Best for:
Waterfall Lovers, high reward hiking enthusiasts, Ohio locals, nature journal readers, and anyone looking for adventure.
Trailhead Overview – Beach City Wild Area:
Location & Access:
The trailhead for Dundee Falls I parked at is a large gravel lot located off of Dundee Wilmot road in Beach City, Ohio, within the Beach City Wildlife Area. A small brown sign that says “Beach City Wildlife Area” marks the entrance.
Luna and I made our arrival at 10:14 AM, on March 25th, 2026. The temperature registered 46°F according to the car’s reading. However, by the time I returned to the vehicle after completing the 2.6-mile out-and-back trail, the temperature had climbed to 65°F. The drive from my starting point took approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. After passing Zanesville all the way to the trailhead, there weren’t many-established towns. About the time I started thinking I’d surely pee my pants I found a gas station combined with a car wash, and I am so thankful they had a facility.
Trail Markings & Facilities:
The trailhead is marked with a square green metallic sign displaying the letter “A.” Additional signage indicates the Beach City Wild Area boundary, though numerous “Posted Private Property” signs are also visible in the vicinity.
There are no restrooms at this trailhead. There are no garbage cans, no garbage bags, and no other facilities of any kind. Visitors must pack out everything they bring in, and ideally, pack out additional trash left by others. It is essential to bring doggie bags and your trash back to your car and to a garbage can from there.
Parking Lot Geology:
The glittering appearance of the gravel lot is not from crushed glass or decorative stone. It’s actually from the natural bedrock that underlies the entire Beach City Wildlife Area. This is the Sharon Conglomerate formation, a quartz-rich sandstone deposited by ancient river systems millions of years ago.
The silica within the sand crystallized over time, forming hundreds of tiny quartz crystal facets that catch the light. While the sandstone matrix is too brittle for tumbling, individual quartz grains can be collected from this matrix for specimen jars, representing the foundational geology of the region.
Though collecting in Beach City Wildlife Area is not legally permitted. This acts as an identification and geographical guide for areas that allow the collecting of natural materials.
Ohio Cannabis Law Update: March 2026:
A significant shift in Ohio law occurred this week regarding cannabis. Adult-use marijuana is still legal in Ohio following voter approval last year. Now the specifics of where consumption is permitted are much more narrow. The law technically limits smoking cannabis to private residences specifically, the house that you own or where you have explicit permission from the property owner. Public consumption, including in vehicles, in parking lots, on trails, and within wildlife areas, is not legally permitted.
This is a changing legal landscape, and individuals are responsible for understanding their rights and risks. I do not care what the law is or what it doesn’t say. I care that people are aware of where they stand within the changing legal framework. Whether you choose to bring products with you or not, knowing the current restrictions allows for informed decisions.
Trail Experience – Upper and Lower Dundee Falls:
The trail from the “A” marker follows an out-and-back route along the creek system, crossing the water multiple times throughout the journey. The path provides access to a series of waterfalls, beginning with 2 smaller cascades before reaching the first major waterfall.
After crossing over the top of that first large waterfall and continuing alongside it, the trail reveals many additional smaller waterfalls. Before arriving at the second major waterfall where the trail ends many more smaller waterfalls pop up letting you know you are close. Beyond that point, the trail continues a very short distance before ending just as quickly as it began.
Water Features & Cave Recesses:
Throughout the trail, water appears in various forms beyond the named falls. Water drippings. These not quite waterfalls but consistent seepage, emerge from the edges of cave recesses and along rock walls. These drippings contribute to the moss growth visible on many surfaces and create the damp conditions that make portions of the trail slippery.
The cave recesses themselves are numerous, particularly off the areas leading up to the two big waterfalls. One area features a natural alcove where water falls into a pool surrounded by cave walls. A spot that I feel would be ideal for sitting in the water on a warmer day.
I have an insatiable urge to be inside the stream of as many waterfalls as I can.Today though, I went behind the second waterfall. Yes, the larger of the two, to get photographs and videos from that perspective, as well as to check out the cave behind it. When water temperatures and air temperatures are warmer, I plan on standing underneath both of these running falls and spending more time in the water.
Trail Conditions & Safety:
The final section leading down to the last larger waterfall presents the most challenging conditions. The path becomes much more narrow, slippery, and wet, requiring careful foot placing. The trail runs along the edge for a considerable distance with open drop-offs that lack any warning barriers.
None of this trail is ADA accessible, nor is it suitable for large groups. For those bringing children, only bring those who listen reliably, mind the trails edge, and respond to verbal warnings.
For dogs, full control is non-negotiable. Luna, my pitbull, navigated it without issue, but a dog that pulls, bolts, or ignores commands could be seriously hurt given the open edges throughout.
Speaking of Luna, she is back on the hiking prowl after some time away, and this was her first full-size hike since returning, yesterday. She took full advantage of the warming weather. Wading or swimming in every pool and stream she could find. I checked her tag. It reads “made out of 100% water dog” given how quickly she finds any available water it fits.
