Thing to Do

Hiking & Exploring Hopewell Mound Group

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Two interpretive signs in the foreground with a large green field in the background

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

This 300-acre site is the type site for the Hopewell culture. Early archeologists named the site for its owner, Mordecai C. Hopewell. The general shape of the Hopewell Mound Group is a parallelogram 1,800 feet long on the east and the west sides and 2,800 feet long on the north and south. Archeologists estimated that the walls were originally 35 feet wide at the base and enclosed an area of 111 acres. A smaller square enclosure with sides 850 feet long is connected to the east side of the parallelogram. Remnants of the east, west, and north walls are visible. Two earthworks features are located within the parallelogram, one circular and one D-shaped. Three of the seven mounds in the D-shaped enclosure are joined. Their original size is estimated to be 500 feet long, 180 feet wide, and 30 feet tall. This is the largest known mound constructed by the Hopewell culture, and a remnant of it is visible today.

Today, the site has a 2.5 mile interpretive trail and a portion of the Rails-To-Trails bike path. Bikes are only permitted on the bike path, not on the interpretive trail. A pavillion with a number of picnic tables is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is located adjacent to the parking lot and about 100 feet away from the restroom building.

For additional information, directions to Hopewell Mound Group and for a downloadable site map with trail locations, please visit the park's Hopewell Mound Group page.

Last updated: November 17, 2020