Ohio
62

GREAT SEAL STATE PARK

Home
Activities
Maps
Accommodations
Nearby Attractions
Make A
Reservation
Great Seal State Park © stateparks.com
Chillicothe, Ohio
Great Seal State Park © stateparks.com
Great Seal State ParkChillicothe, Ohio
Great Seal State Park © stateparks.com
Great Seal State Park © stateparks.com
Chillicothe, Ohio
Great Seal State Park © stateparks.com
Great Seal State ParkChillicothe, Ohio
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
Hiking on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
Hiking on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
Hiking on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
Hiking on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
Hiking on the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Great Seal State Park Great Seal State Park © Lonnie Williams
View from atop Sugarloaf Mountain
Great Seal State Park Disk Golf © John Kelley
We were on a walk, everywhere you turn there is a disk golf hole.
GREAT SEAL STATE PARK
GREAT SEAL STATE PARK
4908 Marietta Rd
Chillicothe, Ohio   45601
(lat:39.3992 lon:-82.9494)

Phone: (740) 887-4818
Reservations: 866-644-6727
Great Seal State Park is dedicated to the wilderness spirit of Ohio. The history of the Shawnee nation and Ohio's early statehood is centered in these rugged hills. Challenging trails take visitors to scenic vistas of distant ridgetops and the Scioto Valley below. These very hills are depicted on the Great Seal of the State of Ohio, from which the park gets its name.
Nature of the Area
Ancient history is recorded in the sandstone hills that comprise Great Seal State Park. It lies upon the Appalachian escarpment, a line of hills stretching across Ohio's mid section which outline the edge of the Appalachian plateau in the state. North and west of the line are glaciated plains while south and east rugged hills extend to the foothills of the mountains. This definition is obvious from the trails in the park where one can see Columbus on a clear day to the north and unbroken forested ridges to the south.

These sharply etched ridges harbor a fine stand of hardwoods. Due to the underlying rock strata, one unexpectedly finds chestnut oaks on the slopes and sugar maples on the crests of the hills where the opposite are more common. Spring wildflowers are abundant in the moist coves, while papaws and persimmons entice wildlife in autumn.
History of the Area
Great Seal State Park is located just north of the town of Chillicothe where the history of Ohio and the culture of the Indian shroud the land. In the mid to late 1700s, the Scioto River Valley was the home of the Shawnee. Three Shawnee towns, all named Chillicothe, were located just below the hills that comprise Great Seal State Park. North of here was the intersection of five major Indian trails. The Scioto River was utilized by the Shawnee as their primary means of transportation from one village to another. The great Shawnee warrior Tecumseh was born north of here near what is now Circleville. Not far from the park is where Logan, chief of the Mingoes, gave his most eloquent speech ending his vengeance against the white settlers for murdering all his relatives.

The first settlers came to the area in the 1790s. In 1796, General Nathaniel Massie, a well-known surveyor and woodsman, organized the settlement of the Scioto Valley by laying out on his own land the beautiful town of Chillicothe. Chillicothe was the first capital of the new state of Ohio from 1803 to 1810. (The capital was moved to Zanesville from 1811 to 1812 and then back to Chillicothe until it was permanently moved to Columbus in 1816.)

The park takes its name from the state emblem, "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio." The famous seal depicts a sheaf of wheat representing Ohio's agricultural strength and a bundle of seventeen arrows shows Ohio to be the 17th state to enter the Union. The mountains and rising sun signify that Ohio was one of the first states west of the Alleghenies. The Scioto River flows between Mount Logan and the cultivated fields in the foreground. The design is said to have been the cooperative inspiration of Thomas Worthington, "Father of Ohio Statehood;" Edward Tiffin, the first governor; and William Creighton, first secretary of state. After an all-night meeting at "Adena," the magnificent estate of Worthington, they viewed the sun rising over Mt. Logan and the hills of what is now Great Seal State Park thus inspiring the scene of the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.
Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
September 12 Great Place
Holes are challenging like no place else.
July 20 Good Area - that could be better
We went to do some walking in this area. There are a number of positives, the disc golf if you are into that looks very interesting. Trails are marked well, once you find them. This area is very nice to get out and take in some fresh air with family or friends.
October 21 sweet disc golf
get out and play disc golf!!
Private Area Campgrounds
Walnut Creek Campground & Resort
2342 Walnut Creek Road
Chillicothe, OH
740-774-1203
Sun Valley Campground
10105 County Road 550
Chillicothe, OH
740-775-3490
Lake Hill Campground
2466 North Musselman Station Road
Frankfort, OH
740-998-5648
Area Fishing Related Businesses
Bait & Tackle
381 N High St
Chillicothe, OH
(740) 774-1985
D & K Bait & Tackle Dealers
288 W Hydell Rd
Chillicothe, OH
(740) 772-1836
Area Accommodations
Cottages and Cabins
Rustic beauty in a peaceful, clean atmosphere is the secret to this Family Retreat. The serene splendor of Mother Nature is your reward for visiting Walnut Creek. We offer cabin rentals for those who want the convenience with less effort.
5.9 miles from park*
Reservations
Arrival Date
Number of Nights
Directions
From Cleveland, Ohio: Take I-71 South to I-270 West to U.S. 23 South (Circleville Exit)Travel South on 23, through Circleville 17 miles to Delano Exit. Follow signs to Park Entrance.

From Columbus, Ohio: Take U.S. 23 South through Circleville 17 miles to Delano ExitFollow signs to the park, which is located three miles East off of U.S. 23.

From Cincinnati, Ohio: U.S. 50 East to Chillicothe. Take U.S. 23 North to State Route 159Turn right on Delano Road, follow signs to the Park, which is located 2 miles North of Chillicothe.

From Toledo, Ohio:Take U.S. 23 to Columbus to I-270. Take I-270 West to U.S. 23 exit. Go South through Circleville 17 miles to Delano RoadExit. Follow the signs to the Park.

From Chillicothe, Ohio:Take State Route 159 North to Delano Road, turn right and go to the Marietta Road intersection; turn right to the Park Entrance.
Ohio
62

GREAT SEAL STATE PARK

X