Trail Markers & Offshoots:
One offshoot from the main trail is marked with a red spray painted arrow. This loop ultimately leads back to a different section of the trail already covered, making it a detour rather than a separate destination.
The B-sign offshoot, encountered on the return before reaching the first big fall a second time, leads to two or three small overlooks. These are accessible by standing on different rock and boulder ledges. The overlooks provide varied perspectives on another side of the ravine system.
Total Mileage & Time:
The total distance covered from car to car was 2.6 miles. I completed the trail in 2 hours and 5 minutes. This pace was much slower than what is typical for me. This slower time is a product of the numerous stops I took for:
- photography & videography of the trees, streams, waterfalls, rock formations, and Luna,
- nature journal note-taking
- observation
- reflection journaling
- and allowing Luna to explore.
My croc junipers were wet and dry at least three times over the course of the hike due to creek crossings and damp conditions.
Geological Features & Rock Hounding:
Sharon Conglomerate Formation:
The quartz-rich parking lot gravel is only the beginning. Throughout the trail, the Sharon Conglomerate appears in outcroppings, creek beds, and exposed rock faces. This formation dates to the Pennsylvanian period, approximately 300 million years ago.
It represents ancient river channels and delta systems that once covered this region. Other large rock formations are visible at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges, Hocking Hills, CVNP, and other Ohio nature preserves. This acts to demonstrate Ohio’s topography extends far beyond farmland or flatlands.
Iron Stains & Color Indicators:
I noticed a significant number of orange and black rocks throughout stream next to the trail. These iron deposits are characteristic of the region and indicate the presence of mineral-rich water percolating through the sandstone over millennia.
The same orange staining appears on rock faces, within cave recesses, and along the edges of water drippings.
Honeycombing & Fossils:
The cave and rock walls throughout the trail feature extensive honeycomb weathering. This is a pattern of small cavities eroded into the sandstone. A texture that is common in the Sharon Conglomerate and adds visual interest to the recesses and overhangs.
Fossils are also present within the formation, though identifying them requires careful attention to the rock matrix.
Downed Trees & Specimen Collection:
Our recent slew storms bringing high winds have felled numerous trees along the trail. Downed trees like these are excellent places to look for crystals such as quartz points, and other natural materials.
When a tree falls, it brings up the material that was buried underneath it. These materials would have been otherwise stuck in the ground beneath the tree’s root system, inaccessible while the tree grew.
When in places that allow natural minerals to be collected, collecting from felled trees requires no disturbances. You’re not harming organisms and digging into the soil, making it a low-impact way to find specimens.
A Leave No Trace Breakdown:
Tree Carvings the Scope of the Issue :
Over the course of this single 2.6-mile out-and-back trail, I counted 45 separate carved trees. Given my tendency to hyperfocus on some details while missing others, there were likely additional carvings I passed without registering. These 45 carved trees are on one trail in one nature preserve. The carvings are mostly initials and dates
One tree features a cross-shaped missing patch. From what I think was natural causes or at least caused by something non-human. Then someone carved “Jesus” below it. As a nonbeliever and a tree carving hater, I both laughed and shook my head.
Why Tree Carvings Matter:
Tree carvings damage the vascular tissue beneath the bark, creating entry points for disease, fungi, and pests. A tree that survives a carving still bears that wound for its lifetime. Unlike a scar on human skin that fade, the damage to a tree remains. Thus, structurally compromising a tree for years and years.
Graffiti on Natural Elements:
There is also spray paint all over the rock faces throughout the trail. Please, if you must tag or do graffiti, do it when you are urban exploring. An abandoned factory or warehouse is one thing. Historical, geographical, and natural places are not your ethical canvas.
The same applies to rock carvings. Natural rock surfaces take centuries to recover from graffiti and carvings. The sandstone here is soft enough to carve easily, which makes it all the more vulnerable to permanent damage.
A Note on Accountability:
I am not saying I have never done any of these things. I have taken organic material from places before I realized it was harmful, and left organic food materials outside of their normal environment. I have at some point in my life not known better. Though, I didn’t care to either; I did not give a fuck.
We are in an age where information is at our fingertips. We cannot claim we just did not know or we just do not care anymore. The Earth deserves better and information is available. The principles of Leave No Trace are accessible to anyone who looks.
Let’s learn from all of our past mistakes. Take the information and do better. Share it with the people you bring with you. Clean up after those who do not yet know. That is all it takes. Just one person, one small kind piece of advice, and one small changed action.
Flora, Fauna, & Sensory Notes:
Wildlife Encounters:
Upon exiting my car at the trailhead, I heard a woodpecker knocking on a tree. Occasionally a light wind moved through the field and trees.
Then in the stream, while crossing, Luna started messing with something on the dry rock bar in the stream. For the first time ever we happened upon a snake, before I could see what it was. The creature got away from her before she could get it and thankfully swam off unharmed. It was a garter snake, dark-colored, possibly black, with a green or yellow stripe down each sides.
I tried to get a video but only managed two very low-quality photographs while fumbling with my phone. I wish I had gotten a better image or video captured of it. Snakes usually do not take me by surprise.
