The Hopewell Indians, known for their ceremonial earthworks, occupied the Ohio River Valley from 200 BC to 300 AD. Fort Hill State Memorial, in southern Ohio, protects one of their sites and offers a pleasing mix of scenic terrain, broad vistas, geologic features and abundant wildlife.
Located west of Ohio 41, 10.5 miles southwest of Bainbridge, the Memorial stretches along the Baker Creek Gorge and onto a spur ridge of the Appalachian Plateau. Access is provided by eleven miles of trails, which lead through the gorge, along the forested walls and up to the ceremonial fort, 423 feet above the level of the creek. Cliffs of Silurian dolomite line the gorge, where waterfalls and springs produce scenic ice formations during the colder months; in a few areas, this water erosion has carved natural bridges. Higher on the gorge walls, the dolomite gives way to Berea sandstone, Mississippian in age, which caps Fort Hill and other knobs along the valley; the Hopewell used this resistant rock to construct the walls of their fort, which circles the flat summit of the ridge.
Though a popular destination for hikers and naturalists throughout the year, the Memorial is most appealing in winter, when crowds have dispersed and the vistas are broader. Those who visit during the colder months are almost certain to encounter white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and an excellent variety of woodland birds; turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks often soar above the valley and are best viewed from an overlook at the north edge of the fort.
