Great Council State Park

Great Council State Park in Xenia, Ohio sits on the site of the Shawnee village of Old Chillicothe. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources describes the park as a place that celebrates and honors the history of the Native Americans and European settlers of the region, and it was developed in collaboration with the Ohio History Connection and the three federally recognized Shawnee Tribes.

At 0.7 acres, this is a compact, focused site rather than a sprawling landscape park. It suits visitors interested in Ohio and Shawnee history, school groups scheduling guided tours, and anyone wanting a short walk through restored prairie rather than a long backcountry hike.

Plan your visit

Trails

2 named routes 1.62 mi of walkable ways mapped within 2 km

0.51 Blackfish Trail
0.31 Tecumseh Preserve Trail

Know before you go

Address: 1587 US Route 68 North, Xenia, OH, 45385
Phone: (937) 502-0057
Official site: ohiodnr.gov
Managed by: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Hours: Interpretive Center and Gift Shop are open Wednesday through Sunday 10am to 5pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Trails and outdoor park grounds are open 6am to 11pm. If you have questions, call the park office. Please note that you can call ahead to have tours accommodate anyone with low vision or low hearing.

On the ground

The park's Interpretive Center anchors a visitor's understanding of Old Chillicothe, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers a free, 1-hour guided tour that begins at a panther statue in the lobby and explains how the park came together. A Historic Barn stands among the park's features as a marker of the site's later settlement-era use. Outdoors, the Blackfish Trail covers 0.51 miles through a restored Native Prairie planted with native species, giving walkers a close look at the plant community the park has reestablished on the site.

The adjacent Tecumseh Preserve Trail runs 0.31 miles and ends with a view of the Little Miami River. No pets are allowed in the preserve. Together the two named routes offer a short, connected walk linking prairie restoration to a riverside vantage point, and both are part of the park's outdoor grounds rather than a separate wilderness area.

Practical notes

The Interpretive Center and Gift Shop are open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and are closed Monday and Tuesday. Trails and outdoor park grounds are open daily from 6am to 11pm. Visitors with questions can call the park office at (937) 502-0057, and tours can be arranged in advance to accommodate visitors with low vision or low hearing. The park is located at 1587 US Route 68 North, Xenia, OH, 45385.