Wildflower Pilgrimage Lodging

The Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place in five southern Ohio counties, a region boasting the highest forest density left in the state, as well as some of the most beautiful wildflower displays to be found anywhere in the world. This region is called the Arc of Appalachia, and covers Ross, Pike, Scioto, Highlands and Adams Counties. On the western boundary, the Arc outlines the leading edge of the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.

Because the outer curve of the Arc spans approximately 90 miles in length, it is wise to orient yourselves to the Pilgrimage's morning, evening, and field trip destinations before you decide where to make your lodging reservations. We will be making some recommendations for you--please scroll below the map to see our list.

For Lodging, please scroll below the map for recommendations, and/or click on one of the red lodging dots. Region A is the hub at Cave Canyon, the Appalachian Forest Museum and the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. Gold stars are the meeting areas. Blue hexagons are the field trip trailheads.

IF YOU CONTACT A LODGING FACILITY AND IT IS FILLED TO CAPACITY FOR THE PILGRIMAGE, PLEASE NOTIFY US AT DIRECTOR@HIGHLANDSSANCTUARY.ORG or 937-365-0101 AND WE WILL MAKE A NOTE ON OUR WEBSITE. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP OTHERS.

Top Lodging recommendations based on AMBIENCE: (see list below for proximity ratings)

1) Highlands Nature Sanctuary (for groups only): The Highlands has two lodges, each ideal for groups of 10-14, runs around $25.00/night per person if filled to capacity. Beechcliff Lodge is in a wooded setting by the Rocky Fork Creek, only .5 miles from Cave Canyon. Ravenwood Lodge has a beautiful yard with shade trees, just fifty feet from the heavily wooded and scenic Rocky Fork Gorge and Listening Trail--and lies about 8 miles from Cave Canyon.

2) Pike State Park Cabins: only 9 or 10 miles from hub, beautiful forested hill-country situated inside a large contiguous state forest and located near a small lake that reflects the hills around it. Offers housekeeping and standard cabins. Very scenic and tranquil. For reservation information, call 1-866-644-6727. For park information call 740-493-2212. www.ohiodnr.com/parks Highly recommended. Much more affordable than most state park cabins. Priced approximately $50/night basic cottage, and $80/night for 2-bedroom housekeeping cabin. There is also a private cabin rental in the Pike Lake region: Greenbriar Ranch at Pine Ridge Retreat, roughly $135.00 for up to eight people/night, can accommodate up to ten.

** 3) Hope Springs Retreat Center: We are very excited to offer you this special promotion at Hope Springs-- just for Wildflower Pilgrimage guests, an internationally known retreat center located 40 minutes south of the Pilgrimage hub at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary near Peebles, Ohio. Hope Springs is an ideal choice for people who want trips both on the north and south end of the Arc, as it is placed nearly perfectly in the center. The long drive to the evening dinner will be a bit of a sacrifice, but the roads between are pastoral and beautiful--helping to mitigate the distance, especially when you figure many guests have flown across continents just to get here! Hope Springs is an amazing experience. It is known for its hospitality, community-style warmth, and incredibly delicious meals--usually vegetarian or light meat in substance. Think of it...wildflowers during the day and Hope Springs at night! Life doesn't get much better than this! Besides the beauty of its secluded forested setting and tranquil grounds, what makes Hope Springs special is its outstanding facilities--all within walking distance from each other on a pleasant campus. Lodging rooms include comfortable, homey rooms in an old farmhouse, a forest cabin, and artistically decorated rooms rimming the outer perimeter of the stunning octagonal Studio. The Studio is an architectural masterpiece. In its heart is a large movement floor with finished maple hardwood floors, and high ceilings with skylights. Hope Springs has a warm, community feel and artistic ambience throughout its complex. For the Pilgrimage, Hope Springs is offering rooms for couples (two singles or King) at $125.00/couple/night with shared bathrooms nearby on the hall, and rooms with three single beds at $80.00/person/night with attached bath. If you are solo, Hope Springs will do their best to find roommates of the same gender to share your room. There is a two night minimum. Prices include a classic Hope Springs breakfast and all retreat amenities (hot tub, meditation Spirit house, walking labyrinth). Center Phone: (937) 587-2602 Business Office: (937) 587-2605 or write suzhswc@bright.net. www.hopespringsinstitute.org.

4) Small to medium private operations in the interior of the Arc. Located in the interior of the Arc, these facilities are equidistant from the span of all field trip meeting points. The down side is that most of them are a forty minute drive to the main headquarters, where dinner, evening programs, and the majority of the trailheads are located. The plus side is that the interior of the Arc has a fairly low population density and there are some unique and attractive retreats in this area, the most renowned being Murphin Ridge, a retreat located on its own 1000 acre preserve. Also: in Chillicothe, 25 miles form hub: Victoria Manor is a local bed and breakfast, a 12-room Italinate-style brick home on two acres and just two blocks from downtown Chillicothe. Featuring four guest rooms, a gazebo, gardens, waterfalls, secure off street parking and overnight dog boarding. Prices are roughly $70/single, $80/double. Call Katharine Galloway at 740-775-6424.

