AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

West Branch State Park

Michael J Kirwan Reservoir–Dog Pond, 7 sights

9.5 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 17 min

Michael J Kirwan Reservoir–Dog Pond, 7 sights is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in West Branch State Park near Countryside Estates, OH. The route passes Dog Beach, Dog Pond and Michael J Kirwan Reservoir before reaching West Branch State Park Beach at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 247 ft of elevation gain. It scores 7/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi988 – 1,070 ft9.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rock Spring Trail 41.15104, -81.14709
Nearest town Countryside Estates, OH
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Michael J Kirwan Reservoir–Dog Pond, 7 sights

9.5 mi · ▲ 247 ft · 3 hr 17 min

Elevation 989–1,068 ft

Out & Back · West Branch State Park

Trailhead: Rock Spring Trail · 41.15104, -81.14709

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:56 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Rock Spring Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Dog Beach.
  3. 50 ftPass Dog Pond.
  4. 1 miTurn right onto Bear Ridge, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miBear left onto Bear Hollow, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miBear left onto Buckeye Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miPass Michael J Kirwan Reservoir.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Blackberry Haven, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto Buckeye Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Blackberry Haven, heading E.
  11. 2.1 miBear left onto Buckeye Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Beaver Lodge Trail, heading E.
  13. 450 ftBear right onto Camp Road, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miBear right onto Buckeye Trail, heading E.
  15. 0.3 miPass West Branch State Park Beach.
  16. 150 ftReach Michael J Kirwan Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.4 miBear left onto Camp Road, heading N.
  18. 500 ftBear left onto Beaver Lodge Trail, heading N.
  19. 450 ftContinue straight onto Buckeye Trail, heading N.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Camp Road, heading N.
  21. 0.3 miBear right onto Blackberry Haven, heading SW.
  22. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Buckeye Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.1 miBear left onto Blackberry Haven, heading NE.
  24. 0.1 miBear right onto Buckeye Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miBear right onto Bear Hollow, heading SE.
  26. 0.1 miBear right onto Bear Ridge, heading N.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  28. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Rock Spring Trail, heading W.
  29. 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/michael-j-kirwan-reservoir-dog-pond-out-back-10-sights

Trail surface

5% gravel95% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:56 AMSunset 7:53 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Rock Spring Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Countryside Estates, Ohio