Highland County is located around 1.5 hours from Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and offers outdoor adventures and more for a day trip or weekend getaway.
I’m sharing more about fun things to do on your Ohio road trip around Highland County.
Thanks again to Visit Highland County for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own.
Go On a Private Self-Guided Cave Tour at Highlands Nature Sanctuary
7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, Ohio
This was one of my FAVORITE discoveries during our visit to Highland County.
Highland Nature Sanctuary was formerly known as “7 Caves,” a popular tourist attraction from 1930-1970’s.
7 Caves began to decline as an attraction and later transitioned to Highlands Nature Sanctuary, encompassing 3100 acres.
5 of the original 7 caves are protected bat sanctuaries that aren’t accessible to the public.
Two of the remaining caves, McKimmie’s Cave and Marble are still accessible to the public.
Where to Get the Bat Keys for McKimmie’s Cave
Visitors who want to go inside McKimmie’s Cave will need a special bat key from the front desk at the Appalachian Forest Museum.
Ask the front desk for the bat key and flashlights to access and explore McKimmie’s cave.
I would also recommend taking a picture of the trail map if you want to explore more of the area afterward.
Before or after your cave tour, you’ll want to explore more of the Appalachian Museum.
The bat key opens the gate that leads down to McKimmie’s Cave.
You can enter the crave through a crawl space if you’re extra daring or flexible.
If you prefer to walk into the cave there is a larger opening around the corner.
The flashlights definitely come in handy on your self-guided tour. I also used the flashlight feature on my cell phone for even brighter lighting.
The only group allowed in the cave is the one with possession of the bat key.
This helps avoid overcrowding in the cave because it’s an out-and-back that progressively gets really narrow toward the back of the cave.
Hike Valley of Ancients Trail also located at Highland Nature Sanctuary
The Valley of Ancients Trail is a 0.4-mile loop trail that takes you into Rocky Fork Gorge.
The trail starts at the museum and involves going up and down stairs.
Valley of Ancients trail is still considered an easy hike on AllTrails.
The scenery and rock formations are really unique and beautiful. You can easily complete this hike in a relatively short time.
If you want to extend your stay at the park, unique lodging options are available onsite at Highlands Nature Sanctuary.
Enjoy A Day on the Lake With Rocky Fork Boat Rental
6579 North Beach Road, Hillsboro
Connect with nature and enjoy a relaxing day on the water with a pontoon rental from Rocky Fork Lake Boat Rentals.
There are 14 pontoon boats available for rent. Guests can book their pontoon rental in advance online or by phone.
The pontoon rental with a slide and diving board is popular for families.
OSU fans and alumni will love the Ohio State University-themed pontoon. I had to pass on that one because my family is full of die-hard Michigan Fans…Go Blue!
Rocky Fork Boat Rentals supplies the life jackets. Kids age 10 and under are required to wear a life jacket at all times.
Guests can bring their own life jackets for kids or they can try on the ones provided by Rocky Fork Boat Rentals that most guests find more comfortable.
Customer service is the top priority for this family-owned business, which is why they have so many repeat customers each year.
Be on the lookout for midweek specials for rentals on their website and Facebook fan page.
This is also a dog-friendly rental company. In fact, you may see the owner’s dog Molly fishing at the dock.
Boat renters are allowed to bring up to 2 dogs on a boat rental.
There are Pup Planks available for rent or purchase to help aid the dog in and out of the water.
Kayaks and stand-up padddle boards are also available for rent at the same location.
There are coves to discover on the lake where you can observe wildlife. They’re also a great spot to drop anchor and swim.
Rocky Fork Lake is a popular spot for fishing with bluegill, crappie, walleye, carp, channel and flathead catfish, and largemouth bass.
Rocky Fork Lake has two large public beaches at the north and south ends of the lake with designated swimming areas.
Rocky Fork State Park is very popular for camping so make reservations in advance.
Discover Miller Nature Sanctuary State Nature Preserve
13654 Barrett Mill Road, Bainbridge
Explore 2+ miles of trails on 85.8 acres at Miller Nature Sanctuary State Nature Preserve.
Be on the lookout for beautiful natural arches and waterfalls.
Fun fact: Highland, Ross, and Adams County have the 2nd highest collection of natural arches to Hocking Hills.
Miller Nature Sanctuary State Nature Preserve Trail Distances:
- Arch Trail – 0.2 miles
- Connector Trail – 0.1 miles
- Falls Trail – 0.8 miles
- Tuliptree Trail – 0.4 miles
The Rocky Fork Gorge is also known as one of the best places in Southern Ohio to view spring wildflowers.
Find Farm Fresh Products at B. Williams Farms
9959 Centerfield Road, Leesburg, Ohio
B. Williams Farms specializes in farm fresh freezer beef (cattle grass-raised, grain-finished), corn, soybeans, pumpkins, seasonal produce, and hay & straw.
If you visit in the fall you’ll find a great selection of reasonably priced pumpkins, mums, and gourds at their pumpkin patch.
There are also fun photo ops on the property including a unique “hay horse” you can sit on.
The barn also has some games and a corn pit. Don’t forget to measure your height by the corn sign before you go.
Enjoy a Scenic Hike or Bike Ride on the Greenfield Bike Path
Felson Park, Tri-County Triangle Trail, Greenfield, OH 45123
The Greenfield Bike Path is a great scenic trail for walks or a bike ride.