5) Lazy H cabins are modest low-frills wooden cabins located immediately on the northern periphery of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, just a two mile drive to Cave Canyon. They are situated closer together than the cabins at Pike Lake and are built in a more open landscape, but they are clean, conveniently located and have attractive wood paneling on the inside and are solid wood on the outside.

Complete List of Lodging in order of PROXIMITY
Click on the red circles on the above map or click on blue titles below.

Region A: Headquarters The Highlands Nature Sanctuary (Highland County) is the region where breakfasts are served each morning, many hikes begin, and the Friday & Saturday evening programs are held. The Sanctuary offers two group lodges for 10-14 people. Lazy H cabins are modest low-frills wooden cabins located immediately on the northern periphery of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, just a two mile drive to Cave Canyon. They are situated closer together than the cabins at Pike Lake and are built in a more open landscape, but they are clean, conveniently located and have attractive wood paneling on the inside and are solid wood on the outside. Paint Creek and Rocky Fork Lake State Parks offer camping just five miles away.

Region F: Pike Lake State Park Cabins-9 miles away. are a real bargain for atmosphere and money, and are located in a beautiful setting -- a tranquil lake-side park surrounded by a very large state forest -- Pike Forest. The cabins are approximately 12 miles from Cave Canyon Preserve, where check-in takes place, breakfasts are served, Thursday evening program is held, and many of the hikes begin. It is even closer, around 9 miles, to the Friday and Saturday evening programs' location at Paint Valley High School. . All of Pike County can be explored at www.piketravel.com but watch your distances -- it is a big county. There is also a private cabin rental in the Pike Lake region: Greenbriar Ranch at Pine Ridge Retreat, (740)493-4400; cell (937)205-7877; $125.00 for six people/night

Region B: Hillsboro-17 miles away. is the county seat of Highland County and offers a medium-sized town with an urbanized setting. Located sixteen miles to Cave Canyon and the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, Hillsboro offers direct state routes to both northern and southern hiking destinations. Many fast food operations and a few restaurants are located here. Hillsboro is in the glacial plains of western Ohio and is surrounded by farm country. Some of the town's lodging facilities are quite old -- please be discerning when you make a reservation. Lacking in landscape ambience but about five miles closer than Chillicothe to the hub. Recommended: Tu-Lakes Motel is half-way between Hillsboro and the Sanctuary, modest, affordable, relatively new. Days Inn --recently renovated, in Hillsboro. Coyote Creek offers high end b&b cabins this side of Hillsboro, very handsome.

Region H: Chillicothe-25 miles away. is a very historic city with a beautiful old downtown. Once the state capital, it is surrounded by the same Appalachian hills that inspired the Great Seal of Ohio. Chillicothe is located next to Great Seal State Park, Hopewell Culture National Monument and Ross County's Buzzard's Roost. Chillicothe has several motels, and a few bed and breakfasts. It is about a thirty minute drive to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and only twenty minutes to the evening program destination of Paint Valley High School, located just east of Bainbridge. Chillicothe is farther away from the southern arc destinations of Adams County than the preceding regions, but it still has a lot going for it, and it has the added benefit of lots of available lodging. Victoria Manor is a local bed and breakfast, a 12-room Italinate-style brick home on two acres and just two blocks from downtown Chillicothe. Featuring four guest rooms, a gazebo, gardens, waterfalls, secure off street parking and overnight dog boarding. Prices are roughly $70/single, $80/double. Call Katharine Galloway at 740-775-6424.

Region X: ARC Interior -25 to 35 miles away. If you want something operated by small business owners, or possibly located in a rural and forested setting, check out the wonderful private options that are scattered in the interior of the Arc of Appalachia. Prairie Pond Woods is available for four people--a great place to stay if you are interested in the southern field trips.

Region E: Shawnee State Park Lodge and Cabins - 45 miles away on the south tip of the ARC is a GREAT place to stay but only if you are opting to do at least two field trips in the southern half of the Arc, down near the Ohio River. The down side is that it is an hour and ten minutes to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and so you could be doing some serious driving if you wanted to catch the dinners and primary evening programs held at the Sanctuary Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The drive at least is a real pretty one -- through the heart of the ARC. Beautiful!!! but far away from the evening programs and central hub.

Lodging farther away, not necessarily recommended for Pilgrimage guests:

Region C: Adams County is a very beautiful rural county which contains several of our nature preserves, a few of which are open for hiking permits. This link takes you to the entire county, all the way down to the Ohio River.

Region G: Portsmouth is an old river town, and a fairly large city. It is not recommended for the Pilgrimage because of distance, but it has some historic sites worth seeing if you want to investigate, including exceptionally beautiful levee murals. See Scioto County link below.

Region D: Ohio River Towns If you are fond of history, the river towns of Maysville, Ripley and Manchester are compelling destinations with many historic structures perched on the banks of the Ohio River. Lots of historic attractions in these old towns, without the distraction of too much fast food or retail. Attractions include a restored underground railroad site known as the Rankin House; and a pioneer town south of Maysville that is actually still inhabited and filled with many interesting craft stores and log cabins. This region is an acceptable drive to the Pilgrimage's southern-most field trip locations, but VERY FAR from the northern end of the Arc and far from all of the evening programs. It is therefore not recommended.

Visitor Bureaus in the Arc of Appalachia Region