Welcome to our online Heritage Trails Guide. This is your invitation to experience the distinctive physical environment, the rich history and the hospitality of the people of Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area. The landscape is beautiful in all seasons of the year. The rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, river and stream valleys, and heavily forested areas protected by the Wayne National Forest and state parks define its physical form. This distinctive landscape provides the backdrop for historic transportation routes that pass through rural areas as they connect small towns and villages.

Take the time to experience back roads and small towns; to explore our historic industrial roots; to visit a museum or attend a performance that celebrates our rich cultural heritage; to learn about our role in the Underground Railroad; to take a wildflower walk or autumn hike in the woods; to purchase something handmade or homegrown; to savor a home-cooked meal; and to spend the night in a historic inn or B&B.

Whatever you decide to do when you visit Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area, you will be greeted with warmth and hospitality that is a tradition in Appalachian Ohio.

This Heritage Trails Guide is organized thematically. It was designed to be updated and expanded on a regular basis so that its information will help you, the visitor, experience the best that Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area has to offer.

Future trails will include:

Civil War Heritage of Ohio’s Hill Country (in the meantime please visit the Ohio Civil War Trails Commission at www.hometown.aol.com/OCWTC)

Prehistoric and Native American Heritage of Ohio’s Hill Country