#3- All Aboard to Round Hill
Welcome aboard as we collect your ticket to ride on the Pennsylvania Railway (which later became the C.A. & C. railway, Columbus, Akron and Cleveland) that once occupied our (3) multi-use trails in Knox County. In the late 1990s, Knox County began to explore the idea of taking the abandoned rail beds and converting them to multi-use recreational trails. These Knox County trails include the Heart of Ohio, Kokosing Gap, and Mohican Valley trail. Each of these trails make up a greater trail system called Ohio to Erie Trail which spans 326 miles from Cincinnati to Cleveland. I had the pleasure of creating this trail when I was employed with the Knox County Park District. I have since retired but have retained the trail ownership due to lack of staff to maintain it with the Park District. Some of the original geocaches have been archived. On the GeoTrail you will discover scenic views our county has to offer. This trail features Geocaches which are numbered to follow in sequence. As you visit each cache we encourage you to become engaged in the history of Ohio Railroads and the significance they contributed to the growth of these towns. This trail was designed in 2020 with the Knox County Park District www.knoxcountyparks.org
The Kokosing Gap Trail
This trail begins in Mount Vernon and stretches to Danville. To search for the this cache in our series travel to Phillips Park (a Mount Vernon City Park), and park in the gravel parking lot near the shelter house/restrooms. The trailhead also features two shelter houses, a small playground, two Little League Baseball fields, a drinking fountain and restrooms. This stretch of trail is considered a connector trail as you cross Mt. Vernon Avenue to the main trailhead to begin the Kokosing Gap Trail. Cross the street and take a selfie at the the art stature of bicycle tires highlighting the trail. At this cache you will learn about Round Hill Mansion and Henry B. Curtis. Henry was perhaps the individual who had the greatest single role in developing and shaping Mount Vernon and Knox County. He was a lawyer, banker, churchman, and city developer.
- Bring a Pen. There are no writing utensils in the cache to record your name on the log sheet.
- Once you locate the cache, grab a trinket and leave one behind
- Our geocaches are handicap accessible but someone will need to accompany the geocacher to aid in retrieving the cache.
- Record your username on the log sheet inside the cache and place the cache exactly where you found it.
- Log your find on the www.geocaching.com cache profile.
- To take the adventure one step further and earn the Geocoin (OPTIONAL) locate all the All Aboard Geocaches and log where you are from online and email morespaceatyourplace@hotmail.com your username and the date you completed the trail.
- Beginning March 2, 2023 you may claim your geocoin (while supplies last) at More Space at Your Place 28 E Main Street, Centerburg, Ohio during the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. -noon.
Enjoy your day in beautiful Knox County!