Each area is connected by a series of hiking trails making it entirely possible to hike from one to the other in a day. While hiking up to Cantwell Cliffs and back from the others in a day may be a challenge, it’s one that can be conquered with enough time and energy.

There are two trails that run through Conkle’s Hollow. One is an accessible trail that runs through the valley floor from one end to the other. This trail is flat, maintained and wheelchair friendly. The other follows the cliff rim around Conkle’s Hollow and is more of a challenge. It is also the one that offers the most spectacular views. Some of the best scenery anywhere in Ohio.

Conkle’s Hollow is a geological formation carved from the local sandstone by glaciers and water. The gorge is widely regarded as the deepest in Ohio and is 200 feet high and 300 wide in places. The area is surrounded by forest and wilderness, making it a perfect escape from the world for a while.

Conkle’s Hollow is named after an early graffiti artist who carved his name, W.JH. Conkle and the date 1797 into the rock on the west wall of the gorge. Since that time is has always been known as such. It was turned into a nature preserve during the 20^th century and now forms part of Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve.

Local legend says that the hollow is also haunted by the ghosts of Native American thieves who used to rob settlers and hide their ill-gotten gains in caves along the wall of Conkle’s Hollow. They apparently used a pair of trees to climb halfway up a wall and hide their loot in a cave.

They chopped one of the trees down so nobody else could get at the price, but a storm took the other one down a short time later, preventing the recovery of the goods. Some of the thieves who operated out of the area were caught and hanged in the hollow. It is these specters who are said to patrol the gorge.

Legend aside, Conkle’s Hollow is an amazing and inspiring place to visit while you’re in Hocking Hills. It offers accessible hiking, or challenging hiking depending on what you’re looking for. It also offers some of the most spectacular vistas around, so make sure it’s on your list while you’re here!

The tips below will come in handy if you are planning a trip to Cantwell Cliffs.

Where to Start

First things first, you need to reach Hocking Hills in order to start your exploration trip. It is the road travel that will bring you to the heart of the valley as there are no major airports or railway stations in close vicinity. You can hire a car all the way from Columbus or Cleveland though it will cost you a significant amount of money. You can also hop onto the plane and land at the nearest airport to the valley.

This, however, is also a costly job. The best way of reaching the valley is to ride a bus. There are many transport companies offering trips to Logan, which is the county town of Hocking. Logan will act as your base from where you can head out to major attractions in the area including Cantwell Cliffs.

It is always good to start with sightseeing Logan and surroundings before heading out to Cantwell Cliffs. The local pubs will offer you the opportunity to interact with locals and other tourists. The latter will come in handy to provide you with some practical tips on how to explore the area. You can also shop for items such as GPS, sneakers, water bottles, snack packs and traditional maps. Better purchase a backpack as well and stock up on tents and camping supplies if you want to spend some days in the area.

Trek to the Cliffs

There is no paved road leading to Cantwell Cliffs. You have to find your way through one of many trails. The most popular trail is accessible to the handicapped for some distance. The real thrill comes when you reach the final part of the trail where you have to negotiate through narrow passages and ascend many stone stairs to reach the top of the cliff.

There is another trek that is more treacherous than the first one but is worth the adventure for the enthusiasts. It passes through craggy rocks and rock formations and joins the main trek near the cliff. You can take the stairs to ascend the cliff and reach the viewing platform that offers commanding views of the entire area.

Camp Out

The best way of exploring Cantwell Cliffs, Ash Cave and other landmarks is to spend a few days camping in the park. You can pitch your tents at one of the many designated places in the park Don’t forget to get help from the rangers and you can also fill up on your supplies from the depot. Spending a few days in the area will introduce you to every part of the park where you will witness the wonders of nature such as breathtaking waterfalls, towering cliffs, imposing caves and rich wildlife.

Instead of camping in the open, you can have a luxurious stay at our Cantwell Cliffs cabin rentals. There is plenty of accommodation to choose from and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a cozy vacation complete with air conditioning and central heating, satellite TV and the Internet.

While on a visit to Hocking Hills, you can stay at one of the accommodation listed below.

1- Cabins

Hocking Hills is located in American Midwest and offers many traditional cabins. These cabins often come in a standard size and construction. You will find a cabin to have a wooden construction with basic amenities of life. A standard cabin provides ample accommodation for a few people. In recent years, there has been a major improvement in the furnishing and amenities available in cabins. You can now stay at Hocking Hills cabins that come equipped with all the modern amenities of life.

