Orange Loop Trail

Dogs Leashed

There is a disc golf course in the same general area as the trail, so keep a heads up! These trails are shared with cyclists so keep a heads up for foot traffic as well as for people on bikes. The singletrack trail in the park handles rain much better than the other doubletrack trails located there. The doubletrack trails offer some fun options to tack on some miles while in this part of the Marietta trail network but they are best avoided if it has been raining.

The Orange Loop Trail offers lower gradient climbing to reach the ridge top and other trails in the park or can be completed as a loop. Hiking is permitted in either direction.

The trail begins and finishes at the main parking area for the Broughton's Wildlife Area off of SR 821. The trailhead is located approximately 30 feet up the hill behind the trail map at the parking area.

Initially, the trail climbs up through some pine trees and makes a couple of tight switchbacks before reaching a bench where the trail forms a "loop" and you can choose to go left or right. Taking a left, traveling clockwise around the loop, provides the biggest downhill at the finish but the loop is great in either direction.

After turning left, you'll cross a small gravel service road after a short distance. Cross the road and continue on the singletrack. From here, the trail winds through beautiful hardwood forest with some minor climbing and descending on its way to the highest point on the trail. On your right, you'll see a couple of trails splitting off of the main trail. These are connectors that will shorten the route. To continue on the main trail, stay left at these intersections.

Once you are within 0.25 miles of the high point on the trail, you'll cross a doubletrack path. Continue straight across the doubletrack following the singletrack to the top of the hill. At the highest point, there is a nice log bench that is a great place to take a breather before starting the descent back to the trailhead.

Remember to stay left at any trail intersections to avoid getting off course on one of the connector trails. Before the final drop to the parking area, the trail traverses a flat bench, meets with the original intersection that we started, and heads back down through the pines to the parking lot. Enjoy!