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T. David | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> An Afternoon at Hocking Hills State Park tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

An Afternoon at Hocking Hills State Park

The Hocking County series of Ohio State Parks sits about 50 miles south-southeast of Columbus and a pleasant two and one-half hour drive northeast of Cincinnati. There are several state parks in the region, but the one that has always fascinated me is Hocking Hills State Park. Miles and miles of hiking trails laid out in the gorges and on the surrounding rims for hikers and photographers to enjoy at their leisure. Inside the park there are several scenic areas worth your time and energy to see. I don't think one can do justice to the park in one day, and return visits are required across all four seasons.

My recent visit on a ninety-degree day in the middle of a drought was fascinating. To keep cool in the Ohio heat and humidity, I chose to hike the gorge trails and leave the hotter rim views for a return trip in the fall or spring. The trees and sheer sandstone sides of the gorges provided nature’s version of air conditioning and an escape from the broiling sun.

The hike starts at the Visitor's Center for the Old Man's Cave section. Our route followed a portion of the "Blue Trail" from the Center to the Upper Falls, then back again and onto Old Man's Cave. Returning to the Center, our adventure takes us slightly north to the Conkle's Hollow area. In Conkle's Hollow, the tour again sticks to the gorge floor. The hollow is like a box canyon with sheer cliffs rising high above the hollow floor. "Nature," in the form of the Ohio State Parks Commission, provided a poured concrete walkway to aid tired feet. (At Old Man's Cave, the "floor" was dirt, roots, and the like, except for a few places.) The gorge walk at Conkle's Hollow is a half-mile long. The rim trail (sans any form of concrete, just dirt and treacherous roots form the trail bed) is two and one-half miles long. The rim route is for those more in shape than I am.

I hope you enjoy this photographic glimpse of Old Man's Cave and Conkle's Hollow. Just remember that the visit was at the height of the dry season and there was no water falling at the water falls or flowing in the creek bed. Another seasonal visit when water is more plentiful will provide pictures with water for those who want them.
Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking County, Ohio
Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking County, Ohio		 Looking Down into the Gorge at Old Man's Cave Visitor's Center
Looking Down into the Gorge at Old Man's Cave Visitor's Center		 Walking down the steps into the gorge ...
Walking down the steps into the gorge ...		 ... the rugged beauty of the water-sculpted rock is awesome.
... the rugged beauty of the water-sculpted rock is awesome.		 Around the creek beds and from the rocks ...
Around the creek beds and from the rocks ...
... a wide variety of trees are born, live and die.
... a wide variety of trees are born, live and die.		 The myriad of rock sculptures are formed ...
The myriad of rock sculptures are formed ...		 ... by water seeping through the sandstone ...
... by water seeping through the sandstone ...		 ... as well as flowing past.
... as well as flowing past.		 With some imagination, one can see creatures ...
With some imagination, one can see creatures ...
... carved in the gorge walls ...
... carved in the gorge walls ...		 ... and overhangs.
... and overhangs.		 Shallow caves also dot the landscape ...
Shallow caves also dot the landscape ...		 ... providing refuge for the local animals ...
... providing refuge for the local animals ...		 ... as well as for humans in ages past.
... as well as for humans in ages past.
The gorge trail provides protection from the heat and drought ...
The gorge trail provides protection from the heat and drought ...		 ... provides a place for a large variety of vegitation exists.
... provides a place for a large variety of vegitation exists.		 Views from the creek beds ...
Views from the creek beds ...		 ... are unavailable in wetter times.
... are unavailable in "wetter" times.		 For water, we now must settle for a small pond or two.
For water, we now must settle for a small pond or two.
...
...		 ...
...		 ...
...		 The Devil's Bathtub; when the water flows, you can get in, but not out of his tub.
The "Devil's Bathtub;" when the water flows, you can get in, but not out of his tub.		 Balancing rocks ...
Balancing rocks ...
... can be seen almost everywhere.
... can be seen almost everywhere.		 Trees on the gorge floor must self-prune to keep healthy.
Trees on the gorge floor must self-prune to keep healthy.		 Like the rock, the trees provide ...
Like the rock, the trees provide ...		 ... interesting hollows ...
... interesting hollows ...		 ... and shapes to view.
... and shapes to view.
The Upper Falls is dry at this time of year ...
The Upper Falls is dry at this time of year ...		 Only the small pond below the falls ...
Only the small pond below the falls ...		 ... provides any water.
... provides any water.		 When rain and runoff resume, the spillway will run again.
When rain and runoff resume, the spillway will run again.		 In the cool of the gorge, moss and spiders thrive.
In the cool of the gorge, moss and spiders thrive.
Even in the dry season, the ponds provide interesting reflections.
Even in the dry season, the ponds provide interesting reflections.		 Always seeking precious water ...
Always seeking precious water ...		 ... tree roots spread out in webs to where ever water can be found.
... tree roots spread out in webs to where ever water can be found.		 ...
...		 ...
...
...
...		 Nature provides the head of a stone basilisk in her Chamber of Secrets.
Nature provides the head of a stone "basilisk" in her "Chamber of Secrets."		 ...
...		 ...
...		 The craggy trail ...
The craggy trail ...
... eventually leads to Old Man's Cave.
... eventually leads to "Old Man's Cave."		 The cave is protected by a sandstone ghost.
The cave is protected by a sandstone "ghost."		 On to Conkle's Hollow ...
On to Conkle's Hollow ...		 ... and a smoother walk -- with mushrooms.
... and a smoother walk -- with mushrooms.		 From the gorge floor, the sheer cliffs ...
From the gorge floor, the sheer cliffs ...
... rise above, dwarfing those that venture there.
... rise above, dwarfing those that venture there.		 ...
...		 ...
...		 There are fewer shallow caves in the hollow ...
There are fewer shallow caves in the hollow ...		 ... than there were at Old Man's Cave ....
... than there were at Old Man's Cave ....
... but here archeologists have found artifacts showing ancient human habitation.
... but here archeologists have found artifacts showing ancient human habitation.		 The end of the box canyon adjacent another dry waterfall.
The end of the "box canyon" adjacent another dry waterfall.		 Stepping around an encrusted log, we take our leave of Hocking Hills.
Stepping around an encrusted log, we take our leave of Hocking Hills.

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