The Wetmore Bridle Path is a quiet, woodsy escape tucked solely inside the forested coronary heart of Cuyahoga Valley Nationwide Park. Shaded by a dense cover of hardwoods, the path winds by rolling terrain on a gentle, usually muddy path. It is a peaceable, backcountry-feeling hike, with towering timber, birdsong, and the occasional stream crossing setting the tone. There are not any wide-open views right here—simply mile after mile of forested seclusion, excellent for these trying to disconnect and immerse themselves within the pure rhythm of the woods. The path traces outdated horse paths and logging roads as soon as laid out by earlier landowners, together with Tress and Peggy Pittenger. The Pittengers owned the now-defunct Blackacre Farm, the place Peggy gained nationwide recognition for breeding thoroughbreds. It is probably the most in style mountaineering trails within the nationwide park, but provides a stunning quantity of solitude.
Water alongside Dickenson Run
Do not miss the outdated fence strains simply after the junction with the Tabletop Path
Mountaineering the Wetmore Bridle Path
I arrive on the Wetmore Trailhead, named after Frederick and Emila Wetmore who as soon as farmed this land within the 1800s. After tossing a liter of water into my pack, I set off. The big parking zone accommodates each normal automobiles and horse trailers—at present, a number of riders are already on the path.
From the trailhead, I descend a mild slope right into a blended hardwood forest. The grade quickly steepens, and the trail turns into rocky underfoot. I’m not normally a fan of bridle trails, however it’s been years since I’ve hiked Wetmore, and figured it was value one other look.
A few quarter mile in, I attain the beginning of the loop and, with out a lot thought, select to hike it clockwise. All through the nationwide park, hikers could discover path markers labeled “OA”—together with right here on Wetmore. These designate the Order of the Arrow Path, a 13-mile route created by the Boy Scouts’ honor society that hyperlinks components of the Wetmore, Salt Run, Pine Grove, Valley, Towpath, and Buckeye Trails.
Roughly 1 / 4 mile farther, I come to an unbridged stream crossing. The other financial institution is steep and muddy, however I give it a go—trying to leap throughout—solely to slide proper again into the ankle-deep water. A look to the correct and I discover a a lot simpler manner throughout. I chuckle at myself and stick with it.
From there, the path climbs steadily alongside a ravine earlier than leveling out alongside a ridge thick with tree roots.
True to its repute, the Wetmore Path is muddy, and at present is not any exception. Each few hundred ft, I skirt round puddles and gentle patches, although none gradual my tempo.
Across the 1.5-mile mark, I cross a trickle of a stream—Dickenson Run.
Just a few hundred ft later, I cross it once more earlier than tackling a brief however steep incline. Close to the second creek crossing, massive moss-covered stones mark the previous basis of a footbridge that after spanned the water. The NPS eliminated it years in the past.
Past this junction, the path continues stage for an additional three-quarters of a mile earlier than plunging right down to a footbridge over a small stream.
A climb follows, then one other flat stretch. Previous fence strains hint the left facet of the path whereas aromatic pines border the correct—considered one of my favourite stretches of the hike.
Quickly after, I go by a quiet stand of tall pines and a forest ground gentle with needles. It’s not fairly the identical as Salt Run’s signature stretch, however it’s a welcome change from the dense hardwoods.
Ultimately, the path makes a steep descent to the valley ground, then ranges out for the rest of the hike, winding by gentle overgrowth alongside a slender path.
Whereas bridle trails aren’t normally my factor, Wetmore delivers on solitude and fixed ups and down—precisely what I used to be searching for at present. Would I hike it once more? In all probability, although subsequent time I’d want to run it with Heather and hyperlink it to a Pine Hole path to combine in some totally different surroundings. It’s considered one of her favourite path runs—even when she takes a spill on it from time to time.
