Amish Country Byway
Amish Country Western Section
| Departure: | Holmes County Trail, Ohio |
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| Destination: | Loudonville Canoe Livery, Ohio |
| Time to allow: | 2 days |
The western end of the byway provides opportunities to see marsh lands, ravens, and guided river tours. Also be sure to stop off and explore the numerous historical sites, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Day 1
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Start: Holmes County Trail
Homes County Trail was originally a Penn Central railroad corridor. The train track has been converted to a multi-use trail accessible to hikers, non-motorized bikers, walkers, horse and buggy, and horseback riders. Byway visitors may view the protected swamp areas and its native floral and wildlife as well as the fertile croplands of the Amish country.
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Stop 1: Briar Hill Stone Quarry
Directions from previous place: You can get to the quarry walking or horseback riding on the Holms County Trail or you can drive to it. When driving to the quarry start in Brinkhaven. Go noth on Main St. toward Pine St. Main St. will become Dodd Rd./Township Hwy 349. Turn right onto Holmes Rd./Township Hwy 548. This road will become Township Hwy 12, which will become Country Road 75. Turn left onto CR 14. After 3 miles turn right onto OH 520 and follow it until you reach Glenmont. In Glenmont go east on State Route 530 until you get to 12470 and turn into the Briar Hill Stone Quarry.
Distance from Previous Site: 7.44 miles / 11.9 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 17 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Briar Hill is the largest sandstone quarry in operation, since 1917, in the U.S. The Briar Hill Stone Company quarries and cuts sandstone for a variety of projects. Admire the buildings built in the 1800s from this same sandstone.
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Stop 2: Killbuck Valley Museum
Directions from previous place: From the Briar Hill Stone Company go southeast on OH 520. Follow this road until you come to CR 621/Frount St. You will cross Killbuck Creek and then Water St. The museum is on the right before you get to SR 60.
Distance from Previous Site: 5.6 miles / 9.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Find an assortment of exhibits at the Killbuck Valley Museum. Study fossils, geological displays, and artifacts. Tour a one-room school, a Civil War display, and a zoology display.
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Stop 3: Croco House
Directions from previous place: In Killbuck, go east on CR 621/Ftount St. This road will become Railroad St, which will soon become School St. Turn right onto School St./Township Rd. 89. Turn left onto US 62. Turn left onto US 62/OH 83/S. Washington St. Follow OH 83 until you see Croco House.
Distance from Previous Site: 13 miles / 20.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 22 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Croco House is listed on the National Register of Historic places because it played an active role in the Underground Railroad. Hear some of the intense and sometimes amusing stories about the house's role in the escape of southern slaves.
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Stop 4: Killbuck Marsh
Directions from previous place: Go northwest on OH 83/ Vermillion St. and follow it for 3 miles. Take a slight left onto CR 1 and go about a mile until you reach the Killbuck Marsh.
Distance from Previous Site: 4 miles / 6.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 9 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Killbuck Marsh is the largest freshwater wildlife marsh site in the State of Ohio. The land is available for hunting, trapping, fishing, bird watching and hiking.
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Overnight Point: Whispering Hills Campground/RV Park
Directions from previous place: Go north on OH 83/Vermillion St. toward W. Main St. Turn left onto W. Main St./CR 320. Stay straight to go onto CR 329. Turn right onto CR 318. Turn left on to CR 516. Turn right onto OH 754/CR 51. Turn left onto CR 330. Turn left onto OH 514 and go until you see the Whispering Hills Campground.
Distance from Previous Site: 8.6 miles / 13.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 18 minutes The campground has a tennis court, sand volleyball court, basketball hoop, nature lodge, hiking trails, free hot showers, LP gas, and clean restroom facilities. It is AAA approved, and has an information center. The managers can tell you about the scenic ravine and nature center in the area.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 38.64 miles / 61.8 km
Day 2
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Stop 1: Joseph L. DeYarmon House
Directions from previous place: Go northeast on OH 514 to CR 330. Turn left onto CR 330. Turn right to stay on CR 330. Turn left to stay on the road. Turn left onto OH 226. Turn left onto Shreve Rd./OH 226. Follow OH 226 until you get to County Road 129 and Township Road 273.
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 5 minutes The DeYarmon House is a privately owned home on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by this house to see the stunning late 19th Century Italian architecture.
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End: Loudonville Canoe Livery
Directions from previous place: Go northwest on OH 226. Turn left onto OH 3. Turn left onto N. Union St/OH 3/OH 60. Turn right onto E. Main St. and follow it until you get to the Loundonville Canoe Livery.
Distance from Previous Site: 7 miles / 11.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes Riding the river is a pleasant and relaxing way to view the area from a setting. The Loudonville Canoe Livery rents out canoes, rafts, kayaks, and tubes. They even offer trips ranging in length from 30 minutes to several days.
