Highland County: Fort Hill, Hopewell Heritage and Nature

Highland County can be explored through a wide range of nature and history. Fort Hill is known for a Hopewell earthwork and hiking trails; Paint Creek Lake combines a diverse fish population with a landscape between the glaciated plain and the Appalachian Plateau. There are also historic places, a theater and a market featuring regional products.

Fort Hill: Earthwork and Trails

The Hopewell earthwork at Fort Hill is a hilltop enclosure surrounded by stone and earthen walls. Its circumference is 1.5 miles; the site includes 33 openings and a large inner ditch.

Fort Hill also includes 1,300 acres of mature forest with rare or endangered wildflowers, numerous mushroom species and a wide variety of tree species. The trail network there covers 11 miles; there is also a picnic area and restrooms. One specifically measured loop is the Fort Trail in Fort Hill Nature Preserve: It is 2.3 miles long and is near Hillsboro. When planning a hike, you can distinguish between the figure for the trail network and the length of this individual loop.

Forests, Water and Recreation

The Highlands Nature Sanctuary is a 3,000-acre protected area in Highland County, Ohio. At Paint Creek State Park, hiking trails wind through mature forests and open meadows. The park also has well-marked and maintained bridle trails, as well as a horse camp for visitors who enjoy riding.

The fish population at Paint Creek Lake ranges from white and black crappie to sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, suckers, darters, channel catfish and saugeye. The landscape lies between the glaciated plain and the Appalachian Plateau; the area also has prehistoric indigenous settlements and earthworks. If you plan to fish, check the applicable regulations and conditions in advance.

The marina at Paint Creek Lake offers snacks, boat slips, boat rentals, fuel and fishing supplies. Since the availability of these services may change, it is a good idea to confirm any service you need before your visit. In a downstream recreation area of Paint Creek, two tiered concrete access points were built in 2013: They provide paddlers with safe access to Paint Creek and make it easier for anglers to reach the shore.

Rocky Fork State Park maintains six free boat ramps for public use. Its lake covers 2,080 acres; species stocked there include bass, catfish and sunfish. Another striking landscape feature is Rocky Fork Gorge, a 100-foot-high, steep-sided dolomite canyon with striking rock formations, ancient white cedars, grottoes, springs and stone arches.

History and Culture

At Seip Earthworks, visitors can see the restored central mound and a reconstructed section of the original large circle. Information panels and educational trails guide visitors on a self-guided tour at their own pace. In Lynchburg, Ohio, the historic wooden Lynchburg Covered Bridge spans the eastern arm of the Little Miami River and connects Highland County with Clinton County.

Hillsboro is home to the 1834 Greek Revival courthouse. Hillsboro is the county seat and largest community in Highland County; the courthouse is Ohio’s oldest courthouse still in continuous operation. Also in Hillsboro, the Highland County Historical Society Museum is dedicated to preserving, sharing and promoting the history and genealogy of the county.

Vendors at the Hillsboro Farmers Market sell homemade jams, locally produced honey, handmade goods and fresh meat products. The nonprofit Paxton Theatre is family-friendly; its offerings include live music, children’s theater, comedy shows and karaoke nights. Check specific event dates before your visit.

Travel Interests and Choosing a Hotel

When planning a stay in Highland County, you can first decide whether nature trails and earthworks, water activities, or history and culture should be the focus. The two figures for Fort Hill also answer different hiking questions: The 11 miles refer to the trail network, while the Fort Trail is a loop with its own length of 2.3 miles. These specific interests provide a helpful basis for choosing a hotel for your trip to Highland County.

Discover more destinations: Hillsboro, Holmes County, Clark, Morgan County, Belmont County, Hocking County, Monroe, Harrison County

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.