The History and Hot Spots of the Hocking Hills, Ohio

The Hocking Hills in southeastern Ohio is nestled within the areas deciduous evergreen forests. Three hundred million years ago a shallow, warm ocean covered Ohio, depositing a bedrock of shale and black hand sand stone. It is said that black hand sand stone gets its namesake from a slab of stone near present day Newark Ohio. Legend has it that local Delaware Indians used the slab of stone as a marker to point the way to the outcroppings of flint found at nearby Flint Ridge.

Though white settlers woulds not discover the area lush forests and the areas flowing streams until the 1790's; exhumed pottery fragments confirm that the caves, recesses and cliffs once belonged to the early Adena people.

Decades of erosion have created what the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) consider seven unique state parks. They are Old Mans Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, The Rock house, Cantwell Cliffs, Conkle's Hollow and the Natural Rockbridge.

The parks are all located conveniently near the town of Logan, Ohio which is the county seat of Hocking County. All provide several miles of beautiful back country hiking trails as well as scenic views and an abundance of outdoor recreation. Old Mans Cave is amongst the seven's major formations. Civil War veteran Richard Rowe was so awed by the regions geology that he became a hermit and thus became the "Old Man" of the parks name sake. Old Man's Cave is a host to several waterfalls and sinks, the most popular is the Devils Bathtub: A large pothole formed in the sandstone by swirling rock and gravel in the stream water. The park is also home to Ohio's largest hemlock tree.

Ash Cave is a 700 foot horseshoe-shaped rock ledge formed by decades of erosion. Mounds of ash found by early settlers indicated that this large gorge was a popular camping site for native Americans. A 90 foot waterfall compliments the rock ledge above.

Cedar Falls is a bit of a misnomer. Pioneers mistakenly identified the dense forest as cedar when it was in fact, Hemlock! The parks attraction is its majestic twisting waterfall.

The Rockhouse State Park is a massive cavern completely enclosed by the rock itself, except for its 'windows'. It is the most cave like of the Hocking Hills, though ironically(unlike Ash Cave and Old Mans Cave) it is the only one not named a cave...

Cantwell Cliffs, near Gibisonville Ohio is compromised of an abundance of plant and animal life. A fissure in one of the parks many rock recesses is called "The fat womans squeeze" for its uniquely narrow passage.

Conkles Hollow and its towering bluffs are among the Hocking Hills highest gorges. Compromised f black hand sand stone and shale, the gorge trail winds around cliffs, some two hundred feet to the peaceful forest floor. This is definitely not a hike for the acrophobia, caution should be exercised , for the trail winds precariously close to the cliffs sheer edge.

Finally a trip to the Hocking Hills would not be complete without a visit to the Natural Rock Bridge. The park gives the nearby village its namesake. A somewhat taxing hike of a mile and a half brings you deep within a pine and fir Forrest. Here, a playground for squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits exist. Shelled acorns and buckeyes are plentiful. However, it is the natural stone bridge straddling an enclosed gorge that is the parks feature attraction. The bridge spans some sixty feet and continues the naturally serene trail back to its starting point.

The natural beauty of the Hocking Hills makes them an ideal place for hiking, horse back riding, fishing camping and many more outdoor activities. Consider visiting the state parks of the Hocking Hills on weekdays or early morning. This greatly increases your chance of seeing wildlife. Use caution on the cliff walks, and with all outdoor activities let someone know your plans and intentions. For more information about the Hocking Hills contact ODNR at 614- 265-6605