A former railroad line, wetlands that provide wildlife habitat, and life-size scenes from a pottery workshop: Columbiana County brings together landscapes and traces of its history. Discoveries range from paths through wooded ravines to museums that vividly bring local craft and art history to life.
Trails Through Diverse Landscapes
The Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail runs for 12 miles between the villages of Lisbon and Leetonia. Its route follows the former Erie Lackawanna Railway line through Salem and Center Townships. The former railroad line is now part of the region’s trail network. The trail passes through glacial outwash plains, upland fields, mature wooded ravines, and wetlands that provide wildlife habitat. It also connects to the Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway.
Hellbender Bluff Park offers a different perspective: It covers 732 acres and spans the West Fork of Little Beaver Creek. More than five miles of hiking and walking trails offer views of wildflowers, songbirds, butterflies, open fields, and Hellbender Bluff. Comparing the distances highlights the different scales of the two natural areas: The Greenway Trail is described as a 12-mile route, while the park’s trails together cover more than five miles.
The waterfront areas also have different points of interest. Guilford Lake State Park lies mostly in Columbiana County, covers about 1,600 acres, and has a lake that supports a range of recreational activities. At Beaver Creek State Park, visible remains of the Sandy and Beaver Canal have been preserved, including old canal locks and markers. Here, the focus is not on water sports, but on traces of an earlier canal.
Ceramics, Art, and Historic Sites
At the Museum of Ceramics, traditional pottery production comes to life through life-size dioramas. They depict a jigger workshop, a kiln, a decorating workshop, and a salesroom. The museum preserves the rich ceramic history of the East Liverpool region and is housed in the former United States Post Office in East Liverpool. The stately Beaux-Arts-style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum offers art classes on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Tours are available during regular museum hours and must be arranged at least one week in advance. If you plan to take a tour, be sure to account for this lead time.
In Salem, a trolley tour visits the settings and buildings that inspired Charles Burchfield’s paintings. It stops at the Burchfield Homestead Society Museum, where visitors can tour the artist’s home. Nearly half of Burchfield’s artistic life’s work was created at the Burchfield Homestead Museum. The tour connects places that inspired his paintings with a home associated with his work.
The Leetonia Beehive Coke Ovens also tell the story of the region: In 1999, the Ohio Historical Society gave them a historic marker. At the John Bishop House in Lisbon, the focus shifts to the use of a historic home. The fully restored house now belongs to the City of Lisbon and is operated by the Historical Society as a museum and educational center. In early spring, it offers adult cooking classes at the open hearth.
Routes to Help You Find Your Way
Columbiana County is located along the Lincoln Highway and the Ohio Scenic River Byway. These two named routes provide a regional framework for planning your trip; the nature and cultural themes described here also offer different starting points for choosing what to explore.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Wellsville, Salem, East Liverpool, Champaign County, Logan, Greene, Marion County, Fairfield.
For the broader travel overview: Ohio.
