Shawnee Lookout Trails

Smell the rich aroma of the northern spicebush as you enter the trail. Look for small yellow blooms in the spring and their bright red fruit in the summer. Further on, look for tall prairie plants in the clearings.

View the oxbow from the overlook above the Great Miami River. The oxbow hosts many waterfowl species. Bald eagles are commonly seen cruising the river as are black vultures, red-tailed hawks and the occasional osprey.

Looking down you may find an eastern box turtle crossing your path. Looking up, watch for woodland birds such as ovenbirds, wood thrush, rufous-sided towhees and gray catbirds.

Trail Length: 1.30 miles
Trail Type: Nature
Trail Level: Moderate

The former cart paths for the now-closed Shawnee Lookout Golf Course are open for everyone to bike, hike, roll or stroll. Pets are also welcome and must remain on 6-foot leash. 

Some significant hills provide opportunities for both beautiful views and a workout. Along this quiet paved path, guests can view a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer along the forested edges of Loop A, and herons near the small pond on Loops B and C.

Loop A Length: 2 miles
Loop B Length: 0.9 miles
Loop C Length: 1.4 miles
Trail Type: Shared-Use
Trail Level: Varied

Breathtaking overlooks of the Ohio River characterize this trail. The likelihood of catching sight of a bald eagle late winter to early spring is high as they’re scouting out nesting sites. The contrast of the white head and tail feathers against the dark body and its massive size are unmistakable.

Listen for downy woodpeckers, or the much larger (at least as large as a crow) pileated woodpecker “knocking” on trees to pry insects from them. You might even hear their laughter as they speed by.

Visible from the trail is a prehistoric burial mound from the Woodland period, dating between approximately 1000 BC and 1000 AD. Of the over 10,000 earthworks in Ohio, nearly 40 of them are found in this park. Flint artifacts, such as knives, drills and spear points, as well as stone pestles, hammers and tablets, were left behind to tell the story of over 14,000 years of history of this space.

Trail Length: 2.00 miles
Trail Type: Nature
Trail Level: Moderate

Enter the Miami Fort earthwork, built by the Adena and Hopewell cultures, dating back nearly 3,000 years ago. Notice the high, man-made berms to your right as you enter the fort, possible used for water retention and agricultural irrigation. Look for other burial mounds along the trail also constructed by the Adena and Hopewell cultures.

View the confluence of the Great Miami River and Ohio River at the point. Indiana and Kentucky are also visible. Keep your eyes open for American bald eagles and black vultures soaring on the updrafts from the river.

Commonly found on the trail are Fowler’s toads, zebra swallowtails and their host plant the pawpaw tree, cerulean warblers, American redstarts and fox squirrels.

Trail Length: 1.40 miles
Trail Type: Nature
Trail Level: Moderate

Thank you to our trail sponsor of the Miami Fort Trail, Miami Fort Power Plant