Other than Cave Canyon visitors, access to the Sanctuary must be pre-arranged by appointment, workshop registration, or wilderness hiking permits. Sorry, with our small staff, we can not accommodate visitors without pre-arrangement.

General Directions
to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary region

The Highlands Nature Sanctuary is located in the southwest quadrant of Ohio approximately 25 miles west of Chillicothe, and 17 miles east of Hillsboro. It is located just south of Interstate 50 which runs east-west across southern Ohio. Although we think have found other systems can be quite flawed, if you wish to get alternative directions on-line, our headquarters' address is 7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612.

For a highway map of area

From the North or East through Chillicothe:
Using the main highways: Your final destination of Cave Canyon Preserve on Cave Road is approximately 70 miles from outerbelt 270 in Columbus. We estimate it is a one hour and thirty minute drive to your destination from the outerbelt of Columbus. Be sure to add on how long it takes you to get to that exit from your starting point to estimate your total driving time. To Begin: Take the 270 outerbelt around Columbus and head south toward the SR 23 Exit. Exit on SR 23 and go south. (If 270 were a clock, the exit is at 6:00). Follow Route 23 all the way past Circleville, into Chillicothe. You will see several exit ramps in the Chillicothe area. Be sure to watch for the one that says Route 50 WEST, not Route 50 EAST which would erroneously take you to Athens -- in the wrong direction! After you correctly exit, Route 50 highway signs will clearly direct you through Chillicothe. Take Route 50 West through Chillicothe. After approx. 20 miles you will pass through the town of Bainbridge. If you set your odometer, Cave Rd is exactly 4.3 miles from the first traffic light in Bainbridge (by Dairy Queen). Watch for Paint Creek State Park's metal highway signs, which glow in the dark, and the intersection of Rapid Forge Road on your right. You are almost there, and you will see our signs. Cave Rd is the next first left turn after you pass Rapid Forge RD. (If you cross over the Rocky Fork Creek or pass Cole’s Bait and Tackle on your right, or reach the village of Rainsboro, you have gone too far). Turn left on Cave Rd. Set your odometer to zero.|
Skip down now to the Directions below From Cave Road to final destinations

Recommended Alternative Route, with shortcut around Chillicothe: This is a nice route to follow and easy to find. Follow the directions above until you get to Circleville. Exit off 23 onto SR 22 at Circleville, and turn right, or west. Follow 22 west three or so miles until you reach Route 104. Turn left, or south. Follow 104 approximately fourteen miles. At one point you will be making a 90 turn to your right to stay on 104--just follow the signs. As you approach Chillicothe 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 th far side of an intersection. Turn right here. Follow this road a short distance through the penitentiary lands to a three way intersection with stop signs. There will be public schools on both sides of you. Turn right here. This is Pleasant Valley Road. Follow it for several miles until it dead-ends on Route 50 at a light. You have just bypassed Chillicothe. Turn right on Route 50 and follow it into Bainbridge. If you set your odometer, Cave Rd is exactly 4.3 miles from the first traffic light in Bainbridge (by Dairy Queen). Watch for Paint Creek State Park's metal highway signs, which glow in the dark, and the intersection of Rapid Forge Road on your right. You are almost there, and you will see our signs. Cave Rd is the next first left turn after you pass Rapid Forge RD. (If you cross over the Rocky Fork Creek or pass Cole’s Bait and Tackle on your right, or reach the village of Rainsboro, you have gone too far). Turn left on Cave Rd. Set your odometer to zero.|
Skip down now to the Directions below: From Cave Road to final destinations

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 HWY 50 exit on the outerbelt. Be sure to add on how long it takes you to get to that exit to estimate your total driving time. 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. 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 Paint Creek State Park’s main office on the left, surrounded by a white pine plantation. Next you will see Cole’s Bait and Tackle, also on the left. Continue on Rt. 50. Two and one half miles past Browning Road you will see a sign saying Rest Area – 1 mile sign and a small sign identifying Rocky Fork Creek just before you cross the bridge. Cave Rd is immediately on the right after crossing the bridge. (If you pass Rapid Forge Rd or the Rest Area, you have gone too far). Skip down now to the Directions below From Cave Road to final destinations.

