Pike County High Point Trip Report
Date: April 27, 2003
Author: Bob Schwab
In the center of the town of Bainbridge (at the light where US 50 and Ohio 41 intersect), turn south on
Quarry Street and drive for 3.3 miles to the intersection with Pike Lake Road (Greenbriar in Delorme).
Bear left here and drive east about 0.3 mile to where the road bends left as it ascends a hill. Watch for a drive to
your right that seems to go up the hill to a white trailer/camper in the woods (area 1). No on was at the camp
when I visited, but the area just west of the trailer is where spot elevation 1336 is located. There is also high
ground to the east of the trailer, on the edge of the woods and out into the fenced pasture.
From this driveway, continue driving east another 0.6 mile as the road turns to dirt. Watch for a sign on
your left for "Budger Boy Towing" and pull into the yard. If anyone is home, you can get permission to
wander on their lawn back toward the woods to the left of the house. This is area 2, and after noting where
the contour lines are, it is definitely much lower than area 1.
Return to the junction of the main road with Pike Lake Road and turn south. Continue from the junction for
just over 0.5 mile to a place where the road bends left and begins to descend. Find a place to park on the
west side of the road and hike west into the woods on a low ridge that has a few orange-blazed trees.
Soon you will encounter an old, long-abandoned road that has been deeply eroded. Follow the road as it goes up
the ridge and then turns south. As you near the top, you'll see a boundary marker on the left (east) edge of
the road bank, followed by a berm. Continue south past the junction where an ATV trail comes up from
your left to where the old "rut" road goes right, and the ATV trail forks left. The highpoint (area 3) is just up
the bank to your right (west), not far from an old hollow stump.
After returning to your car, continue driving south roughly another 0.9 mile as the road drops,
then gradually bends to the right. Watch for a large grey house (unfinished) on your left, right next to a gated
road and a sign with a "2" on it. I parked here and hiked up the dirt road which is fairly steep until it gains
the ridge. The path bends south, passes an old boy scout troop house, and meanders along the ridge for
roughly 0.75 mile to spot elevation 1332 feet (area 4). I thought the highest ground was on the left (east)
side of the path, close to a three-way junction where the trail begins to drop. Cross to the west side and
look for an old cemetery (not shown on topo) that goes down the hillside. There are at least 30 stones;
many are badly eroded/broken with dates in the 1850s and 60s. I wondered whether this old cemetery is
where the former citizens of Spellman Crossing are resting.
I think you can skip area 2 (Budger Boy Towing) because it is obviously lower, but the other three areas are
definitely worth visiting.