Adventure’s Calling: This Park Is Ideal for Discovering Fossils in Ohio

People don't often flock to the Midwest for a beachfront vacation. In fact, the only beaches you'll find in the states of this region are strands of sand along lakes, rivers, and watering holes. Yet, for a place like Ohio, this wasn't always the case. In the Ordovician Period (444 to 488 million years ago), ancient Ohio was covered by the great depths of an ancient sea. Today, you can still see many of the creatures that inhabited the sea all those eons ago—in fossilized form, of course. In fact, Hueston Woods State Park is teeming with ancient marine life.

That's right! Trammel Fossil Park and Sharon Woods Gorge Trail aren't the only notable places for fossilized finds in the Buckeye State.

Thanks to its rich history, many parts of Ohio are renowned worldwide for their abundant fossils. One of the best places to find them is Hueston Woods State Park. Now, you won't find something like Sue the T. rex here (for that, you have to go to The Field Museum in Chicago), but you are likely to find many tiny ancient beings. If anyone else spent most of 2020 playing Animal Crossing, you know that Blathers the owl would have the time of his life here finding specimens for his museum.

You may find an intact brachiopod, similar to a clam, or the indent of one embedded deep into a rock. Or maybe you'll be meandering a path and come across the remnants of a trilobite. It's incredible how the remains of so many of these creatures have withstood the test of time and are now an integral part of a state park's aesthetic.

That aesthetic encompasses nearly 3,000 protected acres of natural landscape. Can you imagine how many horn corals there could be, hiding beneath brush or lying in the creek bed, just waiting to be uncovered? Even cooler, what fossils you can find, you can keep. Considering that Hueston Woods is a free park to visit, the souvenirs can't get any more complimentary.

When your fossil-finding mission has concluded for the day, you can camp out in the park. This rustic spot is one of the best camping sites in the state. There are traditional tent camping and RV spots with leashed pets allowed. Or if, like me, you're more of a cabin dweller, head over to the Hueston Woods Lodge. Perched alongside Acton Lake, this charming lodge is perfect for any getaway. They even have independent cottages if you prefer a little more privacy—though keep in mind that only three of those are pet-friendly.

Even if you've been to Hueston Woods, there are 12 hiking trails to explore, so there is bound to be something you haven't seen before. When you aren't finding more fossils for your Devonian treasure trove, there is plenty of time for other treasures. That's because Hueston Woods is also a hot spot for geocaching. If you haven't started your geocache adventure yet, be sure to register on the website before heading out.