Scenic Trails in Ohio Amish Country

From Ohio’s best sandwich to the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock, Ohio Amish Country is a place where people come to find all sorts of things. But with miles of trails and thousands of acres of preserved land, it’s also a wonderful place to get lost.

Whether you want to ride your bike alongside buggies or trade the pavement for dirt paths through the woods, there’s plenty of room here to get out, get active and take in the views. Here are a few local favorites. 

Legacy Point Park

Legacy Point Park is one of Holmes County’s newest places to head outside, and it’s a spot people are just starting to discover. Located northeast of Millersburg, the park has more than five miles of primitive trails for hiking, jogging and horseback riding, with routes that move through woods, open meadows and one of the highest points in the county. A mountain bike trail is also in the works, giving outdoor enthusiasts one more reason to keep an eye on the park.

Expect dirt paths, uneven footing, wooded stretches and beautiful views across the Killbuck Valley. The park frequently hosts nature education programs, guided walks and outdoor learning for kids, families and adults.

Holmes County Trail 

This popular trail follows a paved corridor through some of the most recognizable scenery in Ohio Amish Country. Frequented by walkers, bikers, and buggies, you’ll go from small-town stops to wide open views.

You can keep it easy with a short out-and-back from Millersburg, where the Hipp Station park makes a natural starting point with restrooms and parking. For a longer ride, follow the trail through places like Fredericksburg, Holmesville, Killbuck, Glenmont and Brinkhaven. Picnic areas are also available at several locations, so it’s simple to build in a stop.

The trail is mostly level and easy to ride, offering 22 miles of fresh air and exercise. The Brinkhaven end connects into the Knox County trail system and the Mohican Valley Trail, where riders can continue toward the Bridge of Dreams, a long covered bridge over the Mohican River.

Killbuck Marsh and Killbuck Swamp Trails

Killbuck Marsh is spread across more than 5,700 acres in Holmes and Wayne counties. It includes wetlands, open water, bottomland woods and grassy edges that draw waterfowl, shorebirds, sandhill cranes, bald eagles and other wildlife. Most visitors explore by driving the public roads, stopping at pull-offs and watching the marsh edges. There are parking areas, but no restroom facilities, so bring bug spray and pay attention to posted access signs.

For walking trails in the Killbuck area, head to nearby Killbuck Swamp. Quarry Bluff Trail is a little over a mile and climbs about 200 feet to an abandoned sandstone quarry, with mature woods, moss-covered rock and seasonal ridge views. Turtle Pond Trail is a much easier 0.3-mile out-and-back near Killbuck Creek and Turtle Pond, with level walking, good birdwatching and an active beaver lodge near the end of the trail.

The Wilderness Center

Surrounded by nearly 700 acres near Wilmot, The Wilderness Center offers more than 12 miles of trails through old-growth forest, prairie, ponds, a lake and wooded ground, with plenty of short-route options.

The interpretive building has hands-on exhibits, a gift shop and an indoor wildlife observation room, where you can watch birds and other animals from a comfortable indoor space. There is also a nature playscape for kids, plus a planetarium and observatory that frequently offers astronomy programs.

The Wilderness Center also manages Foxfield Preserve, a conservation burial ground on the property. Unlike a traditional cemetery, Foxfield is designed to protect and restore the land, with natural burial areas surrounded by prairie, forest and walking trails. Visitors can walk the cemetery trails from sunrise to sunset, making it a quiet place to reflect while seeing another side of The Wilderness Center’s conservation work.

Stay Close to the Scenery

The views in Ohio Amish Country do not stop at the trailhead. They are part of the drive in, the trip between stops and the place you choose to stay at the end of the day. Book a modern farmhouse with room to spread out or a private cabin tucked into the woods.

After a day outside, there is a lot to like about a porch with a view, a fire pit and nowhere else you need to be.

Browse places to stay and plan your Ohio Amish Country getaway.