By Petula Brown • Photos by Tim Pohlar
In my 20+ years writing for The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal, The Arc of Appalachia in southern Ohio stands out for the most extensive email I’ve received prior to arrival. Before leaving home, I understood their pet policy (none permitted), items to bring (food, toiletries, flashlight), potential connectivity challenges (“spotty” cell phone service within lodges), and safety considerations (back-country trails, poison ivy). With those insights, during the four-hour drive from Ann Arbor, my emotions oscillated between excitement and trepidation. I love exploring nature, but the trip was the first major test for my “slightly” arthritic knee.
Given its popularity (nearly sold out for the mid-March to mid-November 2026 season and taking reservations for 2027), I reasoned that The Arc’s approach for connecting visitors to the state’s Appalachian counties is sufficiently well received to warrant taking a calculated risk.
Soon after arriving in Bainbridge (between Dayton and Columbus), I had my first revelation–The Arc wasn’t a guesthouse or retreat facility per se: it was a conservation non-profit dedicated to preserving and restoring the wildscapes of the Appalachian region within southern Ohio, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.
Beginning in 1995, The Arc raised funds to acquire 3,000 acres in Ohio called the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. As the largest and oldest preserve within The Arc, it hosts numerous hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty. It’s also home to a visitor’s center that includes the Appalachian Forest Museum, whose murals illustrate the history and significance of the region and is the location for many educational events. In 1996, The Arc began generating revenue from paid guided hikes and memberships. After the pandemic in 2021, the Highlands opened and replaced membership dues and paid hikes with donor-based financial support.
As part of the purchase, The Arc also owns all the structures that reside on the property. While The Arc’s primary focus is land conservation, the organization recognized that the facilities could provide accommodations to visitors interested in multi-day experiences. They were renovated for overnight guest usage and became lodges that can accommodate two to twelve guests with a variety of amenities such as kitchens (or a kitchenette), full baths, and a deck.
The Highlands has a variety of impressive accommodations, but The Arc’s focus on land stewardship takes center stage. Properties like Beechcliff (donated in 1996), Ravenwood, and Barrett’s Millhouse are spacious respites for larger families and groups. As structures built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they maintain a historic ambiance with serene landscape views or proximity to hiking trails. In contrast, smaller two-person suites, Eyrie and Zen River Room, have awe-inspiring views of Rocky Fork Gorge, but their proximity to the deep gorge requires strict adherence to pedestrian paths and are only available for use by adult guests. Given the range of options and availability of meeting space at the visitor’s center, The Arc can offer a variety of educational programs as well as rental space for external organizations.
Whether visiting for the day, overnight, or attending a program during their mid-March to mid-November season, take heed of the pre-arrival communications before making your way to The Arc. While I did a quick skim of the material, I concede it was likely too quick a skim, since I overlooked the need for a flashlight (no streetlights in sight) and food (closest supermarket 20+ minutes away). I did manage to bring a mobile hotspot to have reliable internet access. Planning to partake in a hiking experience? Note that it’s not a jaunt in a city park. Preparations like packing all-weather gear, an understanding of one’s physical limits, and a willingness to embrace nature in all forms (muddy trails, insects, hilly terrain) helps day and overnight visitors have a positive experience with the land.
Since the Arc’s conservation efforts span three states, travelers looking for variety in hiking distance, terrain, and difficulty can find something that’s a good match. The Highlands area includes 14 trails across eight trailheads as well as three trails within the Miller State Nature Preserve. Two easier trails, Eagle’s Aerie and dog friendly Buttonbush, are half a mile each. The Ohio sanctuary hosts three additional dog friendly treks. Its longest trail, Barrier Ridge at the Forest Museum Trailhead, is three miles with a moderate/difficult rating which includes treks with substantive inclines/declines, vehicle traffic intersections, and spurs. Although the Highlands region has easier options, explorers should expect to traverse cliff country with mostly narrow or uneven trails regardless of difficulty rating. All visitors are advised to hike at your own risk, expected to follow nature preserve regulations, and have adult guardians accompany persons under 18 years old. While I was somewhat ambitious and familiar with preserves around Ann Arbor, I wisely consulted The Arc staff for options that have a variety of terrain amenable to persons less inclined to have an extreme experience.
Following the staff’s advice, I headed to Cliff Run Preserve for my hiking experience. A few miles north of The Highlands, a senior couple began their trek as I parked, so I felt confident I could manage the two-mile Cliff Run Trail into the Lewis Family Gorge. With my walking staff in hand and a water bottle in my back pocket, the trail began with narrow, single lane passageways. Visiting midweek, fewer fellow explorers allowed me to take frequent breaks to admire spring wildflowers shaded by towering trees. The calming visuals were accompanied by subtle sounds from nearby creeks, creating a meditative experience. Uneven terrain, steep inclines/declines, and wet creek crossings were the ideal venues to engage in mindfulness practices and tune out distractions. Elevated walkways, including a floating boardwalk across a beaver pond with nearby benches, and occasional signage were the only evidence of human intervention. As a protected nature preserve, maintaining nature landscapes is a key objective which precludes many activities including foraging, swimming, hunting, biking, and fishing.
The beauty and energy of Arc-managed sites make them popular destinations during spring and summer, but they’re also accessible through mid-autumn. During the fall, the Highlands Sanctuary continues to offer a variety of educational programs. 2026 options include a women’s walk, a fungi workshop, and youth programs. Whether visiting in the spring, summer, or fall, the Highlands offer a pristine setting to connect with nature. Interested in an overnight excursion? Make your 2027 reservations soon before they’re snapped up!
The Arc of Appalachia is located at 7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612. You can reach them by phone at (937) 365-1935 for lodging reservations or by email at arcpreserveinfo@gmail.com. Visit them online for more information at arcofappalachia.org.
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Soon after arriving in Bainbridge (between Dayton and Columbus), I had my first revelation–The Arc wasn’t a guesthouse or retreat facility per se: it was a conservation non-profit dedicated to preserving and restoring the wildscapes of the Appalachian region within southern Ohio, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.