May 2008 Issue
Pedal Power
For outdoors enthusiasts, the only thing more appealing than time spent reveling in Mother Nature’s handiwork is doing so while working up a sweat on a gorgeous summer day.
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in Athens County offers cyclists an opportunity to do both, unfolding amid stunning flora and fauna, historic sites and wildlife in this scenic part of southeast Ohio. From the prothonetary warblers, woodpeckers and red-tailed hawks nesting in majestic trees, to educational stops like Robbins Crossing log cabin settlement in the town of Nelsonville, cyclists find much more to rest their eyes on than just the road.
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Athens Parks & Recreation Community Center: E. State St., Athens; 740/592-3325,
www.ci.athens.oh.us.
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Athens Bicycle: 14 W. Stimson Ave., Athens; 740/594-9944,
www.athensbicycle.com.
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Cycle Path, Inc.: 104 W. Union St., Athens; 740/593-8482,
www.athenscyclepath.com.
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Good Works Bed & Breakfast: 7857 Luhrig Rd., 740/594-8632,
www.good-works.net.
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Ohio University
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The Armitage House: www.armitagefarm.com. An agricultural homestead built as a farm house for the family of Hiram Armitage in 1832.
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Eclipse Company Town: off U.S. Rte. 33, The Plains;
www.athensohio.com. A historic coal company store and grouping of miners’ homes built around 1900 –– one of the best examples of company-town architecture remaining in Ohio.
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The town of Beaumont/Salina
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Wayne National Forest: Covering more than a quarter-million acres of Appalachian foothills, the forest features rock shelter, natural springs and wildlife.
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Floodwood Area: A series of railroad trestles is all that remains of this former miners’ coal camp that dates back to 1871.
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Robbins Crossing Living History Site: 3301 Hocking Pkwy, Nelsonville; 740/753-3591. The log-cabin settlement offers a glimpse of life in the Hocking Valley more than 150 years ago, with costumed villagers blacksmithing, quilting and more.
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Hocking College
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High cliff views/rock outcroppings
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Spring wildflowers abound around the bikeway –– from bloodroot and Virginia bluebells to toothwort and numerous species of trillium.
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A variety of birds call this region home, including cardinals, turkey vultures and nesting prothonotary warblers.
For more information, call 800/878-9767, or visit
www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx088/
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