Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve

alan fan

I have been a visitor nearly 40 years. It was awesomely beautiful in 1998. Very few people knew it existed. The Ohio Historical Society operated it then. The little museum was open most weekends between May and October. The trails were well marked and well maintained. And there were only three trails, the Fort Trail, the Gorge Trail, and the Deer Trail. Now what used to be the Deer Trail is called the Granby Trail. The facilities are suffering some since the Arc of Appalachia had taken over management. And the popularity of the site has not helped it any. More visitors puts more stress on the eco-system and the earthworks. Thankfully no one visits the Ring Mound. It is rare and not in very good condition which is why there is no trail leading to it. I have not attempted the Granby (Deer) Trail in the last decade but from the reviews, it appears that the two fords that the Ohio Historical Society had put in must now be washed away. That is a shame because it used to be fairly easy to cross Brush Creek. Also, it can be dangerous hiking solo. There is no cell service which could be tragic if you are injured on the trail. There are copperhead snakes there and it is timber rattle snake habitat, although I have never seen any. But there are farm dogs that occasionally roam the site. I have seen them, but my only actual encounter with one ended with a miracle where neither of us were hurt and he gained a fear of me for a day, thanks to an old section of a farm fence.

Nichole Gantshar

This very remote spot, which is really not in Hillsboro (it's 15 minutes outside of town), is very special. You warned the museum is not always open and this location is not good for people with mobility issues. Also note: your cell phone may not work so write down directions on how to get there and how to get home. There's also little around here so be sure to bring your own water and snacks. A pretty steep hike 15 minutes uphill bring you to a dense wooded area and then it's a little bit of a walk to where the earth works are. There's not a lot of signage to explain the significance but after a while you can begin to spot the earthworks on your own. There are several well-marked trails. You can easily do this location and Serpent Mound in the same day. I would not recommend this for families with young children.

Ben Barth

A hidden gem in Ohio with great wildflowers during May. Hiking is as leisurely or demanding as you make it. The most difficult trail requires crossing a stream, however during snowmelt or for a few days after heavy rains, it is impassable. The photos are a few days after rain and the stream was about 3 feet + deep. The year before when I made the cross, it was maybe 8-12" deep.

Trevor Keating

Nice place with about 10 miles of trails that are of moderate difficulty. Able to.run the trails pretty easily. The maps don't exactly line up with the trails especially if you expect to hike the trail on the other side of the river, it is virtually impassable with no real sign of the trail picking up on the other side of the river. Great place to hike with a dog especially if you have a swimmer.