Directions
to Cave Canyon (previously 7 Caves)
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary

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. We recommend our directions over mapquest or other online programs, because we give helpful landmarks and sometimes on-line systems are flawed. However, if you wish to get alternative directions on-line, Cave Canyon's address is 7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612.

For a highway map of area        VISUAL ROAD MAP (JPG FILE)

From the North or East with a shortcut around 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 23 south 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. Chillicothe ByPass. 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 the far side of an intersection. Turn right here. Follow this road a short distance through the penitentiary lands to a three way intersection at a stop sign. There will be public schools on both sides of you. Turn right on Pleasant Valley Road. Follow Pleasant Valley for several miles. It will turn into Veteran's Highway. Continue on until it dead-ends on Route 50 at a light. 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 the Dairy Queen). Watch for our signs. Cave Rd is the first left turn after you pass Rapid Forge RD on your right . (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.| Once you turn down Cave Road off of Route 50, Cave Canyon's gatehouse and The Appalachian Forest Museum will be on your right one mile down the road. 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.

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). Once you turn down Cave Road off of Route 50, Cave Canyon's gatehouse and The Appalachian Forest Museum will be on your right one mile down the road. 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.

From the South through Peebles on Route 41: (From Peebles to Cave Road  is approximately 35 minutes.)
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 and Brier Hill Roads 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. Cave Canyon's gatehouse and The Appalachian Forest Museum will be on your left 2.5 miles down Cave Road. For information on open hours, please click here. Out of respect to the protection of the preserve, and our small number of staff and volunteers -- please --- do not visit at other times.  If you cross over the Rocky Fork on Barrett's Mill Road you went too far.

For directions to other locations in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary click here.