2 – Cottages

A better place than a cabin, a cottage provides luxurious dwelling to a small number of people. Cottages remain especially popular among romantic couples who want to spend a night or more in a well-furnished place that comes with all modern amenities of life. Thus a modern cabin has Jacuzzi, queen beds, satellite TV and central heating.

3 – A-frames

A-frames are conventional houses that use liberal quantities of wood. A-frames have a unique shape that resemble the first letter of the English alphabet. This type of accommodation follows the same construction style as cabins and cottages except for the size difference.

An A-frame dwelling can house varying number of people based on its construction style and amenities. Two or more bedrooms are usually added in A-frames to provide accommodation for more people.

4- Lodges

A large group of people visiting Hocking Hills need an accommodation that could provide comfortable living for every member. This is where the lodges come into the picture and provide stylish living right in the center of the woods. Contemporary lodges have multiple bedrooms with attached bathrooms, central heating and air conditioning, Jacuzzis, satellite TV, Internet, kitchenettes, laundries and balconies. You may also find outdoor swimming pools with some lodges.

5-  Camping

There is always an option of camping out in the open. You can buy supplies from the county town of Logan. Park rangers will also help you in finding a better place to pitch in your tent and enjoy a few days of natural living.

Fancy staying at a high quality Hocking Hills lodge? You will get more than a swimming pool at our locations that are considered the epitome of luxury while also providing you with the opportunity to stay closer to nature.

Despite being an effort to get there, it’s well worth the time. It’s a local favorite, too, I go there a lot, especially in spring and fall because the colors and activity in the forests around the area make for some very interesting days out.

Cantwell Cliffs was created by water erosion from nearby Buck Run. Over millions of years, the water has carved out spectacular niches and passages in the soft sandstone, called Blackhand sandstone by some. The harder, denser rock resisted this erosion, which is why there are so many spectacular formations to see.

Hocking Hills is an area made predominantly of sandstone with plenty of water around to make it interesting. Add in an ice age or two and water has carved us out a spectacular country!

Cantwell Cliffs itself is a horseshoe-shaped cliff that rises up to 150 feet above the floor. You can walk through and around the cliff top, affording amazing views of the Cantwell Cliffs area and Hocking Hills at large. It is these views that make the area a firm favorite and why people make the effort to come out here, even when the weather isn’t great. There are few places in the world that truly make you take stock of human insignificance in the face of nature and this is one of them.

The hiking around Cantwell Cliffs is challenging. The terrain is rough, it either climbs or drops, there are rocks to clamber over and “Fat Woman’s Squeeze” to get through. But when you do, you get to sit on the cliff edge and marvel at what nature has created. The hike isn’t very long, but can feel it at times, making it very worthwhile in our opinion.

In all, there are over 25 miles of trails in Hocking Hills State Park, so if you prefer a much more challenging experience you could hike from Old Man’s Cave for example, up to Cantwell Cliffs and back. Many of the trails join up and there are plenty of local maps showing you the way.

We spent a lovely day hiking from Old Man’s Cave, up past Gibisonville on the trail, to Cantwell Cliffs, then back to Rock House, Conkle’s Hollow and back here to the Cave. It was exhausting, but amazingly satisfying and if you have the stamina, it’s a challenge everyone should try.

The falls are only one of many in the state and in Hocking Hills. It is the largest, wettest and isn’t affected by seasonal rains as many of the other waterfalls are. The only time the deluge reduces is in very dry summers, when Queer Creek that feeds Cedar Falls dries up to a trickle.

As well as being the biggest, Cedar Falls is also the most visited, photographed and filmed in the state too. It appears on dozens of calendars, magazine covers and other mature-oriented publications and quite rightly so. Despite some amazing quality images of the falls, nothing quite compares to seeing it in person. If it looks impressive on your screen, it’s three times that when you’re here!

The area around Cedar Falls is wild and a little desolate, which only adds drama to the fall itself. Trails leads to, from and around the falls, allowing you to see if from all angles and all perspectives. Combined with the geological formations that surround it, Cedar Falls is an amazing place to visit.

Man has put his mark on the area since the early 19^th century. At the top you can see the remains of an old grist mill that used Queer Creek to power it. There is also now a bridge above the falls that allows visitors to look over the falls and down the creek. There is also a bridge on the lower part of the creek, locally referred to as “bent bridge.”

Bent bridge was straight, but a few years of being battered by the water and debris from the falls curved the steel into a more sinuous shape. It’s perfectly safe, having been strengthened since, but it makes a quirky statement pieces for the bottom of the falls.

