Ohio Historical Society and the Arc of Appalachia
In 2009, the non-profit Arc of Appalachia Preserve System was honored to begin serving as the on-site manager for Fort Hill and nearby Serpent Mound in partnership with its long term and current owners, the Ohio Historical Society. The 1200-acre park was first established in 1932. Currently, it is one of 58 state memorials administered by the Ohio Historical Society, and one of thirteen preserves managed by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System.
 

The park is open every day throughout the year during daylight hours. The hiking trails at Fort Hill are open to the public all year round, except during the annual deer hunts which usually take place in November and December.*  The park may also be closed in the winter when ice and snow make the hiking trails unsafe or parking difficult. If uncertain about winter access, please call ahead at 937-588-3221.

The Museum at Fort Hill is open weekends from May through October, from 10am-5pm.

Cost

There are no parking fees nor entrance fees to visit Fort Hill nor its Museum. Donations to the non-profit Arc of Appalachia Preserve System help keep Fort Hill open to the public without admission fees.  Such gifts are fully tax deductible and are greatly appreciated.

Fort Hill's Earthworks

Fort Hill earthwork is an ancient earthen-walled enclosure constructed on top of a large flat-topped ridge. The earthen-stone wall has a circumference over one and a half miles, its span interrupted with with thirty three gateways. The wall itself ranges from 6 to 15 feet in height, averages 30 feet wide at its base, and encloses forty eight acres. It was built to follow the natural contour of the rim of the hill, and is bordered on the inside wall by a substantial ditch. It is conjectured that Fort Hill was most likely not a fort at all, but a ceremonial gathering space. Archaeological evidence suggests that the earthwork was built approximately 2000 years ago by people belonging to what is often referred to as the Hopewell Culture, an epithet derived from the surname of the European owner of an early excavation site in Chillicothe, Ohio. What name these Native Americans called themselves, and in what language they spoke, has unfortunately been lost to the mists of time. The Hopewell Culture is associated with nearly a dozen mysterious hilltop enclosures in southern Ohio.

The Hopewell Culture is actually best known -- not for its hilltop earthworks-- but for immense geometric earthwork complexes built upon Ohio's floodplains in the shape of precise circles, squares and octagons. Often these enclosures encircled a number of burial and ceremonial mounds. Over two dozen major geometrical floodplain complexes were documented by early archaeologists in central and southern Ohio -- and, enigmatically,  no where else in the Hopewell Culture region of North America. Tragically, none of the complexes are fully intact today. Much of the Hopewell Culture's grand earthen architecture was built on rich floodplains destined to become Ohio's most productive farm fields. Consequently most of the complexes have been flatted by the plow and now lie under fields of soybeans and corn. Other complexes were dozed and covered by the foundations of several of Ohio's early founding cities, including Circleville, Portsmouth, and Chillicothe.

The creative artifacts and earthworks of the Hopewell Culture are considered by many archaeologists to exemplify the highest fluorescence of Native American art on the continent, and the inspired expression of one of the largest, most influential cultures ever to exist in temperate North America. Judging from the wealth of recovered art, the watersheds of Paint Creek and the Scioto River (a few miles north and east of Fort Hill) appear to have been the cultural epicenter for the far-flung Hopewell Culture. It was in this region that most of the nearly two dozen large geometric earthwork complexes that were engineered by the Hopewell Culture were located.
 

1200-acre Natural Area
Fort Hill is protected as much for its outstanding natural features as its archaeological ones. Fort Hill preserves one of the largest and oldest examples of native forest to be found in southern Ohio. Although the woodlands  is not technically  old-growth, scattered through Fort Hill are islands of fully mature forest, as well as giant specimens of individual trees (especially on the Fort wall), and an exceptionally  tall canopy of oaks, tulip poplar, hickories, and ash. Under the shelter of this undisturbed forest lies one of Ohio's most beautiful flower displays, beginning with snow trilliums in late March, rising to spring's fullest crescendo in mid to late April when the Trillium grandiflorum and its many associates bloom, and ending the floral show in early May.
 

 The water course of Baker's Fork threads through the heart of the preserve and is extremely scenic. The dolomite bedrock forms attractive small cliffs and occasional rock arches and natural bridges along Bakers Fork.

A Fine System of Back-country Hiking Trails

A total of eleven miles of hiking trails exist at Fort Hill, offering some of the best hiking in the entire state of Ohio. Because of the relatively long length of the preserve's three trails, they are best suited for hiking enthusiasts. The 2.2 mile Fort Trail ascends Fort Hill from base to ridge (a tough steep climb for those of us who spend most of our time at a desk!), enters the enclosure through one of the  ancient gateways, and follows the wall of the earthwork for a considerable distance, eventually looping back to the parking lot. It is important to mention that the earthwork enclosure is not always immediately noticeable to hikers. Built two thousand years ago, and covered for centuries with trees and falling leaves, only a geologist or a history-buff would quickly notice the man-made qualities of the landscape. Prepare to have a discerning eye.  The 4.2 mile Gorge Trail follows the beautiful rockscapes that border Bakers Fork. On the eastern side of this loop trail in winter, look for the impressive views of the hilltop enclosure walls and gateways above.  The western portion of the 6.5 mile Deer Trail is temporarily closed due to serious trail washouts. The eastern portion of the Deer Trail gives hikers access to  the Gorge Trail with less change of elevation than by following the Gorge trail in its entirety. Trail maps are posted on site.

Hikers, please note backcountry trail conditions. It is wise to dedicate approximately one hour per mile in order to leisurely and safely enjoy Fort Hill's backcountry trails. The trails are generally primitive in nature, being  narrow, uneven, and traversing rolling hill country that can sometimes approach steep. Hikers should be in moderate to good condition. After a rain or in the spring after winter snow melt, the paths can be muddy, so please be prepared with proper foot gear.

Protected natural area. Fort Hill is a protected natural area. Regulations require that hikers remain on the trails, and avoid harvesting or disturbing plant and animal life. Fishing is not permitted. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash at all times.

Fort Hill Museum

Picnicking and Picnic Shelter Rental

Picnicking is a very popular and historic activity at Fort Hill, and the park offers some of the most beautiful picnic grounds in the state. The grounds are shaded by tall trees and  dissected with a small meandering stream.  The handsome picnic shelter was built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps out of native rock and wormy chestnut.  Primitive pit latrines are available. Because the primitive old hand pump and spring-fed well is now considered to be possibly unsafe water, there is currently no running water at Fort Hill. Picnickers should plan ahead to bring their own.

Fort Hill's picnic shelter can be reserved for a fee of $40 per day. For reservations, please call ahead at the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System's main office at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary: 937-365-1935.

Living roofs are now "in!"  They are the latest environmental fashion trend in modern high rise buildings of Europe, Canada and the U.S. for the purposes of increasing aesthetics and reducing carbon footprint and utility bills. But Fort Hill's shelter house went eco-friendly years before living roofs became popular.  It's wooden shingles have been quietly "going green" ever since the picnic shelter was constructed by the CCC back in the 30's. Although still resisting water, the shingles have become a living nursery for over a dozen species of mosses and lichens. This natural garden planted by mother nature, herself, helps the Shelter house blend naturally into its forest environment and assists in keeping the shelter cool on even the hottest days.

Lodging
The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System offers outstanding lodging facilities for individuals and groups within the Arc's headquarters at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, a thirty-five minute drive north from Serpent Mound. The Arc offers cabins overlooking the Rocky Fork Gorge and group lodging in historic buildings. Click here for more information.

Interested in Visiting Other Native American Sites in Ohio?

The best preserved geometrical earthwork remnants of the Hopewell Culture is located at Newark Earthworks near Granville, east of Columbus. A fully reconstructed enclosure and mound system known as Mound City earthworks can be found at  Hopewell Culture National Historical Park just north of Chillicothe. The earthworks complex and an interpretive museum at Mound City is operated by the National Park Service. In addition to Fort Hill, another hilltop enclosure is preserved at Fort Ancient, located near present-day Lebanon. This is a particularly well-preserved and large-walled earthwork complex built by the Hopewell Culture, but inhabited later by the Fort Ancient Culture. Museum displays are part of the public offering. 

Seip Mound, a few miles west of Chillicothe, features an impressively large mound, a remnant of what was once part of a large Hopewell Culture earthworks complex in scenic Paint Valley. Sunwatch Village is a re-created Native American Village in Dayton, representing the later Fort Ancient Culture.

Serpent Mound. The internationally renowned earthworks of Serpent Mound lies only 15 minutes away from Fort Hill. Although no one knows for certain who originally engineered the Serpent Mound earthworks, the strongest evidence to date suggests this impressive effigy mound was built by the Fort Ancient Culture. However, neither the Adena nor the later Hopewell Culture have been conclusively ruled out by the relatively scant archaeological evidence. Regardless of the identity of the original architects, most likely Serpent Mound was a sacred ceremonial site serving many tribes over successive cultural eras, possibly in active use (if you include modern day) for as long as three thousand years. The earthworks at Serpent Mound is more easily accessible and visually discernable than the earthworks at Fort Hill, so including both sites on a day trip is recommended. Serpent Mound is operated by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System on behalf of the Ohio Historical Society, and includes an interpretive museum.

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