Trails
Just Put One Foot In Front of The Other
MILL CREEK PARK SCOUT TRAIL
In 1961 the Activities Committee of the Mahoning Valley Council undertook the task of finding a suitable location where Boy Scouts could hike and complete certain basic Scouting requirements in an area relatively free of traffic hazards and where there was a camp like atmosphere and the ability to observe nature. Mill Creek Park in Youngstown seemed a good choice for these activities, so contact was established with the Park Commissioners. Through cooperation between the council and the park district, a map was developed, rules for use were set forth, a patch incorporating the park emblem was designed, and the plan for a 10 mile trail set into effect in May, 1962.
The Scouting organization - now the Great Trail Council, serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Mahoning, Trumbull and Northern Wayne Counties and the park district - now the Mill Creek MetroParks, serving all of Mahoning County, have undergone many changes. However, the beauty, history and nature along the Boy Scout Trail has remained relatively unchanged for over 50 years as it has been hiked, enjoyed and remembered fondly by generations of Scouts and Scouters.
MILL CREEK PARK
Mill Creek Park was established as a township park in 1891 by an act of the State Legislature and a favorable vote of the people of Youngstown township.
The creation of Mill Creek Park is the result of the foresight and untiring efforts of Volney Rodgers. On his monument, at the Memorial entrance to the Park, is this inscription:
“Conceived in his heart and realized through his devotion.”
Pioneer industries of the Western Reserve were established along Mill Creek and some relics still remain as evidence of these enterprises. The Old Mill (known as Lanterman’s Mill) was the third flouring mill on the same site. Pioneer Pavilion was originally a woolen mill; the remains of the foundation of the last charcoal blast furnace built in the Mahoning Valley may be seen at the base of the hill just north of the Pioneer Pavilion and drill marks in the sandstone ledges show where stone was quarried. Evidence of other early activities are visible to the alert park visitor.
There were several homes on the property that are now within the boundaries of the park. The Log Cabin is perhaps the oldest of these residences. Built about 1816, it was once occupied by Dr. Timothy Woodbridge and is now used by party groups. The newest residence has been converted into the Ford Nature Center. This facility is now the center for the Park Nature Education Program.
The Park includes 2,882 acres. There are 20 miles of drives and 15 miles of foot trails, which make all sections of the developed areas easily accessible.
In 1989, the park district was converted into a metropolitan park district having 7 different sites throughout Mahoning County, Ohio covering 4,500 acres in total.
These rules are to be the guide for all Boy Scouts who wish to follow the Mill Creek Park Boy Scout Trail. We ask that you read them carefully as you plan for this experience.
We will wear official Boy Scout uniforms.
We will start only at designated trail heads, park vehicles only in designated areas, hike only on established trails, use only established picnic areas and grill sites.
3. We will observe all principals of ‘Leave No Trace’.
4. We will observe all rules and regulations set forth by Mill Creek MetroParks.
5. We will conduct ourselves at all times according to the Scout Oath and Law.
6. We will purchase the Mill Creek Park Boy Scout Trail patch for only those Scouts and leaders who have covered the ten miles of the trail completely.
7. We will turn in our report on our hike upon completion of the trail when purchasing the Mill Creek Park Boy Scout Trail patch.
Some Points of Interest
Natural and historic points along the trail include Lanterman’s Mill, Pioneer Pavilion, Ford Nature Center, Lanterman’s Falls & Gorge, Lake Glacier, Lake Cohasset, Lake Newport, the Newport Wetlands with the Davies Wetlands Trail, the Lily Pond, the Amphitheater, the Suspension Bridge, the Mill Creek Furnace, the Sulphur Spring and much more. In addition, the trail affords numerous opportunities to view interesting geological formations and examples of diverse wildlife habit.
Orders for Patches:
Due to renovations being made at the Ford Nature Center, and due to COVID-19 closures at Lanterman’s Mill Gift Shop as well as the closure of the Camp Stambaugh Scout Shop, patches are currently available from Mike Kupec (mike.kupec@gmail.com) or at the Great Trail Council Scout Shop, 4500 Hudson Dr., Stow, OH 44224. “Hike Report” form should be submitted when purchasing patches.
