The park area sits astride the crest of the Cincinnati Arch, a convex tilting of bedrock layers caused by an ancient

upheaval. Younger rocks lie both east and west of this crest where some of the oldest rocks in Ohio are exposed.

The sedimentary limestones and shales tell of a sea hundreds of millions of years in our past which once covered the

state. The park's excellent fossil finds give testimony to the life of this long vanished body of water. The forests of the area are comprised of over 65 species of plants. Several major communities thrive in the area. A northern flood plain forest is found in the valley, while mixed associations of oak-hickory and beech-maple woodlands clothe the ridges and hillsides. Red-tail hawk, white-tail deer, raccoon, red fox and box turtle make the park their home.

• Pick a trail: Forty-three miles of hiking trails lead hikers to the interesting areas of the park with many scenic views along the way. For horsemen, thirty-one miles of trail and a horsemen's camp are offered. A five-mile mountain bike trail is located between Harveysburg Road and Center Road.