85° / 64°
Aug
85° / 62°
Sep
79° / 54°
Oct
67° / 43°
Nov
55° / 34°
Dec
44° / 26°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chillicothe Mound City, OH, 3.8 mi away at 650 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
