The Hopewell Hilltops
Exploring Spruce Hill & Fort Hill Earthworks
& witnessing springtime’s earliest wildflowers
April 3rd - 5th, 2025
Held at the Appalachian Forest Museum, Highland County, OH
$225/person
This event is an opportunity to witness architectural and ceremonial achievements that are unique in the world. Most people have some level of familiarity with the globally-recognized Hopewell-era earthworks that were built 2000 years ago along the floodplains of Ohio. Far fewer people, however, have knowledge of the earthwork enclosures that were built on the ridgetops of Ohio by the very same Native American peoples. A dramatic contrast lies in the configuration and placement of the floodplain complexes as compared to the ridgetop enclosures, and we suspect their original purposes were quite different as well.
It is notable that hilltop enclosures - often still blanketed in native forest communities - are usually much more intact than the better-known earthwork complexes of the floodplains, where agriculture and development have done so much damage. The relatively well-preserved Hopewell hilltop enclosures provide seekers with joyful and wonder-filled encounters.
This weekend we will be trekking to two remarkable ridgetop monuments - Spruce Hill and Fort Hill. We will be admiring these ancient structures, learning about the two regions’ remarkable geology, and enjoying the first flush of spring wildflowers that abound at both sites. In the evening, we will be given two indoor presentations on the Hopewell Culture at the Appalachian Forest Museum. Join us as we encounter the architectural grandeur of the Hopewell, the early spring wildflower showcases of the Appalachian Front, and the unfettered beauty of Indigenous sacred space.
Program Focus:
The ceremonial spaces of Spruce Hill and Fort Hill stand in remarkable contrast to the expansive earthen circle and square enclosures that stretch across the low flood-scoured and development-impacted plains of Ohio’s wide river valleys, complexes that recently have received World Heritage status. This weekend, we will turn our focus to the Hopewell Culture’s lesser-known high-elevation monuments and tease out the meaning of the many mysteries they hold. In the evening presentations we will share what we know of the Hopewell Culture, and, equally important, we will ponder the riddles that remain unsolved. The bulk of both days will be spent with our feet on the protected grounds of Spruce Hill and Fort Hill, exploring the archaeological remnants of the Hopewell Culture and the natural treasures of the forests that surround them. Spruce Hill and Fort Hill, despite some clear similarities, are floristically, geologically and even archaeologically quite different from one another - so we will be experiencing a wide range of landscapes, biodiversity, and earthen art forms.
Physical Fitness: Day-time hikes, although reasonably paced, will be strenuous due to length. The Fort Hill hike will be roughly 4.5 miles across an undulating, occasionally rocky landscape with many short ascents and descents. The Spruce Hill Hike will be approximately 3.5 miles, with one long gradual ascent and descent along an old access lane. The lane is not hard to walk but is steep enough to challenge one’s breathing. Because these two hikes are back-to-back, registrants need to be in top physical condition.
Tuition: $225 per person. Event includes evening presentations on Thursday and Friday nights, and field trips on Friday and Saturday. Registrants will cover their own expenses for lodging, packed lunches, dinners & transportation. Lodging at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary is available and is highly recommended to reduce travel time.
Location: Evening programs will take place at the Appalachian Forest Museum at the Sanctuary. The museum’s parking lot will serve as the meeting place on Friday and Saturday mornings when we gather together to caravan to Spruce Hill and Fort Hill. Car-sharing is encouraged but is not required.
Attendance: Attendance is limited to no more than 15 people.
Leader: The leader for this event is Elijah Crabtree, Manager of Tremper Mound and Simon Farm Preserves.
Registration Process: Registration is available simply by clicking on the button above and filling out the form. If the event is booked, the registration button will be disabled and you will see an announcement that we are full on the top of the page. If you don’t see this announcement, you can be reasonably certain that spaces remain open for the event. When you are finished filling out the registration form, you will see the link that takes you to our payment center. You will not be officially registered until the registration fee is paid, after which time we will send you an emailed confirmation. Please note that lodging is not included in the tuition fee. If we are full, you are welcome to give us a call and ask to be put on the waiting list.
