The Big House at Malabar Farm is one of many must-see sights in Mohican Country. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

The area of Ohio known as Mohican Country has been popular since the 1960s as the place to go in the state for canoeing and camping.

I took my first canoe trip on the Mohican River in Boy Scouts when I was 13 or 14, way back in the ‘70s. We learned the J-stroke, how and when to backpaddle, and how to look upstream for obstructions like rocks and logs.

We also rammed each others’ canoes, splashed each other with our paddles, and accidentally overturned our watercraft when the sun got too hot.

There is actually a lot more to do in Mohican Country than canoeing, kayaking and tubing. River activities are still the foundation for tourism in the area, but this scenic area, made up primarily of parts of Ashland, Richland, Knox and Holmes counties, has many bonuses for those looking for summer fun out of the water.

Raby Hardware, established in 1885, is one of many businesses in downtown Loudonville. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Many people start their Mohican adventures on SR 3, the main commercial strip between Loudonville and Mohican State Park and where most of the canoe liveries are located. There’s lots to do here, including recreation, restaurants and shops, and there’s more to do in other small towns and places off the beaten path.

Loudonville, established in 1814, is a quaint, bustling town with a well-preserved downtown area that includes restaurants, the historic Ohio Theatre, interesting shops, one of the oldest hardware stores around and much more. The town hosts annual street fairs, classic car shows, 5K runs and other events.

Other small towns dot the rural landscape in this region, including Bellville, Big Prairie, Butler, Hayesville, Lakeville, Mohicanville, Nashville and Perrysville. The heart of Ohio’s Amish Country is at the edge of Mohican Country, and it’s a short drive to get to Millersburg, Berlin, Walnut Creek and other Amish-area towns.

Lodging options include a large campground, cabins and a fine lodge at Mohican State Park and many private RV parks and resorts, hotels and motels in the area. There’s even treehouse cabins at The Mohicans and a regally-designed hotel, Landoll’s Mohican Castle, if you want to dine and rest in royal fashion.

Must-visit places in the region include Mohican State Park, with hiking, mountain biking and horse trails, waterfalls, a covered bridge and historic Wolf Creek Grist Mill; Malabar Farm State Park with Louis Bromfield’s Big House, farm market and barn; Pleasant Hill Lake Park and Charles Mill Lake Park with campground, boating, fishing and more.

Some best-kept secrets in the area include Mowery Cider Mill, open from the end of August through December, and the Wally Road Scenic Byway that follows an old railroad route that in turn follows the river.

Another unique place is the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, a 90-acre sanctuary in Mansfield that is home to 30 different species of native songbirds and raptors that due to injury can no longer survive in the wild. The sanctuary includes four trails, observation blinds, picnic tables, restrooms, and a spectacular Treehouse Classroom.

Whether you prefer your fun dry or wet, the Mohican area is a great place to visit for a daytrip, a weekend, a week or as a stopover on your way to other interesting places to visit in Ohio.

Read more: Raby Hardware has served Loudonville area since 1885 – Sept. 24, 2024

Canoeing, kayaking continue to be popular in Ohio – June 13, 2024

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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