Great Seal State Park is home to arguably the best “elevation hiking” in the state of Ohio! And one of the highest points in the park is Sugarloaf Mountain. In this article we share some of the best routes to utilize in Great Seal State Park for hiking with elevation up and down the Ohio Day Hikes Sugarloaf Mountain and Shawnee Ridge. Come hike in Southern Ohio with us!

Watch the below video from the founder of the Buck Fifty Race to learn more about an event and a 150 plus mile course that takes place in a large portion inside the confines of Great Seal State Park. Runners each year will be given the opportunity to run the hikes we describe in this article, possible during the middle of the night!

The Sugarloaf Mountain and Shawnee Ridge day hike in Great Seal State Park has a few different options for you.

Sugarloaf Mountain up and back from the campground (the trail leads right from the bathroom into the woods, literally!) From the campground you can follow the Yellow Blazes for Sugarloaf and the blue blazes for Shawnee Ridge Loop.

Sugarloaf Mountain is short at only 1.8 miles round trip if you go there and back to the top but the gain is 475 feet and 475 feet back down. (There are a few spots when you go down I highly recommend poles for unless you are SUPER SURE on your tootsies.)

You could conceivably go up and down twice for 3.6 miles with 950 feet in elevation ascent and descent.

Don’t believe me that people come here to train?

The last time I hiked Sugarloaf I met a runner who was from Washington Courthouse (within an hour or so) and said these were the closest hills to where he lived. He was running in an ultra called “The Georgia Death Race” and was training for it by running up and down Sugarloaf Mountain for three hours that day!

We had a neighbor who was running Rim to Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon and I sent him here to train.

Why should I go hike Sugarloaf Mountain?

IF you want to get some elevation and live in Central or Southern Ohio it’s your best bet for a mountain hike with ascent and descent along with Clear Creek Metro Park!

What about adding Shawnee Ridge to the mix?

The Shawnee Ridge Loop is over 11 miles in length. You can add on 2 of it by taking that way back on the trail to the campground or you can use it as a break of more flat terrain before doing another summit push up Sugarloaf!

What else can I do at Great Seal State Park?

TONS! There is a disc golf course, campground, equestrian trails, and mountain biking. There is no day use entrance fee for the park. All of the trails are dog friendly though some are steep and there is a hunting season so bring your fluorescent orange for you and your fur baby if hiking that time of year.

What else should I remember before I go?

Bring water, good trail shoes, Leave No Trace, and pack your 10 Essentials!

See below a Summit Pic and a Summit Push Pic for motivation.

What’s your favorite day hike in Ohio and what’s your favorite hike in Ohio for “elevation training?”

Leave your comments below and thanks for reading!

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R