Hocking Hills State Park Part 2

Conkles Hollow is a rugged, rocky gorge supposedly one of the deepest in Ohio. This is actually a state nature preserve but most people consider it a part of Hocking Hills. If you want to get away from the crowds at Old Mans Cave this is the place for you. There are two main trails. The rim trail is on the plateau above and takes you around the border of the gorge but we only have time to do the gorge trail.
The trail leading up the narrow half-mile gorge is surrounded by vertical sandstone cliffs rising over 200 feet.

  Site of a seasonal waterfall.

The forest floor is covered with a profusion of ferns and spring wildflowers.

 Even in the heat of summer Conkles Hollow remains shady and cool.

More recess caves in Conkles Hollow.

The gorge trail ends at a small waterfall surrounded by hugh boulders.

I saved the best for last. We almost didn't stop here because it was getting late but decided since we made the trip we should try to see as much as possible. This place is called the Rock House and of all the places we were at I think this ended up being the most unique. It is also the only real cave in the area.

The outside of the Rock House.

An entrance into the Rock House.

The Rock House is a tunnel-like corridor situated mid-way up a 150 foot cliff of Blackhand Sandstone.
The main corridor is 200 feet long and 20-30 feet wide.

There are seven window openings like this that let sunlight into the cave.

Looking out through one of the windows.

Several sandstone columns help support the Rock House roof.

Recesses like this were used by the Native American Indians as baking ovens when staying in the cave.
The Rock House was also used by bandits, bootleggers and thieves in the 1800s which lead the local residents to call this place Robbers Roost.

Springs of water permeate through the porous sandstone and collect in these man made troughs. In this way they were able to keep a supply of water in the Rock House.

This trail is only 1/2 mile long and I'm so glad we took the time to stop. Someday we want to come back and hike some of the rim trails.

Hocking Hills State Park

Recently we traveled with my sister and brother-in-law to southeastern Ohio to visit Old Man's Cave located in the Hocking Hills State Park. Old Man's Cave is one of Ohio's most popular natural attractions and the one most visited in Hocking Hills.
 Along the way we passed by the famous Longaberger Basket Company and had to stop and take a picture.

Old Mans Cave

There are six major areas in this park, Old Mans Cave, Ash Cave, Rock House, Conkles Hollow, Cedar Falls and Cantwell Cliffs.  We did not have enough time to get to Cantwell Cliffs.
 Old Man's Cave is a deep gorge with a large overhanging lip, not an underground cavern.  Old Man's Cave was named after an early settler Richard Rowe, a 19th century hermit who set up living quarters in one of the recess caves in the area. Killed by an accidental blast by his own gun, it is said the local native Indians buried him somewhere near the cave.

There are many stairways and steps, tunnels and waterfalls to explore in the area.

 Along the length of the half mile long trail the magnificent gorge cuts through the entire 150 foot thickness of the Blackhand sandstone.

There are endless sheer cliffs and unusual rock formations and I like that they don't have everything fenced off!! Explore at your own risk.

Old Mans Cave Sphinx Head

Devils Bathtub, a churning tub of water spilling into the creek below.

A picturesque stone bridge leads to the Lower Falls.

Lower Falls

Upper Falls

Upper Falls

I'm sure the waterfalls are normally nicer than these little trickles, but rain has been very scarce this year.

The Cedar Falls were my favorite of all the waterfalls.

Ash Cave

Ash Cave and Cedar Falls are in a different area in Hocking Hills, but there is a six mile trail that connects them all. We were trying to see as much in one day as possible, so we drove to each one.

Ash Cave is a horseshoe shaped recess cave 700 feet long, 100 feet deep, and 90 feet high. A small waterfall cascades over the rim of the cave.

 It is the largest recess cave in Ohio and was named for the large amounts of ashes the early white settlers discovered in the cave. It is believed the Indians used Ash Cave for shelters and the ashes remained from their campfires.

To be continued.