Near Loudonville in Ashland County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Clear Fork Gorge

A Feature of Ohio's Forests

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 22, 2009

1. Clear Fork Gorge Marker

Inscription. Clear Fork Gorge was formed when glacial meltwater cut through the sandstone bedrock that forms its steep walls fourteen to twenty-four thousand years ago. The gorge is one thousand feet wide and over three hundred feet deep. Its seclusion has preserved a rare forest community that includes native white pine and towering eastern hemlock. A National Natural Landmark, the gorge displays a wide variety of other tree species more common throughout the state, with sycamore on the bottomlands, beech, ash, and tulip farther up the slope, and oak and maple on the ridges above. The gorge has changed little since pioneer legend Johnny Appleseed tended his apple orchards nearby.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The International Paper Company Foundation, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 6-3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. In addition, it is included in the National Natural Landmarks, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists.

Location. 40° 36.648′ N, 82° 17.193′ W.

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Marker is near Loudonville, Ohio, in Ashland County. It can be reached from Gorge Overlook, on the right when traveling east. Marker is adjacent to the gorge overlook parking lot, about one mile NW of Ohio Route 97, in Mohican State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perrysville OH 44864, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Amish Country.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The American Chestnut (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Department of Natural Resources 75th Anniversary (approx. one mile away); High Water Mark (approx. one mile away); Mohican Fire Tower (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Mohican Fire Tower (approx. one mile away); Cline Cabin (approx. 1.4

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 22, 2009

2. Clear Fork Gorge Marker

Gorge can be seen behind fence.

miles away); The Corn Crib (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Plow (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Loudonville.

More about this marker. This marker’s official number is 6-3 on The Ohio Historical Society list. The number on its face, 7-70, is an error.

Also see . . . Clear Fork Gorge. According to the National Natural Landmarks page, "Located within Mohican State Park, Clear Fork Gorge is a geologically significant area of the Mohican River valley. The site clearly illustrates evidence of stream reversal due to the Wisconsin glacier." (Submitted on November 16, 2024, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 22, 2009

3. Clear Fork Gorge Marker

Clear Fork Gorge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 22, 2009

4. Clear Fork Gorge

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 22, 2009

5. Clear Fork Gorge

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,241 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 8, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.