Ohio Hikes and Sights

Johnson's Island in Sandusky Bay, Ohio, served as a Union military prison exclusively for captured Confederate officers during the American Civil War from April 1862 to September 1865.

Over its operational lifespan, roughly 10,000 to 15,000 men were processed through the stockade, including hundreds of Confederate officers, generals, and a small number of political prisoners or spies.

A total of 206 to 267 Confederate soldiers and officers who died of disease or illness while imprisoned are buried in the island's Confederate Stockade Cemetery.

⚓️Built in 1821 from local limestone and first lit in 1822, the lighthouse has guided ships on Lake Erie for over two centuries. Marblehead Lighthouse is still an active, fully operational aid to navigation! It proudly holds the title of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes. 🚢

Along the Buckeye Trail in Hocking Hills.

It’s the perfect time for a hike to see summer flowers and pollinators, especially on the prairie and meadow trails. 🦋🐝🌸🌻🌼

🦇Are the pictures horrible? Yes, definitely! Was it absolutely incredible to visit? Yes! 

You can explore the caves at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (formerly Seven Caves) in Bainbridge, Ohio, primarily by visiting Marble Cave and McKimie Cave, which are open seasonally from approximately July 1st through November 15th. These caves are open during Appalachian Forest Museum hours (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily).

There is a strict limit of 10 people at a time. And they may be closed during programming at the museum so check their schedule before going. It’s very narrow and dark so bring a flashlight and watch your head so you don’t bash into the same rock twice like I did. Try not to touch the walls or ceilings to preserve the cave.

Highland Nature Sanctuary is part of a vast preservation system of Arc of Appalachia. No pets at this location.

The dates are limited in order to protect endangered bats. 🦇 

📸 Check out the reels I posted!✨

Ever kayaked at Lake Hope State Park? It’s our favorite lake to kayak! Easy put ins and a lot to explore. The first photo is one of my favorites from last year. We usually go late summer to check out all the blooms. 🪷🛶

What are some other nice but small lakes? I heard there is a cranberry bog somewhere, wonder if you can kayak there? 🤔

✨While everyone’s busy taking pics of mushrooms, let’s not forget to look up! Our state fruit, the PawPaw, is ripening and ready to be spotted!
🌳💚 Who else loves finding these hidden gems?

Did you know Ohio has a Pawpaw Festival? The 28th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival takes place from September 18 to September 20, 2026 in Nelsonville.

We hiked several miles and learned about conservation efforts on the Ohio River islands around Marietta and into WV. The visitor’s center has nice displays and some aquatic wildlife to see. The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990 to protect, conserve, and restore habitat for wildlife native to the river and its floodplain. Technically the islands belong to WV, I didn’t know WV owns the Ohio River to the waterline of Ohio land. 🤷🏻‍♀️

There are some trails at the Visitor Center. Then, we drove to Middle Island where you can cross a bridge to 4+ miles of easy, flat trails.

Locations⬇️
Middle Island: George St, St Marys, WV
Visitor Center: 3982 Waverly-Williamstown Rd, Williamstown, WV

Photos from visit 8/23/24

At Highland Nature Sanctuary check out the 2 miles of hiking on the Etawah Woods and Valley of the Ancients trails. Situated in Highland County, Ohio, it spans 3,000 acres and is the oldest and largest preserve in the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. Many trails take you along the stunning Rocky Fork Gorge with a 100-foot-high steep-walled dolomite canyon and remarkable rock formations. It’s gorgeous! 💚 The cave is open on this trail for the rest of the season.

Both of these trails are rated moderate and no pets.

FREE but limited hours. ⬇️
https://www.arcofappalachia.org/highlands-nature-sanctuary/