Sunday, August 3rd. After working all night, I decided to head out for a little fresh air and nature reset with Luna. Our second stop of three that morning at Mohican State Park was the Gorge Overlook. What I love about this place is how easy it is to get to. You pull into the parking lot right at the edge of the gorge, park your car, and just walk a few steps to the overlook itself. Luna was happy to roam around in the shade and sniff the quiet woods while I took in the view.
The forest stretched wide and deep below us, thick with green trees that filled the valley and climbed the gorge walls across from us. You are just able to see a spot or two of the tell tale discoloration that will soon spread to most these trees. Though, the early August sunlight filtered softly through the canopy, casting patches of light and shadow along the trail and the stone wall at the overlook. That quickly erased any thoughts of the impending autumn. We attempted to walk the 1.4-mile loop trail behind the overlook, and we did but I doubt it was graceful. This trail is steep and complete with stairs and a fun swinging bridge.
What made the trip even better was how close the Mohican Fire Tower was, just a five-minute drive from the overlook parking lot. We had visited the tower first, enjoying the panoramic aerial view. Then we came over to the gorge for a different kind of quiet POV from the trees perspective. Doing both back-to-back took less than an hour and a half, including time to soak in the sights and let Luna wander.
Standing at the overlook as the morning sun lit the trees, the scene was calm and alive. The green stretched as far as I could see, the air cool in the shade, and the forest quiet except for distant bird calls. It’s the kind of place where you can pause and feel the size of nature all around you. Where you visibly can see the impending autumn, but still allow the lure of never ending summer steal you away.
If you want a quick, no-fuss nature stop at Mohican that’s easy to access, dog-friendly, has restrooms and picnic spots, then the Gorge Overlook is for you. The loop trail is perfection and chaos. It’s a peaceful place to breathe in the woods or just sit and watch the forest go on forever. Paired with the steepest 1.4 miles of my life and a cute bridge.
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