There is a large gravel parking lot at Felson Park but there isn’t a restroom or playground in case you’re bringing younger kids.
I brought my foldable Buzz electric bikes for us to enjoy on the Greenfield Bike Path…because exercise is WAY more fun on an e-bike.
The paved path is relatively flat and goes along Paint Creek.
The approximate length of the trail is 3.47 miles. We didn’t go the full distance of the trail but still enjoyed the scenic ride.
Pick Apples and Other Seasonal Fruit at Karnes Orchard
8200 Worley Mill Road, Hillsboro, Ohio
Karnes Orchard is a multi-generational business where you can pick apples, peaches, pears, and cherries seasonally.
Their Facebook Fan page is the best place to learn about which fruits are currently in season for picking.
Inside their market, you’ll find seasonal fruit for sale from mid-July to mid-November.
Karnes Orchard has over 30 varieties of apples for guests to choose from.
Check out the description on the label for the best use of each type of apple and don’t leave without trying their apple cider or seasonal flavor.
Play Pickleball at Railroad Street Park
231 Railroad Street, Hillsboro, OH
Pickleball is a fusion of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. The sport has grown in popularity because it’s relatively easy to learn and very social.
The Hillsboro Ohio Pickleball Association offers opportunities in the community to experience pickleball for all ages and skill levels.
There are 13 newly constructed outdoor pickleball courts for all skill levels.
There are specific courts for 3.0 and below skills levels and courts designated for 3.5 and above skills levels. There is also a challenge court available for more advanced players.
If all the courts are full players can put their paddle in the cue for their pickleball court of choice.
Special events include intro clinics for beginners and tournaments for more advanced players drawing visitors from the region.
Kayak at Paint Creek State Park to see Plum Run Gorge with Greenfield Outdoor Adventures
Paint Creek State Park – 280 Taylor Road, Bainbridge, Ohio
The 1,148-acre lake allows boats with unlimited horsepower and has a swimming beach.
If you are interested in exploring more of the outdoors, you’ll want to check out the programs offered by Greenfield Outdoor Adventures.
Greenfield Outdoor Adventures promotes outdoor educational and recreational experiences through hiking, kayaking, biking, and much more!
I was joined by Mike Anderson from Greenfield Outdoor Adventures who provided the kayaks and life jackets…while everyone else watched from the shore… because they thought it was too cold.
I thought the weather felt great and was comfortable kayaking in a short-sleeved shirt.
The views of Plum Run Gorge were definitely worth it because you can only appreciate this view from the water.
During our kayak tour, Mike shared more about the wildlife and rock formations in the area.
Follow the Greenfield Outdoor Adventures Facebook Page for upcoming events or call (937) 876-9868 to learn more about setting up an adventure.
I enjoyed my time on the water and want to bring my inflatable stand-up paddle board to Paint Creek Lake in the summer.
Explore Paint Creek State Park
280 Taylor Rd, Bainbridge, OH
After spending time on the water, we explored Paint Creek State Park.
The 5256-acre park has three hiking trails ranging in length from 0.75 to 6 miles., 12 miles of mountain biking trails, and 25 miles of bridle trails.
The park also has a 21-hole disc golf course, nature center, and campground.
If it’s not busy during the day of your visit, I’d recommend pulling over to the side when you’re on top of the dam so you can admire the views from both sides.
The area near the lower dam is also a popular spot for fishing.
You’ll want to check out the heart-shaped rock formation in the park.
It’s located toward the beginning of the paved path that leads to the lower dam.
I briefly considered climbing up into the heart-shaped cave… but quickly discovered that my shoes had ZERO traction and settled for a pic in front of it instead.
Roadside Attraction – World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab
7592 OH-124, Hillsboro, OH
If you love stopping for quirky roadside attractions you don’t want to miss the World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab!
The giant crab built in 1995, is 67 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 12 feet high, excluding the tail height.
This is the fourth location for the world’s largest horseshoe crab. Previous locals include Baltimore, Kentucky, and Blanchester, Ohio.
You can even step inside the underbelly of the horseshoe crab.
Make sure that you sign the guest book signed by other travelers from around the world!
Fun on the Farm at Dark Harvest Productions
6418 ST RT 124, Hillsboro, OH
Experience a family-friendly fall adventure during the day or a frightening time after dark.
Check the calendar for specific weekends here.
- Family-friendly Saturdays 10AM- 5PM
- Family-friendly Fridays and Sundays 12 PM- 5PM
- The monsters come out from 7PM to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays
Day Admission is FREE until 5 PM. The family-friendly corn maze, barrel train ride, and pumpkins are sold separately.
Dark Harvest Productions has a pumpkin patch, corn maze, haunted ride, and haunted trail.
Guests can purchase a Village Pass for evening haunts that include access to stage shows, vendor areas, fire pits, and seating.
- Haunted Corn Maze/ Strawman’s Stalk: Huge 7-acre Corn maze
- Harvester Ride: 1-mile wagon ride through the haunted woods
- Bell City Walk: Haunted Walking trail
Be on the lookout for GIANT pumpkins weighing hundreds of pounds.
There are 30 different types of pumpkins to discover on the farm.
4000 pumpkin seeds have been planted and the fun part is discovering the unique colors and shapes hidden between the pumpkin leaves.
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