Belmont County High Point Trip Report
fourteen areas (1,380+ ft)
Date: May 25, 2003
Author: Bob Schwab
two areas including Galloway Knob BM 1397 (1,380+ ft)
From the intersection of Ohio Routes 149 and 9 in Warnock, drive south on Route 9 for 1.6 miles to Lucas
Lash Road (TWP 228). Turn right and go west for 0.75 mile to a crest in the road with a large paddock to
your right. Park here. You can clearly see Galloway Knob out in the pasture to the north. There were
many cattle in the field when I visited early in the morning, and about 50 of them accompanied me as I hiked
to the summit, where both BM Galloway and BM #3 can be found. There is a small contour off to the
northeast (area 2) which is clearly much lower (at least 15 feet lower!). The view from the top is very
impressive and you can see in all directions for several miles. The barren pastures on these high ridges
creates a feeling that you're a long way from Ohio -- more like you're in Nebraska.
two areas near Chestnut Level Church (1,380+ ft)
From the town of Belmont, go south on Ohio Route 147 for 1.9 miles to Chestnut Level Road (TWP 199).
Turn right and continue south for another 1.25 miles to the Chestnut Level Church and cemetery.
Walk around the church and find high ground (area 3) on the east side, not far from the propane tanks.
While you're in the cemetery, use your hand level to sight east to area 4 which appears to be higher.
Drive east another 0.2 mile to Hatcher Road and turn left. The highest spot (area 4) appears to be just
north of the road along the edge of a pasture near a lone tree.
four areas south of Belmont (1,380+ ft)
From the intersection of Route 147 and Chestnut Level Road (TWP 199), travel west on Route 147 for 0.4
mile to Gregg Road (TWP 200). Turn left and follow Gregg Road as it swings south around an obvious ridge.
Keep to the left at the fork and continue south on Secrest (TWP 195). After traveling about 0.9 mile
from Route 147, you'll see a farm on your left (# 62591). Ask here for permission to hike east up into the
pasture to the summit ridge (area 5). If no one is home, continue south past the buildings to a white shed
and park along the road. Hike northeast, crossing fences and pasture to the ridge and tree line at the top.
Return to the intersection of Route 147 and Gregg Road. Drive north on Route 147 for only about 0.2 mile
to a white-board, gated drive on your right that goes up to an FAA tower. Park here and hike up the paved
path to the facility (area 6). The upper gate was unlocked when I visited. I found the highpoint to be inside
the fence, just east of the building.
Continue driving north on Route 147 another 0.5 mile. Note the hill on your right. As you drive to the
northern side of this hill, watch for a driveway on your right to a beautiful white house and red barn.
Get permission from the McKeevers to hike to the top of the hill southeast of their barn (area 7).
Resume your drive north on Route 147 from the McKeevers driveway for just another 0.2 mile to an
intersection with Watertower Road (TWP 202). This intersection goes up sharply to the left, just as the
main highway begins to descend. Follow this road west for about 0.5 mile. Go past the first intersection
(to the south) and watch for two yellow and white gas pipe markers on opposite sides of the road. There is a
field pull-off on the south just a bit farther west near some trees. Park here (or along the road near the pipe
markers) and hike south into the field. Aim for the saddle and then follow the ridge up to the top (area 8).
This is mostly a tall grass hike with nice views.
two areas west of Bethesda (1,380+ ft)
Drive southwest from the town of Bethesda on Route 147 for 1.4 miles. After you pass a lookout tower on
your left, watch for the intersection with Goshen TWP 147 (old state highway 147) on your right.
Turn right on Goshen TWP 147 and almost immediately the road will bend right again. Turn left at this right
bend, and drive down a short lane that ends at three driveways. Approach the middle house, a large brown
A-frame, and get permission from a nice lady to enter the woods behind her house. Hike south into the
woods just a short distance where you'll find what resembles a low quarry wall or mine wall off to your left.
Scramble up the bank and explore this woodsy highpoint (area 9) which is covered with brambles, briars and
blooms (there was a lot of purple Dame's Rocket blooming here).
Return to your vehicle and continue northeast on old route 147 (TWP 147) for about 0.6 mile to the
Ebenezer Cemetery. Enter the cemetery and drive to the back near the flagpole. The high spot (area 10) in
this cemetery is just east of the World War II Memorial.
three areas northwest of Barnesville (1,380+ ft)
From the center of Barnesville (junction of Routes 147 and 800) drive west on Main Street for 2 miles,
passing the airport along the way. Turn right at CR 114 and go north 0.4 mile to a large, three-way
intersection with CR 162. Park here and hike south a short distance into the field to a grassy contour (area 11).
Hike north from the intersection into another grassy field to visit another smaller contour (area 12).
Continue driving north on CR 114 (Fairview Road) for another 0.45 mile. The topo map shows a road
going off to the right here, but it is nothing more than a track and you can easily miss it as I did. If you get
to the Gibson Cemetery, you've gone too far. Park at the track and consider how best to visit this small spot
just east of the road (area 13). I hiked up the track a bit, then bushwhacked southeast to where I thought
the high ground should be. This area is quite overgrown and tick-infested. Given the small size and flat
nature of the contours in this area, you may not want to bother. I'm positive this site is NOT the highpoint
of the county. Future visitors (fanatics and purists) may wish to approach this site directly from the road.
Watch for ticks!
one area in section 26-9N-6W (1,380+ ft)
Leave I-70 at exit 202 and drive west, then north on Ohio Route 800 for a total of 3.2 miles. At the 2.7 mile
mark the road will swing to the right and head north. As you travel the next 0.5 mile, watch for an obvious
mound on your right and find a place to park along the edge of the road in a bend just to the north of the hill.
Bushwhack east and soon you'll encounter a power line right-of-way that you can follow to the top by
hiking south. The brush and tangle in the woods is quite dense at the crest, so watch for a grassy inlet on
your left and use it to go east about 100 feet. Wrap around some heavy brush by circling to the south to find
the true highpoint (area 14).
After visiting all of the county sites, I am quite certain that Galloway Knob is the highest point in the county.
NGS data sheets verify the elevation to be 1397 feet, and I did not find any other site with as much of a
perceivable rise above the theoretical contour line as can be found here. Besides, it has a great view -- it's
one of my Ohio favorites! Come visit them all and see if you agree with me.
Minimum total ascent (by foot for all 14 areas = 740+ total vertical feet.