Many of today's major highways and roadways follow trails originally set down by Native Americans hundreds of years ago. These were roads traveled by the Native Americans on foot and horseback that led them to hunting grounds, areas to gather food and safe shelter from harsh weather. Today we can still travel some of these trails, including a number of trails in Ohio, by foot, horse and bicycle.
American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail runs from coast to coast across the United States and crosses the state of Ohio. It follows part of the Buckeye Trail, which is the only trail in the country that completely encircles a state. While gaps and connections have been filled in with modern roadways, the American Discovery Trail in Ohio follows many traditional Native American paths.
The section of the American Discovery Trail that runs through Ohio stretches for 524 miles through 11 sections, from Belpre on the border with West Virginia to Indiana on the other side. On the way, the trail winds through state and national forest reserves and memorial parks, including Shawnee State Park and the Indian Creek Preserve, which commemorate the history and culture of Ohio and the Native Americans who once lived in the region.
The Hopewell-Chillicothe-Marietta Road is located in Ross County, Ohio, and follows an old footpath that Emmett A. Conway, former forester and member of the Forest History Society, states would have been the flattest and driest route through the Hopewell area of Ohio, which the Hopewell Indians called home. This trail, though now paved in some areas, was once used by Native Americans to travel for long-distance hunting or migrating during the change of seasons.
The north-to-south segment of this trail is called The Scioto Trail, which connects to the Path of the Armed Warriors, or Warriors Path. These ancient roadways would have made it possible for Native Americans to hunt, gather and travel safely during the winter months; though abbreviated, these routes still exist today for our own feet.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located close to both Cleveland and Akron, and is a popular tourist attraction for hikers and outdoorsmen who travel to Ohio. The name “Cuyahoga” comes from the Native American name for “crooked river,” and that river winds through the national park. Paths and trails crisscross the park, providing biking and hiking trails with opportunities to see the flora and fauna first experienced by the Native Americans in the Ohio hundreds of years ago.
- native american pow-wow image by Joy Fera from Fotolia.com