Don’t Try This One Hike in Ohio If You’re Afraid of Heights

Have you ever looked at the Ohio State Seal and wondered where those gorgeous rolling hills came from? Maybe they’re just a general example of Ohio’s hilly landscape that some artist dreamed up? I know that’s not the case, though. Those hills are very real, very steep, and very much capable of making your calves file a formal complaint. They live in Great Seal State Park, and you can hike them yourself on the Shawnee Ridge Loop, where you’ll be greeted with some truly stunning Ohio views and a gentle reminder that gravity is undefeated.

This is the hike you warn your fear-of-heights friends about. The Shawnee Ridge Trail runs just over five miles and stacks together Bald Hill, Sand Hill, and pieces of Rocky Knob like a sampler platter of elevation. The trail wastes no time easing you in. You start near the campground parking lot, step into the woods, and almost immediately head uphill, meeting the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail before committing to the blue-blazed Shawnee Ridge route. From there, the trail rolls and climbs through dense forest, dips into ravines, and pops you back out onto ridgelines where the land drops away just enough to make you pause mid-sentence.

The terrain stays wooded most of the way, which means shade in summer and leafless drama in fall when the views open wide. Several steep climbs demand attention, and a few descents will have you carefully choosing foot placement like you’re defusing a small, leafy bomb. The payoff comes at the ridge views, where the Scioto Valley stretches out below and the hills ripple into the distance like a green corduroy blanket. These are the hills from the state seal, the ones that prove Ohio has a vertical side when it feels like showing off.

Shawnee Ridge connects with other trails throughout Great Seal State Park, making it easy to build longer loops or mix in Sugarloaf Mountain for extra elevation. Sugarloaf itself runs only 1.8 miles round trip, but it packs nearly 500 feet of gain and loss into that short distance. Hikers train here for ultras, canyon crossings, and any goal that involves a lot of uphill suffering followed by the reward of bragging rights. Poles help on the way down unless you have mountain goat confidence and ankles made of steel.

The park itself covers more than 1,600 acres and offers some of the best elevation hiking in Ohio. Trails welcome hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, so staying alert keeps everyone happy and upright. Beyond hiking, the park includes disc golf, a small campground, reservable shelters, and a memorial grove dedicated to reflection and remembrance. It’s a place that balances challenge with calm, adventure with space to breathe.

Great Seal State Park sits just outside Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital, and a town that wears its history proudly. Within 15 minutes, you can visit Hopewell Culture National Historical Park to see ancient earthworks, wander the Ross County Historical Society Museum, or grab a meal downtown where local diners and bakeries understand the value of post-hike carbohydrates. Chillicothe blends Appalachian foothills with art, history, and the kind of friendliness that makes you linger longer than planned.

If big views, bold terrain, and elevated trails sound like your idea of a good day, this hike delivers. Visit Ohio, spend some time in Chillicothe, stop by Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, then lace up your boots at Great Seal State Park and walk the Shawnee Ridge Loop to see the famous Ohio hills for yourself. Those rolling shapes on the state seal weren’t the product of an artist's imagination. They're real, and they're waiting for you.

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