Getting to Cedar Falls is easy as it is located at St. Rt. 374 between SR 664 and SR 56. For hikers, it forms part of the Buckeye Trail, a larger trail that encircles Ohio. There are also shorter, more manageable hikes that can take you to other highlights of Hocking Hills, Ash Cave and Old Man’s Cave. Both well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

“The Rock House in Hocking Hills, Ohio is a worthy day out for all the family. As it sits inside Hocking Hills State Park, entry is free, as is parking, making it the ideal day out if you’re on a budget.

Rock House is apparently Ohio’s only “true” cave. It’s a tunnel carved out of the Blackhand sandstone, with some arched windows running along its length, which were also carved by water. The cave is long, light and amazing to see. The light sandstone has iron stains throughout, providing a lovely mixture of light and red coloring throughout.

The car park can be accessed off SR 664, a short drive from Logan, Ohio. You can park up and prepare for the hike in peace and quiet. The beginning of the trail is at the edge of the lot and stretches for quarter of a mile to the Rock House.

The trail is short, but can be challenging at times as it forms a loop around Rock House. The benefit is, that if you’re feeling energetic, you can take in Rock House, then continue on one of the trails to other highlights of the area such as Cantwell Cliffs or Conkle’s Hollow. That’s what we did.

We hiked to Rock House on a lovely sunny day and enjoyed every minute. There were a few other people around, but my husband and I didn’t have to get out of the way too much. Both of us a seasoned hikers but no super-fit, we found the trail to the Rock House to be fairly easy.

The Rock House itself is simply amazing. We have seen caves, gorges, valleys and rocks plenty of times before, but this took out breath away. As the trail breaks and the car comes into view across a wooden bridge, you can’t help but stop and stare. The sight was made all the more interesting by the fact that you can see people appearing out of holes halfway up the cliff face!

Once inside, it’s clear to see where the Native Americans used to cook and apparently make turpentine. There are recesses in the walls that made ovens. These ingenious little holes allowed heat from a fire to encircle the dough, cooking it from all sides at once. The predecessor to our fan-assisted ovens. There is also a recess in the floor that was apparently used to catch water too.

The Rock House is a short hike but well worth a visit. If you’re on a budget, it costs nothing but the gas to get here and a sandwich or two to keep those energy levels up. We thoroughly enjoyed our day here and will definitely return!”

Thanks Janet, we would welcome you back any time!

The Buckeye Trail itself is a 1,440 mile trail that encircles Ohio. It takes in most of the highlights of the state and includes many of the towns too. The trial is maintained by volunteers who keep the trails in good order and are working to relocate some of the road-based trails off road to the countryside.

The part of the Buckeye Trail we’re concerned with today is the 6 mile hike from Cedar Falls, through Ash Cave to Old Man’s Cave. We begin on the south side of the SR 664/374 near the campground entrance. As you begin, you will see blue paint marks on trees, these are the “Blue Blazes” and are trail indicators for the Buckeye Trail.

Head from the parking lot to the north of the park and a stone bridge. Cross the bridge, head right and descend the stairs into the gorge. Follow the gorge until it meets Queer Creek. Depending on the weather, it may be wet underfoot, so wear waterproof shoes!

Head upstream along Queer Creek to Old Man’s Cave and take a look around. Then head on to Cedar Falls, which is the three mile mark. Again, take the time to admire the falls, if it’s running. If there has been no rain recently, it sometimes dries up. Head west from Cedar Falls up the State Forest road, through an orange gate.

Continue along the trail until you get to Chapel Ridge Road. Cross and head south along the trail until you get to Ash Cave. From here, you can either retrace your steps to get back to your car, or continue awhile.

If you choose to continue, head through the parking lot to SR56 and turn east along it. Follow the white blazes this time until you reach the Youth Ground Primitive Campground. Continue north walking parallel to the SR 374. Cross with the road over Queer Creek near to Cedar Falls and continue north through some trees.

Continue along the trail, through Virginia Pine Forest and Rose Lake and head down towards the SR664/374 and the trailhead where you began.

The Buckeye Trail is a challenging but very rewarding hike. This 6 mile section is only one part of many that stretches around the entire state. If you’re staying in Hocking Hills, it’s a perfect bite-sized hike that can give you a taste of what Ohio is all about.

The Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail is one of two in the Hollow. The other, the Conkle’s Hollow Trail runs through the valley floor, while the Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail goes around the edge of the cliffs themselves. This trail is by far the most challenging, but is also the most rewarding.

This trail itself is further split in two, the East Rim Trail and the West Rim Trail. Each is 1 mile long and can be combined with the other to make a 2 mile loop. We would suggest doing this to get the very best out of Conkle’s Hollow.