The trail patch has been made available by Marnoc Lodge 151, Order of the Arrow of the Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America. The Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY OA TRAIL
During the early 1960's, the Order of the Arrow Marnoc Lodge of the Akron Area Council, now known as the Great Trail Council, discussed the possibilities concerning the adoption of a specific trail located within the park system. By the fall of 1966, Marnoc Lodge organized a Trail Committee that worked with the Akron Metropolitan Park Service, who had jurisdiction of the park area at that time, to lay out and build the Cuyahoga Valley Trail. The trail received approval by the Activities Section of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America on October 6,1966 and this 13.1 mile trail received approval from the National Park Service in May 1967. The Lodge has been responsible for the care and maintenance of this trail which has been extensively used by scouts and the general public ever since.
AREA HISTORY
The Cuyahoga Valley has been inhabited by a sequence of Indian cultures. The Mound Builders were followed by the powerful Erie Tribe, later the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and the Seneca Tribe, a member of the Confederacy and the "Guardians of the Western Gate," under Chief Stigwanish. Named Cuyahoga (Crooked Jawbone) by the indians, the river was used as a major canoe route. By use of a short portage between the Tuscarawas and Cuyahoga Rivers, the Great Lakes were connected to the Gulf of Mexico by a network of rivers. Early settlers came from Connecticut to build homes on tracts of land purchased from the Connecticut Land Company of the Western Reserve. A 1785 treat with the indians established the western boundaries of the United States on the line formed by the Cuyahoga River, Portage Path, and the Tuscarawas River. In 1 825, the State of Ohio approved construction of the Ohio Canal, which was to run from Cleveland on the north to Marietta in the south. The canal was to follow the old river route used by the indians from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Opened through the Peninsula area on July 4,1827, the canal became a major waterway for freight and packet boats traveling between the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Mississippi River Systems. Activities associated with the canal flourished for sixty years. By the turn of the century, the railroads had become a major competitor for freight and passenger traffic. The disastrous flood of 1 913, washed out huge sections of the canal in the valley and closed out the remnants of the waterway commerce. The Ohio Canal was never restored, but some parts remain to be viewed and appreciated.
CAMP MANATOC RESERVATION
The Cuyahoga Valley Trail or better known as the "OA Trail" winds in and around the Camp Manatoc Reservation which consists of Camp Manatoc and Camp Butler. This large 5OO acre camping area was donated by the great generosity of Akron Industrialist, Mr. H. Karl Butler. In 1923, he offered a sizeable tract of his summer home on Route 303 to the Akron scout council and Camp Manatoc was born. Some building was constructed and a small stream was dammed up to create a swimming hole. After a visit to a scout camp in California, Mr. Butler envisioned giving his farm and much of his world possessions to build a beautiful scout camp for boys in the Akron area. Accordingly, he began buying up land options of a number of farms around the area and as President of the Akron Area Council placed in his will that this land was to be dedicated to a scout camp.
Several years later in 1929, the Council Camping Committee led by Mr. P. W. Litchfield of Goodyear had the three rubber companies, Goodyear, Firestone and Goodrich pledge a total of $100,000 and two years later the citizens of Akron and the surrounding community raised an additional $142,000 during the depression to start this great project. The new camp began quickly and the center was moved further south nearer to Truxell Road in order to get water to the campsites. A dam was placed across Salt Run to form the six-acre Lake Marnoc, and several major building such as the dining hall, administrative building and sleep-in lodges were constructed. On the highest point of the camp, an elaborate semi-circular stone memorial with a one hundred foot high flag pole was erected in 1 931, by the Akron Lions Club, to the memory of H. Karl Butler who died on December 13,1926. On June 8, 1932, the camp was dedicated and eleven days later opened up for business. Later Camp Butler was added with additional larger lakes, one of which is named after Mr. Litchfield. Manatoc means "high plateau and Marnoc is the spirit that is said to dwell in the forest at Manatoc. Marnoc means "love of the out of doors".
