Mohican Country — Clear Fork Gorge, a River Float & Malabar Farm

The Clear Fork Gorge is a National Natural Landmark — a thousand-foot-wide, 300-foot-deep valley carved by glacial meltwater and now cloaked in one of Ohio's last stands of old-growth eastern hemlock and white pine, cool and dim even at midday. A rim trail and a gorge-floor trail follow the Clear Fork of the Mohican River past the picturesque Mohican covered bridge, a red-timbered span that is the signature image of the park. The contrast between the sunny rim overlooks and the shaded, moss-draped gorge floor is the essence of Mohican country. Begin at the covered bridge and work up the gorge along the river. The gorge trails can be rooty and slick near the water; wear grippy footwear.

The Lyons Falls Trail is Mohican's finest walk, a roughly 2-mile loop from the covered bridge area that climbs through the hemlock gorge to two recessed sandstone waterfalls — Big Lyons Falls, a tall amphitheater where the water spills over a mossy overhang into a shaded grotto, and the smaller Little Lyons Falls tucked in a narrow rock cleft. The trail threads beneath towering pines and along sandstone ledges, passing some of the oldest trees in the state. The falls run best in spring and after rain but the cool, cathedral-like forest is a reward in any season. Take the loop counterclockwise to save the Big Lyons grotto for the climax. Footing is uneven on the rock steps.

Loudonville bills itself as the canoe capital of Ohio for good reason: the Clear Fork and main-stem Mohican River wind through the sandstone bluffs and forested hills in a gentle, scenic float that is the region's signature experience. Several long-running liveries outfit canoes, kayaks, and rafts and shuttle paddlers to put-ins upstream, with trips ranging from a couple of hours to a full day drifting past towering rock walls, riffles, and hemlock-shaded banks. The water is mostly easy Class I, suitable for beginners, with enough current to keep things moving. Choose a morning trip of a length that leaves time for the afternoon. Bring dry bags, water shoes, and sun protection; conditions depend on river levels, so check with the livery.

After the float, refuel back in Loudonville or at a riverside picnic near the livery — the town's grills, pizzerias, and the local ice-cream stands are geared to hungry paddlers coming off the water. A midday meal amid the canoe-town bustle is part of the experience, with the river and its outfitters just outside the door. The walkable downtown makes it easy to find a table or grab something to eat streamside. A relaxed, casual lunch to bridge the paddling and an easy afternoon.

After a morning on the river, an easy afternoon awaits at Pleasant Hill Lake, the 850-acre reservoir above the Clear Fork Gorge dam that anchors the western side of Mohican country. A shoreline beach and marina invite a swim or a lakeside stroll, while the Mohican rim and lakeside trails offer short, scenic walks with water and gorge views for those with energy to spare. It's a low-key, flexible way to round out the day — swim, hike a short loop, or simply relax by the water beneath the wooded ridges. The lake overlook near the dam gives a fine view back down the Clear Fork Gorge you hiked the day before.

Malabar Farm is one of Ohio's most storied state parks — the 900-acre estate that Pulitzer Prize-winning author and pioneering conservationist Louis Bromfield built in the 1930s and 40s as a model of restorative agriculture, and where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married in the rambling farmhouse he called the Big House. Guided tours of the house are offered, and the working farm still runs, with barns, livestock, and heritage fields open to visitors. Beyond the farmstead, hiking trails climb from the valley to Mount Jeez, an overlook with a sweeping view across Bromfield's reclaimed hills and the surrounding Mohican country. The blend of literary history, conservation legacy, and open-air walking makes it a rich final morning. Check house-tour times on arrival.

Use the afternoon to explore a different trail, cool off at a swimming hole, or find a scenic spot to watch the sunset.

Before pointing back toward Columbus, spend an easy final afternoon in Loudonville, the compact, walkable seat of Mohican country. Main Street is lined with the ornate Ohio Theatre, brick storefronts, canoe-outfitter shops, antique stores, cafes, and ice-cream stands — a pleasant, low-key stroll to cap three days in the valley. It's a chance to pick up local goods, watch the paddlers come and go, and let the weekend wind down before the drive. The town's outdoorsy, friendly small-town character is a fitting last impression of Mohican country.