Best for:
Central Ohio Explorers, small park lovers, history buffs, and hiking journal readers.
Getting back into it:
Today, March 24th, 2026, Luna and I went to Rising Park & Mount Pleasant unexpectedly. My day was supposed to start with a nap after an overnight shift. I wanted to be up by late morning and drive to Dundee Falls by early afternoon. My last alarm was set for noon, but clearly, my subconscious had other plans. I managed to sleep right through all of my alarms, not waking up until a little after 4:00 PM! My intended exploration was hereby postponed before it even began.
Though I was feeling a bit bummed about missing my Dundee Falls window, I also knew Luna, absolutely needed to get out, after her extended break. It was obvious that her energetic sighs were getting quite dramatic, so I shifted gears. Dundee Falls will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Instead, we decided to visit a beloved semi-local gem in Lancaster, Ohio: Rising Park.
Luna’s Paw-some Return:
This trip to Rising Park felt particularly momentous because it was Luna’s first time out of the yard since her paw infection. In solidarity with her, I ended up taking five long weeks off too. Poor girl had one paw so swollen up, and the veterinarian’s orders were 2-3 weeks rest.
I swear after the first three days she spent the rest of the time looking longingly out the windows. She favored dramatically flopping onto my bed or couch. While she handled her “unjust” confinement with relatively good grace; seeing her finally sitting excitedly in the passenger seat, nose twitching with excitement, was the best feeling. Her tail was like a furry metronome, keeping time with her pure joy at heading back to the trail.
It was a beautiful reminder of the simple pleasures. As well as the importance of allowing time for healing.
Rising Park & Mount Pleasant the Majestic Mount Pleasant:
Rising Park & Mount Pleasant is something special, to me and I’m sure other locals alike. The most striking feature, and the centerpiece of the hike, is Mount Pleasant. Looking at it, and starting your walk up it you immediately realize you’re not visiting a typical Ohio hill.
A Glimpse into the Past:
Geography:
Rising Parn & Mount Pleasant is yet another stunning example of Ohio’s Black Hand sandstone. Back in the early Mississippian Period roughly 350 million years ago, this area was covered by a vast, shallow sea. Sand, gravel, and mud washed in from ancestral Appalachian mountains to the east, forming a huge delta. The coarse-grained sand deposited here eventually cemented together. Thus, creating the strong, resistant sandstone.
Mount Pleasant stands so proudly above the surrounding landscape. Later, glaciers moved through the area, smoothing and leveling much of it. Yet, they couldn’t quite wear down this stubborn block of stone. It’s essentially a resilient survivor of ancient environmental changes.
History:
Historically, this massive formation has been a significant landmark for centuries. Native American tribes used it as a signal point, observation post, and a place for spiritual rituals.
In fact, a popular, albeit tragic, legend says it’s named “Standing Stone” because of a Native American woman. Her name was Mon-ka-ush-ka. The story says she fell in love with a white settler, but her family opposed the match. When they took her to the top of the rock, she leapt to her death. After she vowed her spirit would always inhabit the place.
Whether purely legend or inspired by some long-ago event, the story adds another layer of solemn mystery to the place. Today, however, the primary drama was Luna’s triumphant sprint dragging us towards the overlook.
Our Solitary Hike
There’s something uniquely satisfying about a solo hike with your dog. Just you, the sound of paws on the dirt, the rustle of leaves, and the shared excitement of discovery.
The main trail up to the top of Mount Pleasant is short but definitely gets your heart pumping. As we climbed higher, catching glimpses of the cliffs, it felt great to be moving and breathing fresh air after my accidental deep-sleep session.
We were lucky to have the summit nearly to ourselves. Sharing it only with a couple and their toddler who happily asked to play with Luna.
The view from the top is, quite simply, incredible. You can see for miles over the city of Lancaster. The surrounding, slightly rolling Fairfield County landscape, a patchwork of fields, forests, and small towns stretched out under the wide sky.
Luna, was less interested in the sweeping vista and far more intrigued by a particularly friendly family of three. Being a bully breed she sometimes is shooed away from children and people she’d normally be excited to greet. So, after she thoroughly sniffed every inch of the overlook area and played nicely with the young boy she received her well-earned praises for being the “best, bravest, paw-healed explorer.” Before leaving we sat for a bit, soaking it all in.
Changed plans:
Though my day didn’t go as planned, our spontaneous decision to revisit on of our favorite spots, Rising Park & Mount Pleasant turned out to be the perfect substitute. The beautiful scenery, the fascinating history of the area, and most importantly, seeing Luna finally running happy and free again, made for an unforgettable afternoon. My accidental oversleeping actually led to a satisfying experience. Now, though, I must set my multiple alarms, because Dundee Falls truly does await tomorrow morning!
For Highlight reels from Malabar Farm State Park & other trips with Luna and the homies, as well as other visual content catch Poeaxtry_ on socials like:
Leave a Reply