Lake Hope is located in Vinton County, Ohio; about 68 miles southeast of Columbus. Per their website this state park is home to abandoned mines, ancient mounds, and step gorges. There are a variety of trails you can pick from, but I chose trail #7 from AllTrails – Hope Furnace Trail to Yosemite Falls Trail. This is a 6.5-mile dirt trail loop through the woods.

The trail starts at the old Hope Iron Furnace, which was operational between 1854 and 1874. The trail head is just to the left of the Furnace; and there is signage, so it is easy to find. And best of all, there is a bathroom!

I picked a cold snowy morning for this hike and the place was quiet when I arrived. There were some footprints at the start of the trail; but I was the first one to venture beyond, onto the Yosemite trail, since the last snow. The further out I got the trail was completely obscured by the snow and I relied heavily on my AllTrails app to keep me on the right path.

This part of Ohio is known for its cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, and rock shelters. And you get to see some of them on this trail.

While I did not see any other human footprints, there were plenty of dog tracks! I assume these were left by coyotes, or wild dogs since there were no human companion prints beside them. More than once, I mistook the dog paths for the trail; and had to correct my course when AllTrails vibrated my watch to let me know I was going the wrong way. I hate to criticize the native dog population, but they seemed to have no regard for staying on the proper path!

There is some great elevation on this trail; so if you are looking for a workout, this is a good one. And the tromping through the snow added some extra resistance training.  There was a little bit of rock negotiation as well, but in all fairness, I could have been off trail at this point. It is hard to tell.

I also had to cross a stream, which was not too bad since it was mostly dried up and frozen over. But this would be a little more challenging to cross in the summer when the stream is full and flowing. You will definitely get your feet wet.

The back end of the trail has a lot of switch backs. It was at this point when I realized the dog’s trail was much more expeditious than the human trail. So, I decided to follow the dogs instead. Did I cut off a few of the trail’s switch back loops? Yes, I did. Do I feel bad about it? No, I do not. My apologies to the hiking purists, but I picked the path that brought me the most pleasure in the moment and I have no regrets.

One more note, I did come across a mound at the top of the ridge. It looked like it could have been an old Indian burial mound, but there were no indicators. But I am betting it is.

I am not going to lie I was a little tired by the time I made it back to my car. Between the hills, the snow, and the back tracking due to the obscured trail, I had a good workout. I deserved a warm-up and a hot meal; so I headed to the Lake Hope Lodge.

I was excited to see they had potato skins and BBQ on the menu (you might be seeing a trend here, as this is what I had after last weekend’s hike). The Lodge is a pleasant wood and stone structure and was not too crowded this Saturday afternoon.  So I ordered a mug of hot tea and enjoyed my meal.

I took a spin through the gift shop on my way out and bought a sticker for my journal and a diet Pepsi for the road. Next I was off to a spooky adventure, to the Moonville Tunnel. 

I actually I grew up in this area, so I am well aware of Moonville’s spooky lore. At one time a rail line ran through this tunnel. The story goes that the tunnel is haunted by a railman who had an unfortunate collision with a train. The train won. It is said you can still see him waving his lantern in the dark inside the tunnel. Back in the day you had to hike through the woods and jump over a stream to reach the tunnel. But these days, there is a lovely parking lot and a nice bridge to take you right there!

Apparently, it is now a hot spot for ghost hunters and spooky thrill seekers! In addition, the brick structure is quite beautiful, which is an added bonus.

Honestly though Moonville still creeps me out a little. I was happy to find other visitors there when I arrived (how many were real people and how many were ghosts, I will never know!). But I am glad I did not have to explore it on my own.

In the end I braved my fears and got to chat with a few tourists. All and all this was a full day, and I enjoyed it immensely! 

Here is my itinerary for the day:

If you decide to take this trip for yourself, please share your experiences. I look forward to hearing from you!

On the day of this hike, it was cold, wet, and foggy; very foggy. So, I picked a trip that I had in my back pocket for a while. The benefit of this adventure was that I got to see several different sites in one trip and the hikes were short (this last part was good because the weather was not cooperating).

