Everything you need to know before you hike:

Tremper Mound is a highly protected nature preserve. Regulations exist to protect the preserve’s natural communities from the impact of public visitors. Please follow these regulations to leave Tremper Mound as pristine as you found it.  Please remember that no disturbing of the archaeological record or collecting of artifacts of any kind is permitted on this important cultural site. Remain on trails at all times and walk in single file to protect the bulbs of native wildflowers bordering the trail - bulbs that are very vulnerable to soil compaction. Do not disturb, pick, or collect flowers, plants, rocks, or wildlife. Hunting, caving, fishing, trail biking, rock climbing, wading, campfires, and swimming are prohibited. Click here for a list of full regulations.

Dogs are permitted at Tremper Mound. A dog owner’s guide to hiking Arc Trails.

Address: 20580 SR-73 McDermott, OH 45663 Tremper Mound’s main entrance is on OH-104. Because this section of OH-104 is busy and potentially dangerous, you can only turn into the preserve’s main entrance if you heading south. From the intersection of OH-73 and OH-104, turn south toward Portsmouth. In .25 miles on your right, you will see the gravel entrance lane into the preserve separated by a cement island.

Interpretive Kiosk:  An interpretive kiosk is situated at the trailhead. We encourage you to take a picture of the trail map with your phone before heading out on the trails. 

Trails are open year-round from sunrise to sunset with the following exceptions. Parking lots are not winter-maintained. For your safety, do not hike trails during periods of heavy rain, ice, and snow. The trail to the Scioto Bottoms and river access is in a region that floods heavily after prolonged heavy rains or snow melt. The Scioto River floods heavily in the spring, putting the entire floodplain and the hiking trail under water. Also note that trails are closed during the annual deer management hunt which takes place on 1) the Monday through Sunday following Thanksgiving, and 2) the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.

Hiking Trails’ Difficulty - Easy to Moderate for all trails. All three trails are located upon the relatively level floodplain terraces of the Lower Scioto River Valley and its Pond Creek tributary. The trails have no rocky surfaces or challenging ascents/descents. Caution: The floodplain of the Scioto River Valley Bottoms is prone to heavy flooding from winter through spring. Be sure to take into consideration recent rainfall accumulation before planning a walk on the Scioto River Access Trail. Because of the long distance from the Scioto River Access trailhead to the Scioto River, kayakers are strongly encouraged to bring a kayak dollie.

Tremper Mound’s Four Trails:

Tremper Mound Trail- .20-mile loop trail - The Tremper Mound Trail begins at the north end of the parking lot and leads through grassland meadows to the 2,000-year-old ceremonial earthwork, Tremper Mound returning to the parking lot on the same path. In late summer the fields are at their brightest with the flowers of goldenrod, ironweed, wingstem, and the seed heads of towering Indian grass. To the east, the trail provides panoramic views of the sweeping course of the Scioto River. The path approaches the mound through the original gateway that dissects the elliptical earthen wall surrounding the mound.  Once inside the enclosure, you may freely walk around the centrally-positioned Tremper Mound but, please, out of respect for the sacredness of this ancient place of burial, do not walk on the mound or the embankment wall.

Pond Creek Bottom Trail- 1.5-mile loop - Trail winds through large, old agricultural fields before descending along the edge of the valley terrace into a now-abandoned gravel and sand quarry.  Today the site is covered in prolific swaths of Indian Grass, Gray Goldenrod, New England Aster, and Rosepink Gentians, bringing about a spectacular array of colors during the late summer months. Descending further, the trail reaches Pond Creek Bottoms, a low riparian forest that is dramatically bounded by a steep-sided terrace carved out by melting torrents of glacial waters thousands of years ago. Here one can admire towering yellow buckeyes, American sycamores, cottonwoods, black walnuts, and rare white walnuts. Below their canopies in the spring, rich floodplain soils foster scattered populations of Virginia bluebells, trout Lilies, toothworts, fumeworts, and larkspurs.

Scioto River Kayak Access Trail - .50 mile out and back. The trail cuts through the heart of Tremper Mound’s vast Scioto River bottoms, leading through 200 acres of grassland meadows of Indian grass, big bluestem, and goldenrod growing on top of deep glacial outwash deposits and offering expansive views of the vast floodplain. As the trail approaches the water’s edge, the trail descends into a corridor of mighty silver maples, sycamores, and black walnuts. Here migratory shorebirds and waterfowl can be seen frequenting the gravel bars. 

Fairybell Hollow Trail - 2.5 mile loop - Fairybell Trail winds into the steep Appalachian hill-country of Tremper Mound, taking hikers into remote forested coves and ascending to high elevations of Huckleberry Ridge - offering spectacular views of the Scioto bottomlands when the leaves are off the trees. This trail is accessed at a different trailhead. To get there from the main parking lot, drive 1/2 mile south on OH-104 and turn into the trailhead parking lot at the Huckleberry Ridge Trailhead sign. Fairybell Hollow Trail has only recently been installed and is not yet enhanced with an interpretive kiosk. We recommend that you carry a screenshot of the trail map on your phone and/or download and print the hike-and-go trail guide linked at the top of this page.

Kayakers, be prepared:

Kayakers are permitted to launch from this unimproved river access to enjoy a trip to Portsmouth at the Scioto’s confluence with the Ohio, 5-6 miles downstream. However, it is important to remember that the Scioto is a wild, undammed river and kayakers should be knowledgeable in its ways before attempting a trip. In winter and early spring, the entire Scioto River bottoms along with this access trail are underwater. In summer and fall the river can be so low that kayaks must navigate a long steep descent to reach the water. Note: Vehicles are not permitted beyond the parking lot. Because of the long distance from the trailhead to the river, kayakers are strongly encouraged to bring a kayak dollie.