This Scenic Road Trip Takes You To All 7 Wonders Of Ohio

What would you consider to be the 7 Wonders of Ohio?

From rare ecosystems to unusual land formations, Ohio is full of beautiful places to explore that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else in the world. The following are what we consider to be the Seven Wonders of Ohio—and we think you should take a long weekend and travel the state to see them all.

Google Maps

The total trip takes about 12 hours to complete and covers nearly 550 miles, so you can stop to explore and rest at your leisure. To view a map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.

Ghostfire Photography/Flickr

This 1,348-foot-long and three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County continues to marvel locals and visitors alike. It is one of the most impressive earthworks in North America, constructed in the shape of a snake. It was built around 1000 A.D. by the Fort Ancient culture and likely used as a place of ceremony. Capturing the whole thing in a photo is difficult, but absolutely amazing when possible.

Advertisement

See 1, Do 1, Teach 1/Flickr

Within the Hocking Hills State Park area in Laurelville is the beloved Rock House, where visitors can freely explore this unique cave with a 25 ft. high ceiling and window-like openings. Evidence shows that the homey Rock House was often used for shelter by past visitors, Native Americans and even bootleggers, robbers and horse thieves.

Advertisement

Carl Shepard/Flickr

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in northeast Ohio is home to a breathtaking 65-foot waterfall that flows from Brandywine Creek. Known as Brandywine Falls, these easily accessible, beautiful falls are a popular highlight within the park. Wooden pathways and stairs lead the way to Brandywine Falls—which you can hear before you see. Softer layers of rock below the falls include Bedford and Cleveland shales, which were formed from mud found on the sea floor that covered the area 350-400 million years ago.

Related Stories

Take This Mini Road Trip To Climb Two Of Ohio’s Beautiful Lighthouses

Take This Road Trip To Experience Some Of The Best Fall Foliage And Wineries In Ohio

The 10 Best Backroads In Ohio For A Long Scenic Drive

Jolene/Flickr

Measuring 400 feet long, 35 feet wide and 15 feet deep, the Glacial Grooves State Memorial attracts visitors from around the world. They're the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world and are truly incredible to see if you are able to travel to the Lake Erie Islands.

dorsalmo/Trip Advisor

Crystal Cave on South Bass Island lies 35 ft. below the surface and is about 12,000-15,000 years old. The cave is made up of celestite crystals ranging anywhere from 8 to 18 inches long. As you walk through it, you'll feel like you've entered another world. It's the world's largest celestite geode, making it one of the state's most unique attractions.

Matt Taylor/Flickr

Close to Toledo you’ll find what’s considered to be Ohio’s rarest ecosystem (and one of the world’s rarest ecosystems) where rare plants and animals, oak forests, sand dunes, savannas, tall-grass prairies and swamp forests all thrive in harmony—and it will truly make you feel like you’re not in Ohio anymore.

Wes Reimer/Flickr

West Liberty is home to "America's Most Colorful Caverns" that are sure to make you feel like you're exploring another planet. Within the Ohio Caverns is one of the world's largest and most perfectly formed stalactites. Crystal King (pictured) is nearly five feet long, weighing an estimated 400 pounds, and is estimated to be more than 200,000 years old.

How may of these wonders have you explored? What others would you add to this road trip? Share your photos, recommendations and experiences with us!

For more manmade wonders to explore in Ohio, check out our previous article: This Road Trip To Ohio’s Most Majestic Castles Is Like Something From A Fairytale.