Looking for some great hikes in Ohio, I came across the opportunity to hike Fort Hill in Highland County. With over 1300 acres, many believe that Fort Hill has some of the best hiking in the state and I would add that the scenic drive to Fort Hill is spectacular as well.
Similar to Fort Ancient, the Hopewell Indians built a stone and earthen wall enclosure at the top of the hill. Accessible only by hiking, the ancient earthwork covers over 40 acres. Resembling a fort his how it received its name. For this trip, I decided to hike the 4.1 mile Gorge Trail.
The preserve features 11 miles of hiking trails and is included in a portion of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail. Owned by the Ohio Historical Society and operated by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, it was a significantly spiritual place to the Hopewell Indians. A second Hopewell structure on the south side of the park is known as the Circle Earthwork.
The earthwork measures one and a half a mile by the Hopewell tribe that lived between 100BC – 500AD. It is thought that this location included a small village in the Brush Creek Valley as well as two ceremonial buildings.
Researchers believe that the earthwork was built for ceremonial purposes but the walls vary from six to fifteen feet, Could it possibly be some type of fortification? The trail winds along Brush Creek where the pathway is clear and well marked. It travels up then down from the gorge and reaching the rim throughout the hike.
At one point the the trail passes through a log cabin.
From the base of the gorge to its rim, we had beautiful views of the creek and the valley. In 1856, Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis excavated the area, writing about it in their book, Ancient Monuments of the Missisippi Valley. Fort Hill was named a National Natural Landmark in 1974.
It was a beautiful day exploring Fort Hill and I wondered how it would have looked during the time of the Hopewell Indians.
Have you visited Fort Hill State Memorial? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my visit to Fort Hill and wishing you many Happy Travels.
What to See and What to Do:
Fort Hill Earthworks and Nature Preserve
13614 Fort Hill Road
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Telephone: +800 283 8905
- Admission Fee: There is no admission fee.
- Hours: The park is open each day from 8:30AM to 9PM
- Scenic View: The valleys and hills of the Appalachians, bird watching, Indian mounds, the gorge.
- Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
- Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable shoes for hiking. Enjoye the sandstone outcroppings, the hike along the creek and views of the gorge.
Where to Stay:
Coyote Creek Farm
8871 OH-124
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Telephone: +937 393 5166
Stay in this beautiful bed and breakfast cabin surrounded by nature.
Where to Eat:
62 Classics’ Diner LLC
1581 N. High Street 9495
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Telephone: +937 661 6113
Known to have the best burgers in town.
What to Read:
- Ancient Monuments of the Missisippi Valley, by Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis
