Fort Hill: A Mysterious Spring Day Trip Through Southern Ohio
Ancient earthworks, wildflowers, hiking and
small-town Ohio make this an adventurous road trip
Story & Photos by Matt Bayman
There are plenty of places in Ohio where you can spend a spring day hiking through the woods. There are far fewer where you can hike around a 2,000-year-old Native American earthwork, walk among spectacular wildflowers and ponder mysteries that archaeologists still haven't completely solved.
That is what makes Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve near Hillsboro such an interesting spring destination.
Located about 85 miles from much of the Miami Valley, Fort Hill is a free public preserve that combines hiking, history, archaeology and some of the most beautiful spring wildflowers in southern Ohio. And because it can be combined with several other unusual stops along the way, it makes a great starting point for a day trip or weekend road trip.
The best time to visit may be April and May, when wildflowers carpet portions of the wooded hillsides.
It is tempting to wonder whether the Native Americans who built Fort Hill chose this location partly because of its beauty.
Almost certainly not.
But the setting is impressive.
Fort Hill is not actually a fort. It is a massive walled enclosure made of soil and stone that sits atop an isolated, flat-topped hill about 500 feet above Brush Creek in Highland County. The walls are roughly 6 to 10 feet high in places, the enclosure is more than 1 1/2 miles in circumference and it surrounds more than 35 acres.
The hill is naturally defensible, with steep slopes on most sides. From the top, there are expansive views of the surrounding countryside.
But the people who built Fort Hill were probably not trying to defend themselves from an invading army.
The earthwork was constructed by the Native American culture archaeologists call the Hopewell, which flourished in the Ohio Valley roughly 2,000 years ago. Hopewell people built enormous earthworks, ceremonial sites and geometric enclosures throughout what is now Ohio.
Archaeologists believe Fort Hill may have been used for religious ceremonies, astronomical observations or some combination of the two.
And that is where the mystery begins.
A trail follows the top of the earthwork's walls, providing one of the most unusual hikes in Ohio. Along the way, visitors encounter 33 openings, or "gateways," in the enclosure walls.
Nobody knows exactly why they were built.
Some theories suggest they may have supported wooden structures. Others propose they helped drain water from the summit. Some researchers have suggested that certain openings may have been positioned in relation to celestial objects or the movements of the sun and moon.
There is also a reflecting pond on the summit that was likely created by the Hopewell and may have been associated with ceremonial activities.
The questions surrounding Fort Hill are part of what makes walking its perimeter so fascinating. You're not simply hiking around an old mound. You're walking through a landscape created by people who left behind enormous structures but very few written clues explaining exactly what they were intended to do.
The summit would also have looked dramatically different 2,000 years ago.
Today, trees cover much of Fort Hill, but the Hopewell would have cleared the top of the hill. Although there was apparently no permanent settlement on the summit, a Hopewell village has been identified in the valley below.
On a clear day, it is even possible to see Serpent Mound in the distance.
That creates another intriguing possibility.
Some archaeologists have noted that the shape of Fort Hill resembles a turtle when viewed from above, raising the possibility that the enclosure may have had an effigy-like significance similar to Serpent Mound. However, this interpretation—like many of the proposed astronomical alignments at Fort Hill—remains a matter of debate.
You don't have to be an archaeology enthusiast to enjoy the preserve.
The hiking is the main attraction for many visitors, and the combination of steep terrain, woods, wildflowers and the enormous earthwork makes the experience feel more like an adventure than a typical nature walk.
There is also another, lesser-known Hopewell earthwork within the preserve. A mowed trail accessible from the Buckeye Trail leads into a field on the south side of the property, where visitors can see the remains of a circular earthwork.
For a spring visit, however, the wildflowers may be just as memorable as the archaeology.
Walking along the ancient walls while surrounded by blooming woodland plants, birds and the sounds of the forest provides a remarkable contrast to the scale of the earthwork itself. Fort Hill is considered one of the best-preserved ancient hilltop enclosures in Ohio, yet visitors are allowed to walk directly along its perimeter and experience it at their own pace.
Make It a Southern Ohio Road Trip
Fort Hill can easily be visited as a stand-alone destination, but it becomes even more interesting when incorporated into a larger road trip.
This route from the Miami Valley to Fort Hill can take you through some of the lesser-known corners of Ohio, with stops at covered bridges, state parks, small towns, historic courthouses, Amish country and streets lined with Victorian-era homes.
Along the way are six covered bridges in two counties, including one that crosses the boundary between the two counties.
The route also passes through communities with colorful murals, historic buildings and other roadside discoveries that are easy to miss when traveling on the major highways.
And after a day of hiking and exploring, the trip can eventually wind its way toward Yellow Springs, where there are enough restaurants, shops, trails and attractions to easily fill another afternoon.
One fitting way to end the trip is with homemade ice cream at Young's Jersey Dairy along U.S. 68.
The result is an inexpensive Ohio adventure that combines some of the state's most interesting ingredients: ancient history, hiking, wildflowers, back roads, small towns and plenty of places to stop and explore.
You can make it a long spring day trip, but spending two days gives you more time to slow down and enjoy the stops along the way.
Either way, Fort Hill is the kind of destination that rewards curiosity. You come for the hike and spring scenery (or any time of year!), but you leave wondering about the people who built the mysterious walls at the top of the hill—and why.
The Official Route & Directions
To Hillsboro
Start your trip by driving I-75 south to U.S. 35 east. In Xenia, relax onto U.S. 68 south toward Wilmington. Just before reaching Wilmington, take OH-73 south to Hillsboro and enjoy the peaceful countryside. Also, pass through the quaint village of New Vienna.
In Hillsboro, head east on OH-124.
Rocky Fork State Park & Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve
Continue east on OH-124 with a possible stop at Rocky Fork State Park. A 2,080-acre lake is the focal point the park. Hiking trails lead to a scenic gorge, dolomite caves and natural wetlands.
Back on OH-124, in the tiny village of Marshall (breakfast is available at the adorable Barnyard Café), continue east on OH-506. When you reach an even tinier village, Carmel, turn right (south) on OH-753. When this road dead-ends into OH-41, turn right (south) and then take the first right into Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve.
Amish Country, Paint Creek State Park & the Lynchburg Covered Bridge
From Fort Hill, return to OH-41 and turn left (north) toward U.S. 50.
This part of OH-41 is surrounded by Amish farms and beautiful scenery.
Next, turn left (west) on U.S. 50 and pass by Paint Creek State Park, which has 12 miles of mountain biking trails, plus more than 3 miles of hiking trails, and then continue on U.S. 50 through Hillsboro.
When you reach the small village of Allensburg, turn right (north) of OH-135 to reach Lynchburg. The road will dead-end into High Street. Turn left and the Lynchburg Covered Bridge is right around the corner.
This is the only covered bridge in Ohio that connects two counties, which are Highland and Clinton.
Martinsville & Engle Mill Road Covered Bridges & A Beautiful Mural
From the Lynchburg Covered Bridge, return back the way you came and turn left (north) on OH-134 toward Martinsville.
From OH-134, turn left (west) on OH-28/Main Street and then right (north) on OH-104/Gibson Road. The Martinsville Covered Bridge is located just outside of town on Gibson Road.
After viewing the bridge, continue north on Gibson Road until it dead-ends into OH-350. Turn right (east) on OH-350 and then take the first left (north) OH-134, which will take you to U.S. 68 in Wilmington. Watch for barn quilts and paintings.
Turn right (north) on U.S. 68 and look for the huge mural painting in downtown Wilmington. The downtown offers many other attractions as well, including shopping and dining.
Continue north on U.S. 68 for about 9 miles, then turn left (east) on Spring Valley Paintersville Road. After about 3 miles, turn left (south) on Engle Mill Road. The Engle Mill Road Covered Bridge, built in 1877 is just around the curve. This is one of two covered bridges featured on this trip that was built by a company from Tippecanoe City, later named to Tipp City. Signage at both bridges provides detailed information about the structures and their link to Tipp City.
3 More Covered Bridges, Yellow Springs & Ice Cream
After visiting the bridge, return back to Spring Valley Paintersville Road and turn left (west). In less than 2 miles, turn right (north) on OH-380 to the center of downtown Xenia.
In downtown Xenia, take a right (east) on Main Street. In four blocks, turn left on OH-42. In less than 2 miles, turn left (north) on Stevenson Road. The road will lead directly to Stevenson Road Covered Bridge.
From the bridge, head southeast on Jones Road until it dead-ends into Wilberforce-Clifton Road. Turn left (north) and then immediately turn right on Charleton Mill Road. The Charleton Mill Covered Bridge is located shortly after.
From here, return to Wilberforce-Clifton Road and turn right (north). In 2 miles, turn left (north) on Grinnell Road. Just before reaching the Glen Helen Covered Bridge, look for the Grinnell Mill Bed & Breakfast, located next to the Little Miami River.
Finally, continue north on Grinnell Road until it dead-ends into Cory St. in downtown Yellow Springs. On your way out of town, stop for ice cream at Young’s Jersey Dairy.
