HOCKING HILLS: Land of Ahhhs
Stand beside a crystal clear waterfall. Hike a craggy cave. Wander along a lush woodland trail. Or shop for antiques and fine art treasures at boutiques and galleries.
Ahhh. It’s what just about everyone who visits the Hocking Hills has to say. You’ll say it too. The moment you enter this breathtaking natural area of Ohio, you’ll feel the stress of the work-a-day world fade away. You’ll marvel at some of the nation’s most spectacular natural beauty. You’ll be astonished by the amazing array of places to stay and things to do… and by how remarkably affordable your unforgettable experience will be.
The Hocking Hills region is located in southeast Ohio. Rivers and streams snake through deep gorges enveloped by soaring rock faces. Dense forests offer respite to an unbelievable array of flora and fauna…and for world-weary travelers. Tens of thousands of acres of state parks and state and national forest offer world-class hiking and adventure, as well as quiet spots to simply get away from it all.
While you are in Hocking HIlls you may want to visit the Old Man’s Cave which is located on State Route 664. At the Upper Falls, the Grandma Gatewood Trail begins a six-mile course connecting three of the park’s areas. These are Old Man’s Cavem Cedar Falls and Ash . The trail is part of Ohio;s Buckeye trail and part of two national systems, the North Country Scenic Trail and America’s Discovery Trail. Old Man’s Cave got its name from the hermit Richard Rowe who lived in the large recess cave of the gorge. (the following is taken from the city website): “His family moved to the Ohio River Valley around 1796 from the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee to establish a trading post. He and his two dogs traveled through Ohio along the Scioto River in search of game. On one side trip up Salt Creek, he found the Hocking Region. Rowe lived out his life in the area and is buried beneath the ledge of the main recess cave. Earlier residents of the cave were two brothers, Nathaniel and Pat Rayon, who came to the area in 1795. They built a permanent cabin 30 feet north of the cave entrance. Both brothers are buried in or near the cave. Their cabin was later dismantled and relocated on the nearby Iles farm to be used as a tobacco drying house.”
While you are in the area you may want to visit the Rock House. This tunnel-like corridor situated midway up a 150-foot cliff of Blackhand sandstone has a ceiling 25 feet high with the main corridor being 200 feet long and 20 to 30 feet wide. Water leaking through a horizontal joint running parallel to the cliff face caused the hollowing of the corridor.
The wonder of Nature has hewn out of this cliff the Rock house complete with seven Gothic-arched windows and great sandstone colums which bear is massive roof.
The history of both Native Americans and others used the cave over the years, including some not so welcome people such as robbers, horse thieves, murderers and even bootleggers which gave the Rock House its reputation as Robbers Roost.
This area of the state has so much to see and enjoy that you will want to make sure and put it on your list of places you must visit.