CAMPING
Camping is accessible and encouraged on the Manatoc Reservation and in particular the Camp Butler sites. Tent sites are available for a very small cost at Camp Butler and some sections at Camp Manatoc. A weekend camping application and a small fee should accompany the Trail application if the unit wishes to stay overnight. As a suggestion, although the trail could be walked in one day, to add variety, leaders should encourage an overnight stay in Camp Butler practicing low-impact camping skills by backpacking their equipment with them. This will be a good learning experience and skills development for the hikers. This trail is a good "training" and a "get-in-shape" experience for much harder and longer trails down South and back West at Philmont.
CHURCHES
If you or your unit wishes to attend Sunday services, there are Catholic and Protestant churches available in the town of Peninsula, approximately a mile and a half from the camp.
TRAIL SUGGESTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
To make the adventure on the trail a positive scouting or hiking experience, it is suggested that: The hiker must take plenty of water. Several canteens would be appropriate. Wearing the right hiking shoes with strong ankle support is also encouraged.A backpack with either a lunch or eating supplies that will allow for a hot lunch to be cooked on the trail can be carried. A fire can be started ONLY in approved areas of the Manatoc Reservation and most typically where a fireplace already exists. Low-impact cooking and camping is encouraged and this hike can be used to teach such skills. Backpacking a portable stove to cook a hot meal can be easily carried.You will be traveling along a busy highway during several sections of the trail. Precautions need to be taken and hikers should stay in a single file. The trail also passes private homes and stopping at these houses should only be done in EMERGENCIES ONLY!
Most importantly, when using the trail and hiking throughout the area the scout or hiker must live by the SCOUT OATH and the OUTDOOR
CODE TRAIL MARKERS
Left
Straight Ahead
Right
To assist hikers on the trail, Marnoc Lodge has placed trail markers on trees and posts to make the trail easier to follow. The markers are scattered along the trail. Look for them. You can identify the markers as seen by the example below:
To provide an overview onhow to hike the OA trail, the following instructions are provided to assist in making the route much easier to follow:
Starting at the Butler Council Ring, proceed going northwest by the gas pumping station and past the original Camp Administrative Building. The old walkway and foundations are still visible. The trail travels past the original camp flagpole and over the dam site finally emerging into State Route 303.
Proceed west along the path on State Route 303 on the south side of 303 until you cross over to the north side and walk up to the Pine Lane Trailhead. Follow the brick road west into Peninsula back along Route 303, over the railroad tracks and bridge, which spans the Cuyahoga River.
After hopping the guardrail, hike along and follow the river south to the lock area.
Continue to hike south along the old canal until you come out on to Riverview Road, go east down Bolanz Road and north on Peninsula Road.
Just past Quick Road, you will turn off Peninsula Road into the park area, back into the pine trees. In this area, the trail splits. The left side, the original trail (solid line) follows a lower course that can be wet and muddy during spring and early summer. The right side (dotted line) takes a higher trail, which remains drier during the wet season.
The trail leads up to Kendall Lake where you cross Kendall Park Road to the north side of the road, going west past the Octagon Area to the Ledges area.
From this point, the trail will travel north along the ledges, past Ice Box Cave and continue to the corner of the ledges area.
Turn west along the ledges back to the corner of Camp Butler and the park, crossing the stream which feeds into the back of Lake Litchfield at the corner of the camp.
Go up the steps and follow along the north ridge above the lake, back into Camp Butler. Down through one last ravine into the pine forest around the Butler Council Ring to finish up the trek.
Special Thanks to Mr. David Kachmarik of Troop 701 in Strongsville, who mapped our OA Trail as part of his Wood Badge Ticket in 2005.
PATCHES-MEDAL-CUP
A beautiful five-color patch of several different sizes for sewing on camping backpacks or gear is available to those who complete the trail hike. This can be purchased at the Administration Building at Camp Manatoc from the Campmaster. Also available are, trail medals that can be worn on the right hand pocket of the Scout uniform and a coffee mug with the same patch design are also available for a nominal cost.