Spring Growth:
Light pink or purple wildflower patches appeared in several locations along the trail. The bulbs and growth of onion grass are visible throughout forest floor foliage. Onion grass looks like grass, smells like onions, tastes like onions. Moss and mushrooms thriving on cave walls, forest floors, and recessed rock surfaces.
Clearly taking advantage of the consistent moisture from water drippings. The fresh spring growth is evident in the greenery emerging along the trail edges and the increased bird activity.
Human Encounters:
I did not see another person on the trail until the return portion of the hike. When Luna and I passed an older couple. One of the two stopped and greeted us, asking if she could pet Luna. After we exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways.
This is the second trip in two days where Luna has received attention from strangers. At rising park yesterday a child played with her. Then today an adult gave her head pats. I love this for her.
In the past many times when we were on trails with friends’ dogs, some people shy away or make assumptions because Luna is a pitbull. Not only are those people missing out on a friendly, well-behaved water dog who just wants to say hello, they also seem to affect her mood however momentarily it may be.
Ohio’s Hidden Topography:
Beyond the Flatland Reputation:
Ohio gets dismissed as flat, and boring farmland. There is nuance to the actual topography of Ohio. I am not sure we have an actual mountain, but we have insane views for the Midwest.
Believe it or not you can get Tennessee waterfalls without leaving Ohio. You can also get Kentucky natural bridges without crossing the state line. Elevation gain without booking a flight. You just have to know where to go.
Comparable Ohio Locations:
The rock formations at Dundee Falls are similar to those at Hocking Hills, Rising Park (Mount Pleasant), Piatt Gorge, Raven Rock Preserve, Nelson-Kennedy Ledges, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park to just name a few . These are not destinations that require extensive travel. They are mostly small-name parks, preserves, and natural areas scattered across the state.
You may be surprised how many of them in your backyard. You just have to look. You have to be willing to do the work instead of opening an internet browser, booking a flight plan, and flying to the next tourist destination to stand in line behind hundreds of other hikers doing the same thing.
Sustainable Backyard Hiking:
I am not saying do not take that big trip ever. I am saying phase them out. Love what you can hear before you cannot. To practice more sustainable backyard hiking.
There are views are here as well. The waterfalls are here, even the elevation changes are here. They are just not all advertised the way the tourist destinations are.
You just have to look. You might have to be willing to drive an hour and forty-five minutes to a gravel lot with no restrooms and a sign that says A. As well as willing to cross the creek many times and get your shoes wet. That is how you find the places that are still worth finding.
Gear & Preparation Notes:
I brought a Red Bull, a Starbucks glass bottle vanilla coffee, and my hiking pack.
My pack contained, like always my large battery pack that will recharge my phone roughly seven or eight times on a full charge. As well as three metallic reusable path water bottles, an iPhone charger, a C-type charger, an the school universal charger. I of course have my small med kit, a change of socks, bags to put over my socks yet inside my hiking shoes (a trick for keeping feet dry after crossings), a tripod, and other content creating items. As well as Luna’s boots in case she needed them and the will to adventure.
Health & Safety Gear:
My pack also included my inhaler and prescription medication, a smaller pack with my ID and medical card, a notebook, a pen, a Sharpie marker, and a change of underwear with the extra socks.
I brought medical surgical masks and KN95s in case of bat droppings or anything harmful to breathe in cave recesses, and a hat with a face covering. I also had a toboggan for myself and a jacket for Luna. Cold weather gloves and specimen gloves were packed separately. One pair for warmth, one for handling bones or foraging materials without contaminating them.
Rock Hounding & Specimen Collection:
I still have my ice spikes on my pack for winter conditions. As well as my chisels and pickaxes for rock hounding and plastic bags for specimens.
The downed trees along the trail would provided opportunities to examine material brought up from below. Doing so this way removes the digging and disturbing living organisms. I found a few dark blue stone that felt like natural material rather than slag glass. Though I am not sure if they are slag left over from the iron smelting process or natural materials.
Navigation & Communication:
I downloaded an offline use map on AllTrails and I also maintain a subscription that allows location sharing in an emergency situation without needing service. There is not reliable cell service at the trailhead or along most of the trail, making offline maps essential to navigation. I typically notate through Google Keep to take trail journal notes throughout the hike as well to keep my memories and thoughts until I can draft.
Final Trail Stats:
- Total Mileage: 2.6 miles out-and-back
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Start Temperature: 46°F
- End Temperature: 65°F
- Creek Crossings: Multiple; shoes wet four times and dried three times before reaching the car
- Carved Trees Counted: 45
- Other Hikers Encountered: 2
- Trash Collected: Glass, Pepsi and beer cans, and pistachio shells
- Animal Sightings: 1 snake, many minnows, a few squirrels, and a woodpecker
- Waterfalls: 2 very large walk-behind waterfalls and many little ones surrounding.
Before you go:
Waterfall Confessions reflection journal prompt answered here. “What part of your past still echoes the loudest?”
Subscriber here and get updates directly to your email. You’ll also get 10% off physical items and 20% off digital items all Poeaxtry_ online shops and never miss a post again.
Leave a Reply