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Directions to the Appalachian Forest Museum
Visitor Center of the
Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Headquarters of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge,
OH 45612
Unless you are a
member, please visit
the Appalachian Forest
Museum during normal open hours.
The
Appalachian Forest Museum in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary is
located in south-central Ohio
approximately 25 miles west of Chillicothe, and
17 miles east of Hillsboro. It is one mile south of
Highway 50 on Cave Road.
From the North or East with a shortcut around
Chillicothe:
Your final destination is a bit
less than 70 miles from the Route 23 exit on the 270 Outerbelt that
circles Columbus, approximately a one
hour and twenty minute drive.
If 270 were a clock, the exit is
at 6:00.
To Begin: Take Interstate 71 to 270. Turn left or east. Take
the first exit, and turn south on SR 23. Follow 23 south
through Circleville, nearly to Chillicothe. As you get close to
Chillicothe, stay alert. We are going to bypass you around town.
Turn right or west on SR 207. Follow the signs on SR 207 to SR
104, and turn SOUTH on SR 104. You will see the
Veteran's Hospital on your right, and Hopewell Culture
National Historic Park on your left. You will then see
prison buildings on both sides of the road, and shortly
thereafter you will see a large electrical substation on
your right on the far corner of a road intersection. Turn
right on this unmarked county road. Follow the road a short
distance through the penitentiary lands to a three way
intersection at a stop sign. There will be public schools on
both sides of you. Turn right on Pleasant Valley Road. It
will turn into Veteran's Highway, a four-lane highway.
Continue until it dead-ends on Route 50 at a light. Turn
right on Route 50 and follow it into Bainbridge. Set your odometer
in Bainbridge at the Dairy Queen as you come into town.
Cave Rd is exactly 4.3 miles from the Dairy Queen.
Watch for our highway
signs.
Look for Rapid Forge RD on
your right. Shortly thereafter, turn left on Cave Rd. (If you cross over the Rocky Fork
Creek or reach
the village of Rainsboro, you have gone too far). After
turning, set your odometer to zero. At
the one mile mark, you will arrive at the
Appalachian Forest Museum
(click here for hours),
which will be on your right. Parking is on your left.
From the West through Cincinnati:
Your final destination of the Cave Canyon
on Cave Road is
approximately 70 miles from Outerbelt 275. We estimate it is a one hour and
fifteen minute drive from the outerbelt. To Begin: Get on the 275 outerbelt around Cincinnati and go to to Milford area (southeast corner of
the metropolis on 275, if 275 were a clock the exit would be at 3:30). Exit on
Route 50 east. Follow 50 east approximately 40 miles to the
town of Hillsboro. (Alternatively, if you are driving eastward around the south
side of Cincinnati, you can exit off of 275 on SR 32, continue
east, at Batavia take SR 132 north to Owensville, and turn right
or east on 50 towards Hillsboro). Cave Rd is approximately 15 miles east of downtown
Hillsboro on Rt. 50. As you begin to enter the Highlands region,
you will drive through the small village of Rainsboro, marked by
a reflective green sign. Exactly 1.8 miles past Rainsboro note
Browning Rd. as a landmark on your right. Set your odometer but
don't turn here. Further down Route 50 you will see Cole’s Bait
and Tackle on
the left.
Continue on Rt. 50. Two and one half miles
past Browning Road you will see a sign
identifying Rocky Fork Creek just before a bridge. Cave Rd
is immediately on the right after crossing the bridge. (If you
come to Rapid Forge Rd or the Rest Area, you have gone too far).
After turning right on Cave Rd. Set your odometer to zero. At
the one mile mark, you will have arrived at the
Appalachian Forest Museum
(click here for hours)
From the North through Dayton.
It will take approximately one hour and
forty minutes to get from Dayton to the Highlands Nature
Sanctuary. To begin, from Dayton take SR 35 east all the way to
Washington Courthouse. At Washington Courthouse, turn south
on 753 and take it all the way to Greenfield. At Greenfield,
follow the signs through town, and continue on 753 all the way
to Hwy 50 in the little town of Rainsboro. Turn left or east on
50. Exactly 1.8 miles past Rainsboro
watch for
Browning Rd. as a landmark on your right. Set your odometer. Further down Route 50 you will see Paint Creek
State Park’s Cole’s Bait and Tackle on
the left.
Continue on Rt. 50. Two and one half miles
past Browning Road you will see a sign
identifying Rocky Fork Creek just before a bridge. Cave Rd
is immediately on the right after crossing the bridge. (If you
come to Rapid Forge Rd or the Rest Area, you have gone too far).
After turning right on Cave Rd. Set your odometer to zero. At
the one mile mark, you will have arrived at the
Appalachian Forest Museum
(click here for hours)
From the South
through Peebles on State Route 41:
Go north on State Route 41 through Peebles, Locust Grove, and Sinking Springs. At Cynthiana, turn left
at the center of town on Barrett's Mill Road. Follow Barrett's
Mill Road north for a few miles. You will pass Cynthiana Road on
your left, then McNary on your right, then Brier Hill on your
right. The very next road just a tenth of a mile on your right (the sign is not
overtly noticeable but it is there) is Cave Road. Turn here and set your
odometer to zero. If you cross over the Rocky Fork on Barrett's Mill Road you
went too far. Continue following Cave Road. The Appalachian Forest Museum will
be 2.5 miles down the road.
From Peebles to Cave Road is approximately 35 minutes.

Connecting is the
first step to saving the forest.
e-mail
linkup.adm@highlandssanctuary.org
and ask to join our mailing list to receive
Nature Notes, educational program notices, and volunteer
opportunities
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