Great Seal State Park

About Great Seal State Park

The Great Seal State Park is dedicated to the wilderness spirit of Ohio, and challenging hiking trails lead through the rugged hills that form the backdrop to the Great Seal National Wildlife Refuge, the largest and most scenic park in the state.

The hills represent the Great Seal after which the park takes its name, and the history of this country is immortalized in the iconic image of a giant seal on one of Ohio's most famous hills.

It is located on a chain of hills that spans the central part of Ohio and outlines the edge of the Appalachian Plateau in the state. The definition is clear from the park, where Columbus can be seen north on a clear day, and from the wooded ridges of the Great Seal State Park. A glaciated plain forms the north-west line, while in the south and east rugged hills stretch to the foothills and mountains.

The sharply etched ridges harbor fine populations of hardwood, and in the rock layers below, chestnuts and oaks are unexpectedly found on the slopes. The wet bays are rich in wild flowers in spring, while in autumn papaw cacti attract wild animals. In the south, where the opposite is more common, the steep slopes of the ridge line form a wetland with a rich variety of plants and animals.

The Scioto River Valley has been home to the Shawnee since the mid-17th century, and from here five important Indian paths cross northward. Great Seal State Park is located in the northern part of the Sciota River Valley, north of Chillicothe, Ohio. Three towns of Shawnees, called Chillicsothe, are located on the hills that surround it, as well as a small village on a ridge line.

The great Shawnee warrior Tecumseh was born here in the north of what is now Circleville, and Mingo leader Logan gave his most eloquent speech here, ending with a call to kill his relatives. The Scioto River was used by the Shawnees as the primary means of transport from one village to another.

The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1790s, and a well-known surveyor and forester, Thomas Jefferson, organized a settlement in the Scioto Valley and created the beautiful city of Chillicothe for himself and his family.

From 1803 to 1810, Chillicothe was the first capital of the new state of Ohio, and the park takes its name from this. The Scioto River flows past Mount Logan, and in the foreground cultivated fields, mountains and the rising sun indicate that Ohio was one of the first states west of Alleghenies.

The Great Seal State Park is now home to the Ohio State Museum of Natural History and the National Park Service. The sun can be seen rising over the design inspired by the scene in the Great Seal of Ohio, as seen in this photo.

The campsite is located right on the Sugar Loaf Mountain and offers views of the Scioto Valley.

No campers or pets are allowed, but the campsite has vaulted latrines, pressurized water and a picnic area with picnic tables and chairs.