Bird species of interest at Hocking Hills Park are:

Good finds at the park are Black Vultures right at the Lodge. Wood Thrush, Barred Owls and Pileated Woodpeckers are found throughout are a great find throughout the gorge trails in the more mature forest. Nesting Canadian species of warblers such as Prothonotary Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers and the Louisiana Waterthrush can be found at Ash Cave.

About the Area:

Cantwell Cliffs is located in the northern reaches of Hocking Hills—17 miles from Old Man’s Cave on S.R. 374.  Its remote location discourages visitation, but those who travel the extra distance will not be disappointed.  Many visitors proclaim the Cantwell area as the most picturesque in Hocking County.

The erosion caused by Buck Run accounts for the deep valley, steep cliffs and rock shelter under the cliff.  Approaching the rock shelter, the trail winds its way through narrow passageways caused by large slump blocks that have fallen away from the main cliff.  The most narrow passage has been named Fat Woman’s Squeeze. 

Bird Species of note at Cantwell Cliffs are:

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Ovenbird, Cerulean Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers or White-eyed Vireos

One can choose to follow the trails of the valley floor or the rim.  A commanding view of the cliff and rock shelter is offered at Lookout Point on the east Rim Trail.

Located on St. Rt. 374 7 miles from Old Man’s Cave Rock House is unique in the Hocking Hills’ region, as it is the only true cave in the park.  It is a tunnel-like corridor situated midway up a 150-foot cliff of Blackhand sandstone.

This “House of Rock” has a ceiling 25 feet high while the main corridor is 200 feet long and 20 to 30 feet wide.  The cavern was eroded out of the middle zone of the Blackhand sandstone.  The resistant upper zone forms the roof and the lower zone forms the floor.  Water leaking through a horizontal joint running parallel to the cliff face caused the hollowing of the corridor.  This main joint or crack is very visible in the ceiling of the Rock House.  A small series of joints run north to south at right angles to the main joint.  Enlargement of this series of joints formed the window-like openings of Rock House. 

Just a few miles south on Rt. 374 and turn right on Keister Rd will take the horse-backed birder to Hocking State Forest Horseman’s Camp.  Horse trails (which hikers can travel as well) lead directly from the camp in several directions.  There are over 40 miles of trail so please stop at the forestry headquarters and request a horse trail map before heading out.

Bird species of note at Rock house or on the horse trails are:

Red-eyed Vireo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Ruby throated Hummingbirds (some right at the campers at the horseman’s camp) and at night the Whip-or-will.

Conkles Hollow, situated off S.R. 374 on Big Pine Road is a rugged, rocky gorge—considered one of the deepest in Ohio.  The valley floor is a veritable wilderness covered by a profusion of ferns and wildflowers while hemlock, birch and other hardwood tower overhead.  The growth is so thick in places that little or no sunlight reaches the deep valley floor.

The trail leading up the narrow half-mile long ravine is surrounded by vertical cliffs rising over 200 feet above the mouth of the gorge.  As the trail continues, the gorge narrows further to only a distance of 300 feet from cliff to cliff.

For the more adventurous hiker, the rim trail on top of the cliffs circles the gorge.  These cliffs are the highest in the area and provide some of the most outstanding scenery.  Great caution should be exercised on this trail, as it can be extremely dangerous in all seasons.

This hollow was named for W.J. Conkle who left his name and the date 1797 carved into the sandstone on the west wall of the gorge.  Conkle's Hollow is a state nature preserve operated by the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.

Hocking State Forest Headquarters is located just North of Big Pine Rd on St Rt. 374.

Bird species of interest at Conkle's are:

Prothonotary Warbler, Canada Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Red-breasted Nuthatch

The most popular of all the Hocking areas is Old Man’s Cave, located on S.R. 664.  Here at Upper Falls, the Grandma Gatewood Trail begins its six-mile course connecting three of the park’s areas:  Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave.  This same trail has been designated as part of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail as well as part of two national systems—the North Country Scenic Trail and America’s Discovery Trail.

Old Man’s Cave derives its name from the hermit, Richard Rowe, who lived in the large recess cave of the gorge.  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.

The Old Man’s Cave area can be divided into five principal sections found along the valley of Old Man’s Creek.  In order, they are:  Upper Falls, Upper Gorge, Middle Falls, Lower Falls and Lower Gorge.  Along the length of the trail the magnificent gorge cuts through the entire 150-foot thickness of the Blackhand sandstone.  Carved by the creek, the gorge serves as an avenue for visitors to peer into the earth’s subsurface.  The full distance of the gorge is approximately one-half mile.

Located near Upper Falls is the Hocking Hills State Park Welcome Center.  An important stop for maps, camping and cottage information, supplies as well as general information about the park.  Remember that all trails at Hocking Hills State Park close at dark so the only ways to capture some of the unique nocturnal species of owls, Whip-or-Wills or Nighthawks is through camping or on a regularly scheduled night hike.

About half way from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls is Rose Lake.  Arguably, one of the most picturesque small lakes in Ohio.  Rose Lake is only accessible via hiking trail so it makes a great place to quietly walk up on many water loving birds especially Wood Duck, Green Heron or Belted Kingfisher.  At the north end of the lake is wildlife viewing blind and feeding station, which is a great way to pick up a few new species.

The Grandma Gatewood Trail that runs from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave is probably one of the most picturesque trails in the Midwest and countless unique forest species can be found by following either the gorge trail or the rim trail.  Species such as: Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, and Yellow Billed Cuckoo.  On of the best locations for viewing large numbers of both Turkey and Black Vultures is at the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge.

If one were to venture down the Lower Gorge of Old Man’s Cave, you would eventually enter the picturesque valley of Queer Creek.  At the point where Old Man’s Creek merges with Queer Creek, the trail takes an abrupt turn east and enters this new valley. The trail leading to Cedar Falls passes through the most austere area in Hocking Hills.  This remote, primitive chasm is laden with hemlock and bound by steep rock walls and their accompanying grottos and waterfalls.  It is a wild and lonely but spectacularly beautiful place.

Located along St. Rt. 374 between Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave, Cedar Falls itself is the greatest waterfall in terms of volume in the Hocking region.  Queer Creek tumbles over the face of the Blackhand displaying the awesome force of waterpower.

In the mid 1800s, a gristmill was built above the falls to utilize this waterpower for grinding grain.

Cedar Falls was misnamed by early white settlers who mistook the stately hemlocks for cedars.  A well kept picnic area and latrines are located within a short walk from the falls.

Bird species of interest at Cedar Falls are:

Golden Crowned Kinglet, White-eyed Vireo or the Eastern Phoebe

Along St. Rt. 56 in the southernmost reaches of Hocking Hills is Ash Cave—beyond doubt the most spectacular feature of the entire park.  Ash Cave is the largest, most impressive recess cave in the state.

The approach to Ash Cave is through a narrow gorge lined with stately Hemlocks, massive Beech trees and various other hardwoods.  The valley floor offers brilliant displays of wildflowers in all seasons including Large Flowered Trillium, Dutchman’s Breeches, Trout Lily, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Jewelweed.  The narrow gorge is approximately one-fourth mile in length and with astonishing suddenness gives way to the tremendous overhanging ledge and cave shelter.

The horseshoe-shaped cave is massive; measuring 700 feet from end to end, 100 feet deep from the rear cave wall to its front edge with the rim rising 90 feet high.  A small tributary of the East Fork of Queer Creek cascades over the rim into a small plunge pool below.  The cave was formed like the others in this region; the middle layer of the Blackhand has been weathered or eroded while the more resistant upper and lower zones have remained intact.

Picnic facilities are offered adjacent to the parking lot.  The restrooms and trail leading to Ash Cave are wheelchair accessible.

Bird species of note at Ash Cave are:

Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Barred Owl or Easter Wood Pewee

Directions:

From Logan, Ohio:
Take 664 South approximately 12 miles to park area.