Ohio is home to many Native American burial grounds and earthworks. I asked AI what the difference is between the two and here is what it spit out. “A burial mound is a single mound used for burial, while earthworks can encompass a complex of mounds, walls, and other earthen features across a large area.”

I have known the existence of these wonderful creations, but I never took the time to explore them. Then I found the one on Columbus’ west side (see my earlier post on the Shrum Mound) and my interest was really piqued.  I decided to see the Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio, and the Hopewell Mounds in Chillicothe, since they were in the same direction from Columbus, and relatively close to each other.

So, I set out on the aforementioned cold, wet, foggy morning. But I got a little sidetracked. While planning for this trip, I discovered that a world-famous roadside attraction was practically on my way! So of course I had to make a small detour to see it. Let me introduce you to the World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab! This marvel of man-made ingenuity resides at 7592 OH-124, Hillsboro, OH 45133.  And it is magnificent! You can even walk inside!

It was a little tricky to find since it was almost covered in snow. It is literally in a field between some houses. No parking lot, you just pull off the side of the road, which was especially tricky given the slippery conditions on the day of my visit. But it was so worth it! And if seeing the world’s largest horseshoe crab (at 24 feet wide, 12 feet tall) isn’t good enough for you, it also has a famous connection!  World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab T-shirt was included in the T-shirt quilt given to Bella by her mother in the movie Eclipse from the Twilight saga! Talk about famous!!!

Seeing the world-famous crab is adventure enough, but I had more to see and do! So, I pressed on to my next stop, The Great Serpent Mound, 3850 OH-73, Peebles, OH 45660. 

The gentleman working there told me the museum was closed for repairs and other upgrades. He waived the normal $8 dollar parking fee and told me to have a good time. That is exactly what I intended to do!

The Great Serpent Mound is an earthwork; specifically, an effigy earthwork, which means it is in the shape of an animal or object. This one is in the shape of a snake with a curled tail. It is estimated to have been built by the American Indian Adena culture in 300 BC! In addition to the effigy mound, there are three burial mounds nearby, the oldest is estimated to have been built in 800 B.C.–A.D. 100! That time scale is crazy to think about, and fortunately these landmarks are still here for us to see today!

Apparently, I was the only one who thought it was a good idea to tromp around snow covered trails on a Saturday morning, so I had the whole place to myself. I followed the icy trail that runs along the parameter of the earthworks, so close that you can reach out and touch it (walking on the mounds though is prohibited as it lends to erosion – always be respectful!).

Even though the mounds were obscured by snow, I still felt like it was the perfect day to visit. The fog was heavy and crowded around the site, lending to a feeling of awe. And since I was the only visitor, the place was quiet and peaceful. And the snowy landscape and views of distant hills were beautiful. But given the mounds astronomical alignment, visiting on a solstice would be special as well.  But I have a feeling it will be a great deal more crowded.

Maybe it was the fog, or maybe it was because it was a quiet and serene day, but I definitely felt the magic and awe of this historic landmark. According to the website, The Great Serpent Mound has been submitted to be included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for inscription on the prestigious World Heritage List; “the Serpent Mound will join the ranks of the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, Pompeii, Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal, all of which are World Heritage sites.”  That is an impressive accreditation for one of our local Ohio landmarks!

It was time to move again, this time to the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe, Ohio! Here is the summary from their website, “Two thousand years ago, people of an advanced culture gathered here to conduct religious rituals and ceremonies related to their society. At this site, they built an enormous earthwork complex enclosing 55.34 hectares (about 130 acres). An earthen wall extended for over four kilometers (over 2 miles), surrounding an immense sacred space that included 29 burial mounds.” 

The museum was open this time, and I poked around inside before visiting the mounds (note no entrance or parking fees for this site). The staff there are very knowledgeable, and they were kind enough to share the sites history with me. I also found a few things in the gift shop I could not live without!