From the South through Peebles on 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. You will arrive at the below destinations in the opposite order listed. Please refer to the second set of mileage markers, and don't forget to set your odometer at the intersection of Cave Road and Barrett's Mill Road. From Peebles to Cave Road  is approximately 35 minutes.

Specific Directions to:
 Beechcliff, Cave Canyon & the Appalachian Forest Museum , Wrenhouse, Hermitage, and Taloden Woods Trailhead
Please scroll further down for Directions to Ravenwood

VISUAL ROAD MAP (JPG FILE)

Turn your odometer to zero as you turn south on Cave Road. The first set of milepost numbers not in parentheses will be the distance the following destinations are from the turn. If you come from the south on Cave Road, off of Barrett's Mill Road, refer to the second set of numbers.

Mile .6  (2.9)    Beechcliff.  At the end of Bungalow Row you will see a wooden sign to your right with an engraved Beechcliff and a sharply inclining gravel lane leading to the parking lot that services Beechcliff. If you are a Beechcliff guest, park at the top of the knob and follow the graded sidewalk down to the facility. This is a loop drive. If you have a low-carriage car, you can avoid the dip in the incline by entering on the far end of the loop driveway. Otherwise, continue on Cave Road

Mile 1.0  (2.5)  Cave Canyon. The Appalachian Forest Museum will be on your right, ,just behind the old historic gatehouse. Guests with hiking permits or program registrations, or visitors coming during open hours may use the parking lot on the left, up the sharp incline.  For information on open hours, please click here. Out of respect to the protection of the preserve, and the small numbers of staff and volunteers -- please --- do not visit at other times.

Mile 1.0 (2.5) The Etawah Woods Trailhead is 100 yards past the main Cave Canyon entrance on the left. It is gated and holds about 20 cars. Guests with hiking permits or program registrations are authorized to park  here.

Mile1.1 (2.4) Wrenhouse. Private residence, home of one of the Sanctuary's directors. You will see a Wrenhouse sign at the end of the driveway. Please stop by appointment only. The driveway is a few dozen feet before the mailbox, 7629 Cave Road.

Mile 1.2 (2.3) Hermitage.  Hermitage is only a short distance further. After passing the Wrenhouse, you will drive over a bridge and the next drive on the right will have a wooden sign that says Hermitage. The Hermitage has a rental suite known as the Eyrie. If you are a registered guest of the Eyrie, follow the drive down the hill all the way to the facility. The Eyrie is on the left side of the structure. A private residence is on the right.

Mile 2.4 (1.1) Browning Road, and access to Elders' Landing Trailhead. If you have a permit and you wish to hike the Cedar Run Trail, turn right on Browning Road and follow the directions on your trail map. Otherwise continue on.

Mile 2.7 (0.8) Taloden Woods Trailhead, Access to Barrett's Rim trails. If you have a hiking permit for your car, you can park at the Taloden Woods trailhead to access Barrett's Rim trails and Roundtop trails. Turn left in the driveway -- which you will recognize by the brown metal building and the dark wooden fencing. Follow the driveway past the brown home (private home), back toward the Sanctuary's dumpster. You can park in the mowed grassy strip on your left. Consult the trail map that comes with your permit for details.

Milepost 3.4 (0.1) Kellogg Community House, Barrett's Farm. After passing Taloden Woods you will enter a region with scattered houses and open fields. Just before Cave Road makes a sharp 90 degree turn you will see a large two-story white house on your left. This building is currently being remodeled to become our intern and volunteer lodging center.

Mile 3.5 (0.0)  Cave Road terminates at Barrett Mill Road.

Directions to Ravenwood