Best for:

Rockhounds, amateur paleontologists, spiritual practitioners seeking “witches stones,” and local Ohio hikers.

Trail sign.

Exploring the Ancient Depths of Highbanks Metro Park:

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the Olentangy River’s murky water? While most hikers and other visitors stick to the overlooks, the true history of Highbanks Metro Park is found down in the mud and shale of the riverbed.

April 15th on an 80-degree morning, I set out to explore the Sycamore Loop at Highbanks Metro Park, in Columbus, Ohio with Cyble and Luna. We aimed to see if the rumors of hag stones and prehistoric remains being abundant here held any truth.

An oddly heart shaped patch of missing bark.

In this hiking journal, we’re going to dive deep into the specific fossils you can find at Highbanks Metro Park. Crinoid death plates and horn coral, which are quite commonly found here.

We also look at the folklore behind hag stones and the 350-million-year-old geology that makes this park a world-class destination for collectors.

The Olentangy River:

The Olentangy River in Columbus, Ohio was practically begging to be waded in. While we were trekking the Sycamore Loop, which we completed in roughly 1.2-miles. The trail is mostly flat and easy; however, while it is not ADA accessible, it does offer a manageable area for those avoiding steeper hikes.

The sycamore loop also winds down near the water’s edge, which offers the perfect opportunity for river wading as well as geological discovery.

When you step into the mid-shin to knee deep waters, you aren’t cooling off just anywhere… You are actually stepping on a bed of Devonian era history that dates back over 350 million years.

The Mystery of the Hag Stone – Nature

The infamous hag stone.

Among the river glass and smoothed pebbles, one of the most prized things to find is often the hag stone (also known as a holey stone or “witches stone”).

How Hag Stones Form:

These stones are not bored by animals or humans.

They are created through perforation by erosion. Over centuries, high-velocity water currents tumble smaller, harder pebbles or abrasive sand against a softer spot in a rock. This constant friction drills a clean hole entirely through the stone.

At Highbanks, the churning Olentangy River provides the perfect “lathe” for this process.

Half baked hag stone, just as epic of a find if you ask me.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance:

In spiritual beliefs, hag stones have been steeped in protection magic for millennia:

Warding: Historically hung on doors or beds to prevent “nightmares” or “hags” from sitting on one’s chest.
The Second Sight: Tradition suggests that peering through the hole allows the viewer to see into the faerie realm or spot invisible spirits.
Protection: Used by sailors and farmers to protect ships and livestock from hexes.

Horned coral anyone?

Identifying Fossils: Crinoids and Horn Corals:

The shale and limestone banks of Highbanks are famous for their fossils. A fossil death plate, is a dense slab of Crinoid stems and other pieces on a shared matrix. Crinoids, though they look like plants, and often referred to as sea lilies, were actually echinoderms, animals related to starfish.

You may also encounter Horn Coral fossils (Rugosa). These solitary corals grew in a distinct cone shape resembling a bull’s horn. They were predators that lived on the seafloor, using tentacles to catch passing food before going extinct during the Great Dying (Permian-Triassic extinction event).

Cyble & I making up 2/3 of the hiking crew today, just missing Luna in the image.

The Geology of the Sycamore Loop:

The “High Banks” of this metro park are composed of Ohio Shale, but the riverbed is often littered with Dolostone (Dolomite rock).

Unlike standard limestone, Dolostone contains magnesium, which makes it slightly harder and more resistant to erosion, often resulting in the sturdy heart shaped rocks and fossils found during our trip.
Glacial Influence: Much of the debris in the river was deposited by the Wisconsin Glacier roughly 14,000 years ago.
The Concretions: While many are roughly the size of a bowling ball, others found in the ravines and along the Olentangy River are massive, often reaching 1 meter or more in diameter. Some local accounts note they can range up to 20+ feet, although those are exceptionally large… Though we didn’t see these today, they give us plenty more reasons to return.

I really like this picture Cyb took of me, though it was a little nerve wracking getting positioned on there log.

The End to this Park the Start to Our Day:

A 1.2-mile hike at Highbanks Metro Park is a condensed masterclass in Ohio’s prehistoric past. Whether you are searching for the protective energy of a hag stone or the calcified remains of an ancient coral reef, the Sycamore Loop provides a tactile connection to the earth’s timeline.

Next time you wade into the river on an 80-degree sunny day, remember that the stones beneath your feet have been waiting millions of years to be found.