Logan County High Point Trip Report

Campbell Hill, USGS BM (1549 ft)

Date: March 25, 2008
Author: Andy Hatzos

Campbell Hill is the highest point in Ohio. When I visited, I claimed my third state high point, after Connecticut and New Hampshire.

Campbell Hill is located at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, a vocational school. In the era of the Cold War, this site was actually an Air Force radar station. The entrance to the school is on the south side of Sandusky Avenue (OH-540) about two miles east of Bellefontaine. During regular business hours on a week day, access to the high point is essentially guaranteed.

The access drive to the school passes numerous buildings as it goes south, and eventually winds to a sharp right turn up the back slope of Campbell Hill, ending at a cul-de-sac near a grouping of large water tanks. From here, the high point itself is a 30-foot walk away, with virtually no elevation gain. The highest ground has been paved over, with an "X" carved into a piece of stone, and the USGS benchmark near the center. The benchmark reads an elevation of 1548.81 feet, which is interesting, because a nearby Ohio Historical Marker sign reads an elevation of 1549.09 feet.

The top of the hill has obviously been disturbed by the paved pathways and water tanks. The benchmark appears to be on the highest spot, but I also walked along the western lip of the hill as it rounds one of the tan water tanks, as it appeared to be about as high as the benchmark. The hill slopes sharply downward on its northern slope, toward another parking lot associated with the school complex. A flagpole sits just north of the benchmark.

Despite Campbell Hill being in a relatively flat region of central Ohio, the overall gain in elevation is apparent, especially when looking off to the west.

PICTURES:
Picture 01 (157 k) - Campbell Hill, as seen from the east, along the driveway through the school premesis.
Picture 02 (160 k) - The short walkway to the highest point, from the end of the cul-de-sac.
Picture 03 (172 k) - An Ohio Historical Marker sign, with some history on Campbell Hill.
Picture 04 (201 k) - The USGS benchmark at the highest point.
Picture 05 (141 k) - The view to the northwest.
Picture 06 (113 k) - The view to the northeast, just down the hill to some of the school buildings and another parking lot.
Picture 07 (160 k) - A tornado shelter just southeast of the cul-de-sac.


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