Flickering Lantern at Hope Furnace
The Peninsula Trail at Lake Hope State Park offers a scenic hiking experience along the lake’s shoreline and through land that was once a sparsely populated community of farmers, miners, and furnace workers. As hikers traverse this rugged route, they can take in the surrounding natural beauty, with chances to observe Bald Eagles soaring overhead and white-tailed deer moving through the underbrush. They may even stumble upon remnants of the old farms and family homes that once existed in the area.
The trail provides stunning views of the lake, where sunlight creates shimmering reflections on the water’s surface. A significant landmark along the way is Hope Furnace, also known as Big Sand Furnace, a historic structure from the 1800s that serves as a reminder of the area’s industrial past. Just across the road from the furnace was the once bustling mining village, now covered with the dried needles of an aged pine forest. The town and furnace are notable not only for their history but also for the local legends associated with them.
According to folklore, a tragic incident occurred when a worker transporting fuel to the furnace fell into the fire. This event has led to numerous tales about the worker’s restless spirit haunting the area. Visitors have reported strange sounds, like disembodied knocks, near the old furnace site, and some claim to have seen a flickering lantern along the path, believed to follow the route taken by the worker in life. Unearthing these stories add an intriguing and mysterious layer to the historical narrative of the region, enriching the experience for those who hike the trail.
Parking/Trailhead
Peninsula Trail Parking/Trailhead
Pull-off along State Route 278
McArthur, Ohio 45651
(39.327041, -82.346750)
The Hike: Peninsula Loop Trail
Peninsula Trail is a loop trail. Hikers start at the trail sign on the same side of Lodge Road as the small gravel pull-of on State Route 278 and end just across Lodge Road. Hikers follow a rugged dirt trail (marked as D on the map) along the shoreline and coves of Lake Hope. Along the way, Hope Furnace comes into view across Sandy Run before hikers turn and slowly work upwards in elevation to the top of a hill. A few signs show the trail map and the hiker’s location. There are no trail blazes.
The loop trail is approximately 3.1 miles long and begins near a gravel pull-off at the entrance to Lodge Road.
Hiking the Peninsula Trail at Lake Hope State Park
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Lake Hope State Park, about 7 minutes away, offers many hiking trails, including
- Buzzard Cave Trail – 0.5 mile – moderate
- Greenbriar Trail – 0.5 mile – moderate
- Peninsula Trail – 3 miles – moderate
- Furnace Trail – 3.2 miles – moderate; multi-use
- White Oak Trail – 0.25 mile – moderate/difficult
- Habron Hollow Trail – 1.5 miles – moderate/difficult; multi-use
- Olds Hollow Trail – 1.5 miles – moderate/difficult
- Tulip Trail – 1 mile – moderate/difficult
There are trails about 30 minutes away at Hocking Hills State Park:
- Ash Cave Gorge – 0.3 miles – Easy – Wheelchair Accessible
- Ash Cave Rim – 0.25 miles – Moderate
- Cantwell Cliffs – 0.2 miles – Difficult
- Cedar Falls – 1 mile – Moderate
- Old Man’s Cave – 1 mile – Moderate
- Rock House – 1 mile – Moderate
- Whispering Cave Trail 3.8 to 4.5 miles – Difficult.
- Buckeye Trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail)-Difficult
Moonville Rail Trail is about 7 minutes away. Night Hikes are offered seasonally.