11615 16th Rd SW
Stoutsville, OH  43154 | MAP

Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

WPA Pedestrian Bridge

28+ acres in Clearcreek Township in the southwest part of the county.

The site was acquired 1994 by transfer from Ohio History Connection.

Some of the activities you can enjoy at this park are viewing Cross Mound and the WPA Pedestrian Bridge, birding and nature watching, photography, hiking or walking, dog walking, playing in the mown grassy areas, picnicking.

Cross Mound

Just west of Salt Creek is a unique, ancient earthwork.  Very little is known about who constructed it or its purpose.

It is in the shape of a plus sign, or cross, has four identical arms each about 12′ wide, 3′ high and 45′ long.  In the middle of the cross is a circular-shaped depression that is 20′ in diameter and about 12″ deep.  That depression may have been deeper at one time but has filled in over time.  The orientation of the arms nearly aligns with the cardinal points of north, south, east, west.  There are small stone mounds near the cross.

Read more about the stone mounds and Cross Mound.

WPA Pedestrian Bridge

A stunning feature of this park is the picturesque WPA Pedestrian Bridge.  It was built in 1936 through the Works Projects Administration (WPA).  It is the only WPA project remaining in Fairfield County.

It is a suspension-type bridge with steel cables.  Because it sits over Salt Creek it has also been called Salt Creek Bridge.  A restoration was completed in 2017 and the bridge reopened for foot traffic.

Read more about WPA Pedestrian Bridge.

Salt Creek

Salt Creek

Salt Creek is a tributary of Scioto River.

This trail is approximately 0.5 mile long.

After crossing Salt Creek by the WPA Pedestrian Bridge, the path crosses a small foot bridge and begins a slightly steep incline to Cross Mound then around its southern arm.

Cross Mound Trail

After circling part of the mound, you will find the one of the small stone mounds on the left. The trail then follows a ridge for a short distance, curves to the left and begins the descent, looping back to the entrance of the bridge. The view into the ravine in the middle of the loop is stunning and visitors will often see wildlife there such as white-tailed deer.

The trail is natural, unpaved, and there are parts that can get muddy or slippery. It may be considered a moderate to difficult walk.

Cross Mound Picnic Shelter

Reservations:  Available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rental Fee:  N/A
Security Deposit:  N/A

Electricity:  No
Bathrooms:  No

Description:  This shelter has four 14′ picnic tables and will seat approximately 28-32 people.  There is no paved path from the parking lot.  It is not possible to drive to the facility to unload and load but the parking lot is very close to the shelter so there should be no problem.

There is one additional picnic table at this location. There are also three benches near Salt Creek.

There is a paved parking lot with approximately 26 parking spaces.