Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio. Photo by Mike Luoma.

The Sacred Serpent

Exploring the World’s Largest Serpent Effigy — in Ohio

There is a Serpent upon the hill.

Close to the mound, looking towards the head, at Serpent Mound. Photo by Mike Luoma.

Serpent Mound.

An old place marker on the left, the old steel observation tower on the right, at Serpent Mound. The smaller blue signs are primarily for social distancing measures during the pandemic, though a couple were for more general purpose. Photo by Mike Luoma.

The largest serpent effigy in the world, this great serpent uncoils its seven coils atop a bluff near Brush Creek in Peebles, in Southern Ohio. Over 1400 feet long, this Native American effigy mound is the largest effigy mound in North America and was once likely taller, perhaps 5 feet high.

Climbing to the top of an old steel tower at the site gives you an overhead view of the serpent.

Its spiral three coiled tail is to the left, its head on the distant end of the coils to the right, with an Oval held in its open jaws, thought to be an egg or a frog.

At Serpent Mound — views from the observation tower: Left, to the left, the rear coils. Middle, to the right, main body to the head. Right, zoom-in on the head. Photos by Mike Luoma

Awesome in every sense of the word.