| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
1862 |
 |
Water, acres |
2 |
|
Nearby Wildlife Area, acres |
900 |
| Activities |
Hunting |
yes |
|
Hiking Trail, miles |
5 |
|
Bridle Trails, miles |
17 |
|
Mountain Bike Trail, miles |
17 |
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
Picnic Shelters, # |
2 |
| |
Disc Golf |
1 |
| Winter Rec |
Cross- Country Skiing |
yes |
| Camping |
Non-electric Campsites |
15 |
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
Horsemen's Camp |
5 |
 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.
Camping
- 15 non-electric sites
- Pressurized water, vault latrines, playground, and a shelterhouse.
- The campground is scenically located adjacent to Sugarloaf Mountain, offering a view of the Scioto Valley below.
- Campers with pets are permitted.
- Sites 1-5 are available to horse campers.
- The campground is closed during the months of January and February.
Trails
- Twenty-two miles of trails are available to hikers, mountain bikers, and horsemen.
- The terrain varies from steep to gently rolling.
- It is advised that horses and hikers be well conditioned for these trails.
- The Sugarloaf Mountain Trail (yellow), 2.1 miles, climbs through dense maple-dominated forests to the crest of Sugarloaf.
- This loop is short and rises almost 500 feet in less than a quarter mile.
- Shawnee Ridge Trail (blue), 7.8 miles, comprises Bald Hill, Sand Hills and parts of Rocky Knob. Several steep sections are part of this forested trail.
- Mt. Ives Trail (orange), 6.4 miles, winds along Mt. Ives and provides several scenic vistas. The trail is strenuous.
- Three hiking trails (Grouse Rock, Spring Run and Picnic Loop) are available. The Spring Run Trail may be used for cross-country skiing when weather conditions permit.
Hunting
- Hunting is permitted in designated areas.
- A valid Ohio hunting license is required.
Picnicking
- A scenic picnic area offers water and latrines.
- The Ireland and Vista shelterhouses may be reserved for a fee by contacting Tar Hollow State Park at (740) 887-4818. Reservations begin the second Monday in November for the next calendar year.
More To Do
- Sand volleyball, basketball and horseshoe courts are located in day-use areas of the park
- Playground equipment is also available for youngsters
- 18-basket disc golf course is located at the Ireland picnic area
- Paintball
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.
Area Attractions
Nearby are Scioto Trail State Park which is located south of Chillicothe off State Route 23, Lake White State Park which is located near Waverly on State Route 220, and Tar Hollow State Park and State Forest which are located off State Route 327 near the Ross-Hocking-Vinton county lines. ODNR Division of Wildlife manages Ross Lake Wildlife Area off Lick Run Road. The area provides many recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, disc golf, nature study and bird watching.
The famous outdoor historical drama, Tecumseh!, is presented late June through early September at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater.
Adena State Memorial, the restored home of Thomas Worthington is one of The Ohio Historical Society's premier sites. It includes Worthington's newly-restored 1807 mansion and a 13,000 square foot Museum/Visitor Center.
The Ross County Historical Society at 45 W. Fifth Street in Chillicothe features exhibits of pioneer crafts, firearms, furniture, toys and clothing. The museum is open March through November.
One mile north of Chillicothe on State Route 104 is the Mound City/Hopewell Culture Group National Historical Park. The area is a prehistoric Indian complex of 23 burial mounds. A museum and visitor's center are open daily.
For more information on local attractions, visit the Division of Travel and Tourism or call 1-800-BUCKEYE.
Directions
From Cleveland, Ohio:
- Take I-71 South to I-270 West to U.S. 23 South (Circleville Exit)
- Take U.S. 23 South through Circleville to State Route 207 exit
- Turn left, then right onto Hospital Road
- Turn left on Delano Road
- Turn right at the second stop sign, the park entrance will be on the left
From Columbus, Ohio:
- Take U.S. 23 South through Circleville to State Route 207 exit
- Turn left, then right onto Hospital Road
- Turn left on Delano Road
- Turn right at the second stop sign, the park entrance will be on the left
From Cincinnati, Ohio:
- U.S. 50 East to Chillicothe
- Take U.S. 23 North to State Route 159
- Turn 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
- Take U.S. 23 South through Circleville to State Route 207 exit
- Turn left, then right onto Hospital Road
- Turn left on Delano Road
- Turn right at the second stop sign, the park entrance will be on the left
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.
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