Discover Ross County

When planning your trip, it helps to consider whether you are most interested in archaeological earthworks, cultural history, or nature trails. These themes offer different points of interest, from construction styles and historical interpretations to specific trail destinations and landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide which aspect matters most to you.

Hopewell Earthworks and Their History

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks served as ceremonial centers. They were built by groups who lived in dispersed settlements and were not organized hierarchically. The Mound City Group is the only restored Hopewell earthwork. It comprises 23 mounds of different sizes and shapes, surrounded by an earthen wall about three feet high. This combination makes it possible to understand the site as a designed whole, rather than focusing only on individual mounds.

At the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park visitor center, a 19-minute orientation film explains the background; the park is in Chillicothe, Ohio. The official opening hours for the Mound City Group visitor center, most recently updated on May 14, 2025, are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Check the hours before your visit.

The individual earthworks also offer different points of interest. The Hopeton Earthworks once included a series of monumental wooden posts forming a gigantic Woodhenge. The site is open to visitors during daylight hours; a 1.1-mile loop trail leads to an overlook. The Hopewell Mound Group covered about 130 acres and included 29 burial mounds. It is the type site of the Hopewell culture, and the paved Tri-County Triangle Trail runs through the site.

At the Seip Earthworks, visitors can see the restored central mound and a reconstructed section of the original large circle. A maintained, relatively flat nature trail leads from the parking lot to the reconstructed mound. The destinations therefore differ: at Hopeton, the loop trail ends at an overlook, while at Seip, the trail leads to a reconstructed earthwork.

The High Bank Works cover 197 acres on a terrace above the Scioto River. Their walls and gateways are believed to align with the 18.6-year lunar standstill cycle; the earthworks also appear to mark the four solar events.

Trails and Natural Areas

More than 1,500 acres are preserved at Buzzard’s Roost, which has more than seven miles of wooded hiking trails. The Lookout Trail offers views of sandstone and shale layers descending into Paint Creek Gorge. The Hoggard Trail passes the Hoggard Family Cemetery, as well as remnants and other traces of early settlement. The trails thus combine scenic views with historical traces, though they do not offer the same route or focus.

Other nature destinations showcase different types of landscapes. The Sycamore Trail at Herron-Downs Fen offers views of lowland areas and an opportunity to see the landscape where wetlands are being restored. Kinnikinnick Fen is a 154-acre alkaline wetland with several endangered plant species and some animal species considered threatened in Ohio. Maple Grove Prairie covers 99 acres of former farmland that has been transformed into a landscape of native grasses and wildflowers.

For those who want to compare cycling and hiking trails, the Paint Creek Recreational Trail is a paved, 32-mile trail between Chillicothe and Washington Court House. It is intended for cycling and hiking. By contrast, Buzzard’s Roost is described as having wooded hiking trails and individual overlooks; the information about the Paint Creek Trail focuses mainly on its length, surface, uses, and endpoints.

The Den at Buzzard’s Roost offers interactive features and a terrace for relaxing in nature. It opened to the public on May 15, 2026; visitor access may be restricted.

History, Gardens, and Culture

The exhibits at the Ross County Heritage Center cover a broad range of topics: the Northwest Territory, the formation of the state of Ohio, prehistoric cultures of the Scioto River Valley, the Civil War and Camp Sherman, as well as decorative arts, vehicles, and transportation. The tour includes the Knoles Log House. Specific accessibility features are also noted for planning your visit: all public areas are accessible, and ADA-compliant off-street parking is available for cars and buses.

Adena Mansion & Gardens is a National Historic Landmark; construction was completed in 1807. Visitors can explore the gardens, grounds, outbuildings, and the education and visitor center. The renovated grounds include three terraces with flowers and vegetables, an orchard, grapevines, and a grove of trees. The gardens bring together several landscaped areas, while the historic buildings and outbuildings provide another focus for a visit.

The outdoor drama TECUMSEH! tells the life story of a legendary Shawnee leader who fights to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio Country of the late 18th century. The production features the expansive outdoor stage of the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, galloping horses, and a live military cannon. Since its premiere in 1973, more than 2.5 million people have attended the outdoor drama.

The First Capital Holographic Zoo opened on September 5, 2026. Its immersive, interactive attraction combines technology, entertainment, and education, encouraging guests to move around, explore their surroundings, respond to them, and engage with them. The program is subject to change.

Discover more destinations: Londonderry, Chillicothe, Lucas County, Logan, Hancock, Shelby County, Delaware County, Tuscarawas.

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.