Finally, I headed outside to explore. Rather than going directly into the mound site, I took the approximately one-mile trail that circles the parameter of the mound area. This was a great way to take in the whole site. The trail starts off by veering into the woods and it runs alongside the Scioto River before circling back to the mounds.

After finishing the trail, I headed into the heart of the mounds area. There are several mounds of varying height, the largest of them was much taller than I expected. It is incredible this site remains for us to enjoy and be amazed by to this day! Many thanks to all the preservation efforts!  Well done! 

By this time, I was cold and getting hungry. I decided to drive the short distance to the heart of Chillicothe’s historic district. They have done a lot of splendid work revitalizing this area. There are great restaurants and wonderful shops to explore. I highly recommend planning some time to explore and appreciate Chillicothe’s historic district. I was in the mood for a hot cup of tea to warm up and some potato skins! I headed to the Old Canal Smoke House at 94 East Water Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601, and got exactly what I was craving! The tea was hot, and the potato skills were delicious. The portions are healthy, I ended up bringing skins home with me, but since the pulled pork looked so good, I ordered a sandwich to go for later!

This was a big day, by the end I traveled about 120 miles! As I said earlier, I had this trip in my to do list for a while, but it kept falling to the bottom of my list because it was more driving than hiking. But this turned out to be one of my favorite trips! It was perfect for a cold winter’s day, and I certainly did not have to deal with crowds! I highly recommend winter adventure road trips!

Here is my itinerary for the day:

If you decide to take this trip for yourself, please share your experiences. I look forward to hearing from you!

This week I am writing about a trip I wish I took. Last weekend (1/11/2025) Oxford Ohio held its annual Chocolate Meltdown Festival. It is about a two-hour drive from Columbus, and unfortunately, we had some winter weather that day. I decided to forego the trip, but I am definitely marking this event on my 2026 calendar. I thought I would share it here in case anyone else thought this might be fun and may want to plan ahead.

I planned to pare this trip with a hike of the Bachelor Nature Preserve North Loop trail. This is a 4.7-mile dirt trail hike through the woods. According to AllTrails, the hike includes nice views and a swinging bridge.

And of course, Oxford has a ghost story. While you’re in there, see if you can conjure the Oxford Light.  “…travelling past Millet Hall and Yager Stadium, out past the University property, past Beta Headquarters on the left, and up to the first four-way stop. Park your car, flash your lights three times, and wait to see the Oxford Light in the distance.”

If you have already taken this trip, tell me about it, since I have not been yet! I look forward to hearing from you!

Blackhand Gorge is a paved trail along a 4-mile-long sandstone formation. It is about forty-eight miles east of Columbus, Ohio. The main parking lot is located at 2200 Gratiot Rd SE, Newark, OH 43056; and thankfully, there is a bathroom. The paved trail is 4.3 miles. This is an out and back trail, rather than a loop; so, plan to do 8+ miles for a round trip.

The trail runs alongside the Licking River. I went on a cold wintery day; it had just snowed, and the river was partially frozen. As the ice sections collided in the river, the sound reverberated off the sandstone and was amplified. It was very loud and very impressive! I had never heard anything like it before.

I did part of the paved trail, but I wanted to get into the woods and see the snow. I verged off on the Quarry Rim Trail Loop, which is a dirt trail that connects with paved bike trail. This is a lovely loop that takes you through the woods, crossing streams and providing a splendid view of the quarry.

There are additional dirt trails at Blackhand Gorge I plan to explore when I visit again. But on this day, I was hungry and ready to head out.

I stopped off at The Restaurant at the Granville Inn on my way back to Columbus. It was lunch time, and I felt comfortable in my more casual apparel. They have a wonderful menu, and this was the perfect way to warm up from my hike.

The Inn is pretty and a little imposing with its stone exterior and heavy wood paneled interiors. And of course, it is haunted! The paneling and carpet in the main hallway are reminiscent of the movie The Shining! So maybe have a bite to eat, then take a walk to the restroom and see if you can glimpse any ghosts!

If you decide to take this trip for yourself, please share your experiences. I look forward to hearing from you!