Fort Hill is a nature preserve containing one of the best
preserved prehistoric hilltop enclosure in North America. The
Hopewell Indians (100 B.C. – A.D. 500) constructed the 1 ½ mile
long earthwork as well as at least two ceremonial buildings and
probably a village in the Brush Creek Valley. Lying at the
western edge of the Allegheny Plateau, immediately south of the
glacial boundary, this hilly area contains an impressive
diversity of bedrock, soils, flora, and fauna. There are 11
miles of hiking trails at the 1200 acre preserve, as well as a
picnic area and latrines. The museum houses exhibits on the
geology and archaeology of the area. Fort Hill has what many
call the best hiking trails in the state. Its fully mature
forests harbor many rare or endangered wildflowers, hundreds of
species of mushrooms a high number of tree species. Birders will
likely be able to check off several hard to find species. You
can hike to a stone and earthen-wall Hopewell hilltop enclosure
at the top of Fort Hill, with a circum