Great Council State Park — Hikes, camping & visitor guide

Great Council State Park is located in the Oldtown area of Xenia Township, Greene County, Ohio, United States. In February 2021, the state of Ohio agreed to purchase a 0.7-acre (0.28 ha) site along U.S. Route 68 (US 68), south of Brush Row Road, in Oldtown, north of Xenia, housing the Tecumseh Motel, for $260,000.

The state planned to redevelop the property as a state park in honor of Tecumseh (c. 1768 – October 5, 1813), the Shawnee leader who was killed in the War of 1812 and became an iconic folk hero in American, Indigenous, and Canadian history. The park would educate the public about Tecumseh and the Shawnee people, and its focal point would be a 2,000-to-3,000-square-foot (190 to 280 m2) interpretative center.

The park's location was chosen due to the Shawnee history in the area: Oldtown is on the former site of the large Shawnee settlement commonly referred to as Old Chillicothe, led by Chief Blackfish, which had a population of 1000 between 1777 and 1780, and Old Chillicothe's council house is believed to have been located on a high ridge behind the motel; the park's location is also due to the earlier mistaken belief that Tecumseh had been born in Old Chillicothe. The park was to be developed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in coordination with the Ohio History Connection, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, the Shawnee Tribe and the Absentee Shawnee, and run by ODNR. In January 2022, it was reported that the size of the interpretive center would be increased to 6,000 to 7,000 sq ft (560 to 650 m2) and its design would be a modern interpretation of the traditional council house form used by the Shawnee as a primary gathering place and dwelling; it was also reported that ODNR hoped to secure more land for the park.

Ground was broken for the park on June 27, 2022. During the ceremony, it was announced that the interpretive center was now planned to be 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2); it would include three floors of exhibits, with a skylight on the roof and a second-floor balcony with a view of the settlement site.

Great Council State Park occupies a particular place in the imagination of American public lands. As a State Park in Ohio and Oklahoma, it represents a deliberate choice — by the people who advocated for its protection, and by the National Park Service rangers who maintain it — to keep this landscape available to anyone willing to make the trip. That accessibility is the quiet miracle of the park system.

The pages linked below break the visit down into the four practical questions every traveler asks: where can I hike, where can I sleep, what else is worth seeing while I'm in the area, and what should I know before I show up. Each one is written from the perspective of someone planning their first trip — assume nothing, explain what's worth explaining, and skip the marketing language. If you've been here before, treat these guides as a refresher and a way to discover the corners you missed last time.

What this guide covers

Over the next four pages, this field guide breaks Great Council State Park into the practical questions every traveler asks: which trails are worth the effort, where to sleep both inside and outside the park boundary, what else is worth a stop in the surrounding region, and the small-but-essential tips that make the difference between a stressful first day and a smooth one. Use the navigation above to jump between sections, or read them in order — they're written to flow.

Logistics at a glance

Use this quick reference when you're putting together your itinerary. The figures below are the most-asked questions every visitor needs answered before arrival, summarized in one place.

Designation	State Park
States	Ohio, Oklahoma
Entrance fee	Varies — check the official park site below for current rates.
Visitor center hours	Most open daily 8–9am to 4:30–6pm. Reduced winter hours common.
Best months	Plan around the weather notes above.
Camping inside park	See the camping guide for campground details, fees, and reservation windows.
Nearby gateway towns	See nearby attractions for lodging and supply stops.