Standard Sanctuary Lodging: Lodging is available for an additional fee at any of the Sanctuary’s cabins and lodges and is a separate reservation process. The Sanctuary has beautiful, tastefully decorated overnight facilities. All have kitchens or kitchenettes and one or more bathrooms. The Sanctuary’ standard private lodge rentals can be reviewed for availability and reserved on-line here.
Special Room Rentals at Group lodges - just for this event! In addition to what can be rented on-line, available exclusively to workshop guests are single rooms at one of our group lodges, available at reasonable rates. Group lodges offer private bedrooms, with bathrooms that are typically on the hall and sometimes shared. If you are coming alone, are willing to share a room (private beds) with another person of the same gender, and wish us to look for a room partner, we are happy to do so. Just let us know when you call. This is a great way to reduce your lodging cost.
Meals: Meals are on your own. All lodges have fully equipped kitchens and dining facilities. Please plan to bring a packed lunch to both guided field trips on Friday and Saturday. The nearest grocery store and a few restaurants can be found 16 miles away in Hillsboro, and a few eateries are five miles away in Bainbridge. We recommend brining your own food for at least breakfast and the packed lunches.
Transportation. Participants will drive their own cars to the described trailheads
Cancellation policy. In case of cancellation, refunds will be granted in full up until March 4, 2025. After that time, all payments are final and if not used, will be recorded as a tax-deductible donation to the Arc of Appalachia. Registrations are transferable. If transferring your registration to another party, please be sure to give us the recipient’s name and email. A drizzly forecast will not stop this event, but if the weather calls for heavy rains all weekend, we will have no choice but to cancel, and, if so, we will let you know several days before the event. In such a situation, your fees will be refunded.
The Highland Nature Sanctuary is right next to one of North America’s most significant indigenous earthworks. All you have to do is drive 7 miles eastbound on Route 50, where you will find Seip Earthworks to your right, an incredibly important and scenic geometric tripartite earthwork. Seip Earthworks is a World Heritage-designated site and is managed by the National Park Service. If you have any free time, please consider enjoying the privilege of standing at an ancient sacred site of the Hopewell Culture. Click here for more information on Seip Earthworks.
And there is hiking at the Highland Nature Sanctuary, too! If you have extra time during the breaks, there are many different trails you can choose from at the Highland Nature Sanctuary, just a short drive from any of the overnight lodging facilities.
Cell phone coverage and the internet. Most cell phone services work at the Sanctuary but will likely not work while hiking at Fort Hill and Spruce Hill. If you wish to use internet access for a computer, please plan on working off a hotspot through your phone.
Flying in? Participants may fly into either Cincinnati or Columbus. Both airports are roughly an hour and a half from HNS.
What should I bring?
Cell phone in case of emergency, and for taking pictures of botanicals, landscapes, and archaeological features.
Raingear is recommended as this course will go on rain or shine, unless the rains are unusually heavy. Consider a wide-brimmed hat.
A water bottle and day pack are needed to carry your lunch.
Notebook or clipboard, pen, pencils, and paper (for sketching and field notes)
Pocket money for snacks and small purchases; a credit card for dinners.
Personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.).
First aid kit appropriate to your needs
Optional. Insect repellent for ticks & chiggers, see details below. We will also bring some to share. June is not a time we should have to overly worry about chiggers, thank goodness.
Comfort in the out-of-doors. We will be spending most of our time in the field, so please pack clothing that will allow you to be comfortable for a variety of weather conditions. At this time of the year in southern Ohio, our temperature highs could be anywhere from the high forties to the low sixties, with lows in the thirties and forties. We encourage you to check the weather forecast before you pack.
Emergency Messages. Emergency messages for course participants can be left at the mainline of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (937) 365-1935 during daytime hours. Leader’s cell phones will also be provided to you
Should I prepare for ticks, chiggers, biting insects, and poison ivy? This time of the year you will not have to worry about any of these things!
Please click here to learn about the considerable hazards presented by ticks and chiggers, and prepare your own insect repellant that is safe to use, affordable to make, and will give you the confidence to enjoy the out-of-doors.
Questions or interest in making lodging reservations:
For event & lodging information: Cassidy Drummond, Education Coordinator at 937-794-3360
Email: cassidy.arcofappalachia@gmail.com