Hiking in Hocking Hills, OH
Hiking in Hocking Hills
Old Man’s Cave is a beautiful, rather strenuous hike. The “old man” is Richard Rowe, a recluse who actually lived in one of the caves with his dogs in the mid 1800s. They are sandstone, so wind and water created caves. Once at the bottom of the ravine, we continued to hike until we reached The Upper Falls. There are so many caves in the gorge! And waterfalls! Devil’s Bathtub is a deep pool said to go all the way to Hades! The tails are sometimes rocky and can be steep. The rewards are the spectacular, unexpected scenery! We watched a group of butterflies crowd a small puddle. The trees are a lush green with roots that seem to sprout form rocks. The moss covered rock walls rise sharply, with countless ledges and caves. Water alternately trickles and puddles along the path. Some wildflowers were blooming. Native Americans used to live in the area; it’s easy to imagine them finding shelter and safety there. http://www.oldmanscave.net/old_man’s_cave.htm The trail is about a mile long, and an adventure! Allow at least an hour. Use caution if children are with you.
The next hike was through the tunnel, an exceptionally dark passage. This is also strenuous! A stairway leads down to the floor, but the steps are steep and narrow.
We looked in at the Visitor Center, which highlights natural history and the pioneers in the area.
On to Conkles Hollow, another hike with excellent views! A pump gave us some fun and a drink of water. A paved walkway took us through deep woods, past some caves, luxurious ferns, and a small stream, then ended. A rough path took us deeper into the preserve, and again is worth the effort! We passed a grotto and ended at the base of a seasonal waterfall. It was dry, but is probably a torrent in the spring. Tall cliffs and hemlocks are on either side. We chose the lower trail; an upper trail skirts the rim and is longer. It can be dangerous to young children. Allow at least an hour. http://www.oldmanscave.net/conkle’s_hollow.htm
At Old Man’s Cave General Store we grabbed an Old Man’s Sub. What’s that? An Italian sub with pepper cheese, piled high. At less than $4 per sandwich, it’s a good deal!
More hiking? This is our hiking day! Rock House is a naturally carved cave in a straight rock face. A winding path took us there. The cave is 25 feet tall in the center, and was used by Native Americans, robbers, and horse thieves! It is a marvelous sight! The colors in the rocks are vivid. We had fun exploring it! Again, it is not an easy hike! Allow about an hour. http://www.thehockinghills.org/Rockhouse.htm
We’re not finished yet! Cantwell Cliffs was our most strenuous hike today! Very narrow passages had us squeezing through, and climbing narrow, steep steps carved in the rocks. It’s a remote hike, and beautiful! We walked along the bottom of the gully for awhile, then climbed back up and enjoyed the view from the top! Amazing!
Tired and hungry, we passed a small, unmanned produce stand. Fresh sweet corn and tomatoes made supper back at camp. A sign over the foods stated “Honor system.” A swim in the pool was refreshing! A campfire before bedtime was a great end to the day.
