Symmes Creek North

Symmes Creek North is a 4.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Ironton Ranger District of Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is rated moderate, with a total climb of 714 feet from start to finish, and it ends where it began, so the round-trip gain is 714 feet and the loss is the same. The route rises from about 637 feet to a high point of 896 feet, and the steepest stretch, a 17% grade, comes within the first tenth of a mile. The trail is on natural surface, and it is not accessible. Bikes and horses are not allowed. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Waterloo run from highs of about 75°F in May to 79°F in September. That station sits roughly 270 feet lower than the trail's high point, so expect temperatures on the higher ground to run a little cooler. The trailhead is Symmes Creek Trailhead - East, and the hike is open year-round. Plan about 1.5 hours for the round trip. Several other hikes sit close by. Symmes Creek Connector is about half a mile away, Symmes Creek South is about a mile off, and School House Loop and Ridge Loop are each within about 1.6 miles. For paddling, Symmes Creek is about 7 miles away.