Last night I excitedly set my alarms for 7:00am, 7:05am, and 7:10am. I was awake and in the shower by 6:15 am. I set my clothes out and had my hiking sack packed all up before bed as well. Three different charger types, two battery packs, a selfie stick/ tripod, a notebook, sharpie, pens, first aid kit, multiple waters, grinder, cones, jar of weed, flash light, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses in tow. I made it to Starbucks by 7:11am. I typically don’t go there but Sky chose the beverages this morning.
The Trek Into Edge of Appalachia
It was a drive of roughly 2 hours and 17 minutes when Skyler, her new friend, the baby, and I hit the road from Sky’s place. Our destination: Buzzardroost Rock Trail, part of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County, Ohio. Though many sources list the trail as 4.4 miles round trip with a moderate difficulty, my watch clocked about 6 miles. It maybe the side loops, pauses, and a bit of wandering.
We arrived to near silence. And only one other car joined us at the lot. The trailhead hosts a small booth run by two men who asked visitors to leave reviews via QR code or by filling a hand questionnaire. I liked that dual option… inclusive, versatile. They are from some organization forgive me for allowing the name to slip.
The trail winds through mixed woodlands and prairie remnants. You cross several geologic layers: including Estill shale, Lily/Bisher/Peebles dolomites, and Ohio Shale. The preserve’s management protects rare plant communities by asking hikers to stay on boardwalks and overlook platforms. Which we did when I mention wondering around I mean on clearly marked trails to small lookouts and cliffs.
Elevation gain is moderate, footing can be rooty or slippery, especially after rain . The payoff: when you crest to the overlook, the vista opens wide over Ohio Brush Creek Valley. From that cliff you may spot turkey vultures (buzzards) gliding the namesake of the place. Though I thought it might be have been named because they doo poo on the hand rail at the look out so don’t touch!
I found a painted rock tucked near the overlook trailhead, with a floral front and a Bible verse on the back (John 3:17). I’m not religious, but the message: “you don’t know what is planned for you.” Was like an echo in that wild place. Yesterday, at Glenford Fort Preserve, I picked up two other painted rocks; I keep them as small tokens of the journey.
We finished in about three hours including breaks. The trail was clean, the signs clear, and the natural diversity compelling.
Lunchtime & The Serpent Mound detour
After the hike we grabbed a quick lunch at McDonald’s not glamorous, but practical. We then drove roughly 35 minutes to Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio. This was a perfect mid-return detour. The museum was closed, and the fire tower is under reconstruction, so our visit was limited to the outside paths and overlook.
Serpent Mound is a prehistoric effigy earthwork shaped like a serpent, extending about 1,300–1,376 feet in length and varying from 1 to 3 feet in height. Archaeologists have long debated its builders. Early theory favored the Adena culture (~300 BCE) but more recent work suggests possible later reconstruction by the Fort Ancient culture (~A.D. 1000).
The serpent’s head faces east, often aligning with solar events. And some people believe it marks the summer solstice sunset. Beneath it lies the Serpent Mound Impact Crater (aka Serpent Mound Disturbance), an eroded meteorite impact structure estimated at ~8 km diameter (5 mi) with an age younger than 320 million years. The unusual geology here likely influenced indigenous peoples’ decision to locate the effigy along the rim.
Walking around the coils, tail, and head is haunting. It feels like walking along a living myth, tracing the centuries in soil and stones.
House of Phacops Rock Shop: Hidden Gem
A short drive from the mound sits House of Phacops (Alternate Universe Rock Shop) in Peebles, Ohio (29894 State Route 41) . This shop doubles as a Trilobite Gallery and fossil/mineral store. It’s about 3 miles from Serpent Mound.
Tom Johnson, the owner, is well known in fossil circles. The shop features specimens, handmade crystal jewelry, carved items, art, and more. It sits on the southeastern edge of the same impact crater and above a deep fault zone. Some believe this location emits a “positive energy” because of its geology.
Inside, I scored:
A small meteor piece which was a free gift. I bought a u.v. glowing chunk of the meteor that struck the mound and a malachite necklace for my sister. I had a Conversation with Ton about his recent trip to mine Herkimer diamonds in New York.
Seeing that orangutan statue deck to climb was whimsical; it gave a fun, quirky moment in an otherwise earth-heavy day.
Notes on Herkimer Diamonds (for future trips)
Herkimer diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystals found in Herkimer County, NY. They’re prized for clarity, natural facets, and their “diamond-like” aesthetics. Many rockhounds plan overnight or multi-day trips to harvest them.
This was one of those travel days that blends the wild, the ancient, and the quirky. Hiking along biodiversity-rich slopes, peering out over hills from high rock, then stepping into time at Serpent Mound, and finally touching pieces of skystone in a curious shop. It all felt like a grounding experience.
If I go back, I’ll time better: visit the museum at Serpent Mound, climb the reconstructed tower, join a crater geology tour from Phacops, and maybe sneak in an early morning hike to avoid crowds. And yes! I’ll chase those Herkimers next summer.
If not before then!