Once you set out on the trail, look for the wooden sign that sends you either to the accessible trail along the valley floor or the rim trail. Take the wooden steps to the trail and continue uphill for around 15-20 minutes. The ascent is around 200 feet, so will make you blow unless you’re in good condition but there are places to stop and take a breather if you need to.

Once at the top, turn left to continue the trail. The views and the reward for that effort now becomes clear. The Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail follows the edge of the cliff and affords some amazing views of the gorge below and the rest of Hocking Hills. Watch your footing and keep any children on a leash or close at hand.

Depending on the time of day, hike east first to take in the afternoon sun. The West Rim Trail is then nice and cool for the way back and affords to spectacular views of the rocks, forests and Hocking County itself.

The Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail is a trail to savor. There is no rush and no need to route march. There are plenty of places to stop and stare and even have a bit of lunch. If you’re feeling energetic, you can then walk the trail thought the valley for another 1.5 miles to cover everything.

Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail is an amazing hike but you have to be aware of where you are and where you’re putting your feet. Some of the trail is close to the cliff edge, so tread carefully. Other than that, the trial is one of the best in all of Ohio and certainly one of the best in Hocking Hills.

Those who signed up for Cedar Falls cabin rentals in the autumn will be glad to know that they get to see Cedar Falls in all its glory; the fall is decorated by the foliage of fall. In the spring season the falls fall in their greatest capacity; fun fact about Cedar Falls, it is the greatest fall in volume in the Hocking Hills area.

Another fun fact about Cedar Falls; its name is a misnomer. People who settled near it earlier mistaken identified the hemlock tree as stately cedar trees and as a result the park’s name was incorrectly coined Cedar Falls.

Somehow the name stuck and despite the fact that the trees at the falls are proven to be hemlock it is still referred to as Cedar Falls. It can safely be said that these falls are the most popularly photographed in the state of Ohio. You are likely to come across beautiful shots of the falls in newspapers, magazines, calendars and films; shots are usually taken when it is raining. 

A beautiful gorge enhances the beauty of Cedar Falls enormously and the water that trickles down this gorge below the fall is pollution free and sparkles brilliantly. This water is also the home of numerous marine animals. In addition to many fish species such as the smallmouth bass, you are also likely to spot some adorable snapping turtles; creatures that you usually only see in lakes and rivers. This gorge is also a treat for hikers; its depth makes the temperature moderate and cool for those who trek the trail of the gorge.

Interesting thing about the “bent bridge” that is seen below the falls; originally straight this bridge was bent over by enormous trees that when floating downstream in high water times rammed this bridge with force that was enough to bend the bridge’s large steel girders. Today this bent bridge is a tourist attraction; it has been modernized but still maintains its natural charm. A new bridge has also been constructed right above Cedar Falls and overlooks outlines in the sandstone where a water-powered grist mill stood long ago.

If you are planning a trip to this beautiful destination, get in touch with us for your Cedar Falls cabin rentals needs today! 

There are many excellent places to spend a night at Clear Creek Metro Park, some of which are listed below.

By the Creek

The adventurous type can spend a night by the creek. The ground is largely covered with bushes and vegetation but you can find barren patches to pitch your tents and enjoy a camping night out. Camping is a good way of exploring the nature where you can have a direct contact with the elements and enjoy crisp valley air.

Park rangers facilitate people interested in camping out and provide them with supplies, if required. It is important that you have the phone number of the rangers in hand to make a quick call in case of emergency. GPS comes in handy and a satellite phone is not bad either for such expeditions.

Cabins

A better way of spending the night at Clear Creek Metro Park is to rent a cabin. There are small and large cabins available that come with basic amenities of life. Some cabins are fully decorated and have modern amenities such as hot and cold water lines, Jacuzzi, well equipped bedrooms and kitchens and wooden terraces with furniture.

Hiring a cabin is better if you are traveling with family and do not want to spend a night out in the open. Camping is only recommended in the summer months as winters can be biting cold. This is not the case with cabins that come with central heating.

Log Homes

Larger groups can stay at log homes in Clear Creek Metro Park. These are an extension of the cabins and cottages and carry the same facilities. You will find log homes to be contemporarily decorated with modern furniture, satellite TV, cozy bedrooms and saunas and Jacuzzis. Some log homes have outdoor swimming pools that add an extra oomph to the lifestyle. Another type of log homes are not as plush but come with basic amenities such as hot and cold water lines, central heating and comfortable beds and couches.

Families and honeymooners should not compromise on quality while looking for a place to spend nights at Clear Creek Metro Park. We have some of the highest quality Clear Creek Metro Park cabins that come with all the luxuries of life. Contact us today to reserve yours!