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!