Sat, Dec 20 · 9:30 AM EST
Let's hike about 5.5 easy miles at Salt Fork State park exploring all the popular trails. We will take a break in the middle of hiking and eat the lunches or snacks we bring at the lodge and explore the gift shop while we are there. After that we will head to Cambridge to explore the Dickens Victorian Village, have dinner and see the Courthouse light show after dinner. The details follow below.
9:45–10:30 AM (45 min) — 0.3 miles, Easy forest / rock-cave trail. Good for warming up and checking out natural features.Drive to Stone House parking: ~5 min (10:30–10:35 AM)
### 2. Stone House Loop
10:35–11:20 AM (45 min) — 1.8 miles, Loop trail around lake/wooded area; includes historic stone-house area.Drive to Lodge: ~7 min (11:20–11:27 AM)
### 3. Lunch + Gift Shop at Lodge
11:27–11:57 AM — Lunch at Salt Fork Lodge (relaxed, convenient)11:57 AM–12:17 PM — Lodge Gift Shop: nice place to browse mementos or grab a snack
### 4. Morgan’s Knob Hike
Drive to trailhead: ~8 min (12:17–12:25 PM)12:25–1:10 PM (45 min) — 1.4-mile loop hike, gentle woods & ridge, moderately easy hike.
### 5. Gunn’s (Gunn’s Glenn) Loop Hike
Drive to trailhead: ~5 min (1:10–1:15 PM)1:15–2:15 PM (60 min) — 1.8 Miles, Final hike for the day
## Afternoon — Drive to Cambridge + Dickens Welcome Center
2:15–2:35 PM — Drive from Salt Fork to Cambridge, OHArrive Downtown Cambridge (~2:35 PM)
### Welcome Center for Dickens Victorian Village
Location: 708 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge, OHHours: Sat 10 AM–7 PM.What’s there: Volunteers in period costume to greet you and help with info/maps.
“Imagination Station” — you can dress up in Victorian-era outfits and take fun photos.
“Curiosity Shoppe” — shop for souvenirs, ornaments, holiday gifts, local handmade items.
Brochures and maps of the village displays and schedule of events (trolley, carriage rides, teas, etc.)
Parking: Downtown Cambridge offers free parking — all street parking and public lots are free & open during the Dickens Village season.
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3:00–4:30 PM — Walk through the village’s Victorian-era displays (holiday scenes, mannequins, window displays, street/lamp-post scenes) along historic Wheeling Avenue. Over 90-plus scenes and ~180 lifelike figures, set among historic 1800s buildings and décor.
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Theo’s Restaurant — classic comfort food (soups, sandwiches, pasta) and famous for their mile-high pies (chocolate cream, lemon meringue, peanut butter, etc.). Friendly local vibe, great for a hearty dinner after walking.Francis Family Restaurant — diner-style comfort meals, breakfast-all-day vibe, generous portions.Guernsey Kitchen — cozy historic-building eatery offering soups, sandwiches, comfort plates — relaxed and comfortable dinner spot.
## Evening — Courthouse Holiday Lights Show
5:45 PM onward — Head to the historic courthouse for the holiday light show. The annual display features thousands of lights, synchronized to Christmas music, decorating the courthouse and downtown — a festive and magical way to end the night.Tip: Bring a folding chair or blanket if you want to sit and enjoy the show in comfort, especially if you're with a group
https://visitguernseycounty.com/things-to-do/guernsey-county-courthouse-light-show
Dress in warm layers (especially for evening — downtown Cambridge gets chilly in winter).
Wear good walking/hiking shoes for the park hikes and walking downtown.
For Dickens Village: if you plan to use the Imagination Station (dress-up photo) or shop the Curiosity Shoppe, bring a few extra dollars for souvenirs.
Trail list links:
