Discover Hillsboro

When looking for a hotel in Hillsboro, you can plan your trip around the destination’s different themes. Natural areas and hiking trails offer a different focus from archaeological heritage, regional history, and activities in parks. These places and themes can help you decide which aspects of your stay matter most before you book.

Getting Here and Getting Around

Six major highways lead to downtown Hillsboro: US 50, US 62, SR 73, SR 138, SR 247, and SR 124. Downtown is the common reference point for these road connections when planning your arrival.

Nature, Trails, and Archaeological Heritage

Fort Hill State Memorial covers 1,300 acres. Its mature forests are home to rare or endangered wildflowers, and the area also has 11 miles of hiking trails. For travelers interested in plants and hiking, Fort Hill brings together two fitting themes: woodland and wildflower habitats, and a trail network with a specific total length.

The Fort Hill Hopewell earthwork has 33 gateways. The museum at Fort Hill features exhibits on the region’s geology and archaeology. This brings together an archaeological feature and a broader look at geology and archaeology: the gateways define the earthwork, while the museum explores these regional subjects through its exhibits.

Highlands Nature Sanctuary covers 3,000 acres, with Rocky Fork Gorge at the heart of the sanctuary. Compared with Fort Hill’s 1,300 acres, the sanctuary covers a larger area.

The hiking trails also offer different options. Fort Hill has an 11-mile trail network; at the sanctuary, you can compare two individual loop trails by length and landscape. Barrett’s Rim Trail is a 2.5-mile loop that follows Rocky Fork Creek at the base of a sheer cliff. Barrier Ridge Trail is 3.0 miles long and passes through a remote, densely wooded area. The two loops differ by half a mile and also by the terrain described: a creek and cliffside on one trail, and secluded woodland on the other.

History and Activities in Hillsboro

The Highland County Historical Society Museum in Hillsboro is dedicated to preserving, sharing, and promoting the history and genealogy of Highland County. Its focus differs from that of the museum at Fort Hill: county history and family research are at the heart of this museum, while the Fort Hill museum focuses on the region’s geology and archaeology. Depending on your interests, you can choose between an archaeological and geological perspective and a county-history perspective.

At Liberty Park in Hillsboro, you can play disc golf; hiking is available at Rocky Fork State Park in Hillsboro. These are two different activities to choose from. Check before your visit whether each activity is currently available.

For an overview of the wider area: Highland County.