Hike at Indian Mound Reserve - 4.63 Miles - Greene County, OH

INDIAN MOUND RESERVE

Indian Mound Reserve's 169 acres offer one of the most diverse areas managed by Greene County Parks & Trails. The park is located just west of Cedarville, on U.S. Route 42.

A spectacular natural resource is created with a blend of Cedar Cliff Falls, the Massie Creek Gorge, meadow, woods, river and marsh, creating an amazing view in any season of the year. Native American history can be learned here with the Pollock Works, a Hopewell structure, and the Williamson Mound, an Adena structure, both of which are hundreds of years old. An 1800's cabin has been restored on the park grounds. Originally, the log cabin was constructed in Selma, Ohio as part of a young lady's wedding dowry. It also played a role in the Underground Railroad and was probably an important part of the lives of slaves passing through Cedarville. The park also offers an extraordinary wildflower display in early May featuring about 125 species, some of which are rare, including snow trillium. It also boasts one of the largest groves of white arborvitae, a tree on Ohio's protected species list.

THE HIKE
We will meet in the Log House parking lot. There is a large sign near the road as well as the log house.

We will hike approximately 4.63 miles covering all of the trails in the park. While there are 3.12 miles in this park, we will be back-hiking some of these route providing us with the greater distance.

Click for larger map: Indian Mound Reserve

AFTER THE HIKE
Peaches Grill in Yellow Springs
Click for Directions: 104 Xenia Ave. Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
booking@peachsgrill.com
Tel: 937-767-4850

THE WATERFALLS AND MILLS
Cedar Cliff Falls, one of the most noteworthy sites at Indian Mound Reserve, is a dam built to harness power for the Harbison Mill, which operated until approximately 1917. The dam is a stone arch design and was originally 40 feet tall. The arch faces upstream using water pressure to force the stones together. After the mill was closed, several stone layers at the top were removed to eliminate flow into the mill race. Another mill that utilized the power of the dam was the Hager Straw Board and Paper Company, which operated into the late 1930’s. It had the most significant impact on the Indian Mound Reserve due to the large amounts of toxic effluent produced by the paper milling process. An elaborate system of piping, sluiceway and ditches were constructed to carry the effluents to settling ponds downstream. The observant hiker will spot sections of the round clay tiles that made up the sluiceway along the Cedar Cliff Trail. Settling ponds were created to contain the toxic effluent from the paper company. Although no longer in use, the concrete structures that controlled the flow to these ponds can be seen on the north side of the levee.

THE POLLOCK WORKS
The Pollock Works, an earthen enclosure, is thought to have been constructed by the Hopewell Indians between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D. Known for their superior architecture, it is estimated that it took 400 years to build the Pollock Works. The Hopewells used dirt, rocks and trees to build the earthen walls that connected to limestone formations, completing a circle. This unique blend of man-made and natural structures created a stable enclosure that could withstand erosion and provide valuable protection from danger. For hundreds of years, people have wondered why the Hopewell Indians invested so much time and effort into building the earthen enclosure. It is possible that it may have been a setting for rituals important to the Native American communities that lived in the area. The Hopewell also maintained a widespread trading network, and some believe that exchanges may have taken place at the enclosure. Recent discoveries at the Pollock Works indicate that a century or so after the initial construction, a timber stockade was built. It is uncertain whether this was a defensive structure or just a different means of bounding the enclosed space. Any or all of these speculations could be the reason for the Hopewell choosing this site. Initially, the Hopewell may have been attracted to the region’s valuable resources, including fruits, nuts and abundance of wildlife.

WILLIAMSON MOUND
The Williamson Indian Mound is believed to be the memorial to or a lookout from an ancient Adena Indian community. Built sometime between 500 B.C. and 100 A.D., the mound has never been officially excavated. Scientists think the Adena Indians used shells and baskets to scoop the soft dirt out of the creek to create the massive structure. The mound was originally 30 to 40 feet high and 144 feet in diameter. The structure, however, has been destroyed by erosion both environmental and man-made. It is speculated that the Adena Indians may have used the meadow and the mound as a place for prayer, reflection and communication with the dead. Others theorize that the mound was used as a lookout for protection. Unfortunately, the purposes of these complex earthworks will never be known. Some scientists speculate they are tied to religious practices, safety and trading. The Indian Mound and Pollock Works are preserved as historic features and memorials to the cultures that preceded us. Please treat them with respect and do not do anything to diminish them.

THE GORGES AND WETLANDS
Massie Creek Gorge was created by the Wisconsin Glacier, which retreated from Southwest Ohio 12,000 years ago. The glacier left its mark on the land as melting ice eroded deep river valleys and cut through sedimentary rocks formed more than 425 million years ago. The depth of the gorge, the coolness of the creek and the beauty of the white cedars, ferns, and wildflowers that flourish in the moistness make Massie Creek Gorge one of the area’s most spectacular sites. Another significant characteristic of the park is the wetland area, which can be seen on the way to the Pollock Works. Although wetlands once covered much of Ohio, they were considered to be useless, drained and filled. Today, wetlands are protected because they provide a habitat for numerous plants and animals, along with acting as a natural water purification system.

WILDFLOWERS
Indian Mound Reserve has one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in early May. Approximately 100 species of wildflowers are in the park, some of which are rare, including snow trillium. The gorge is an ideal habitat for these wildflowers because they are protected from the weather and foraging animals. Additionally, they thrive in the moist air and chemical structure of the rocks in the gorge. Indian Mound Reserve has one of the largest groves of white arborvitae, a tree on Ohio’s protected species list. This tree is unique in that it grows out of the limestone that lines the walls of the gorge.

THE LOG HOUSE
The log house at Indian Mound Reserve was originally discovered underneath a house that was being torn down by park agency staff. The external logs and internal walls were made from walnut. The cabin has recently been rebuilt with authentic logs from a similiar-era cabin in southern Ohio. G L DART General Contracting of Bellbrook served as general contractor for the rebuilding process, which has strived to maintain the historical value of the cabin. The house has been being restored to reflect the pre-1825 architecture of houses in the area. The rebuilt cabin is used for educational purposes for all ages to celebrate the rich, historical past of Greene County

ADDITIONAL INFORMAITON
Brochure: Indian Mound Reserve
Website: Click