Hocking Hills: Conkles Hollow, The Visitor Center, and the Hocking Hills Resort

This post is part of a travel series of our road trip in the midwest where we traveled to four states:  Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana.  We visited one state park, two national parks, and a historic farm..  To start at the beginning, go HERE!

After hiking Cantwell Cliffs and the Rock House in the morning, we then headed for Conkles Hollow.  This is a beautiful trail perfect for young families, the elderly, and the disabled for it is completely paved and level for the entire trail except the last 300 feet.

Conkles Hollow

Conkles Hollow has two trails:  one takes you up a bunch of steps which hikes the rim of the hollow looking down, and the other is the Gorge Trail where you are hiking deep inside the hollow looking up.  We chose to hike the Gorge Trail.

There is a small cave (The Grotto)  which you can easily see from the trail, but you can also take some short steps to get a closer look.

The Gorge Trail is 0.4 miles one way in, plus another 300 feet to the waterfall if you're able to hike all the way to the end.  

This trail is so mystical and beautiful.  It felt like a fairy land, it was so pristine and gorgeous; loaded with ferns and moss and dappled sunlight peeking through.  Some of the growth is so thick in places that little or no sunlight reaches the deep valley floor.

A kind stranger offered to take our photo.  I always appreciate that. 

If you love ferns, Conkles Hollow is your place because it is loaded with ferns!  

The vertical cliffs rise 200 feet above the valley floor.  In the last unpaved portion of the trail the gorge narrows to only a distance of 300 feet from cliff to cliff.

This is the where the paved trail comes to the end.  People often leave their strollers or scooters here, and hike the last 300 feet on foot if they can.

From here there are bridges and lots of rock scrambling until you reach your final destination,

The trail ends at a waterfall which sometimes can be just a trickle and other times of the season can have quite the nice pond underneath.

Hiking this trail really is a beautiful, serene experience.  You really do feel like you're in a magical land and not Ohio.   😁

Here is a short four minute video of the most exciting part of the Conkles Hollow Trail:  the last 300 feet to the waterfall:

Hocking Hills Visitor Center

After this, we were done hiking for the day and got back in the car to head to the lodge.  We stopped at the Hocking Hills Visitor Center first.  They have quite the nice Visitor Center filled with lots of informations of all the trails in Hocking Hills.  Pictured below is my husband pointing to Conkles Hollow, the one we just hiked.

Here is more information on Conkles Hollow:

Pictured below is a diorama of  Hocking Hills most famous attraction:  Old Man's Cave, which we will be hiking the next day.  It was exciting to see what our hike will be like after looking at this display.

Hocking Hills Resort

The Hocking Hills region has many resorts to stay at when visiting the area, but after I saw they built a brand new one, I wanted to stay here!  It is a gorgeous resort with indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs.

After we soaked our aching bones in the hot tub, we walked around the resort a bit to check I out.  

There's a nice brick patio area for weddings and other events.

I loved this art sculpture.  Those are rocks inside!

The foyer has two large fireplaces with a bridge on the second level.

There is a dining room on the premises, but we didn't eat there so I can't tell you how good the food was.  

They also have a little coffee shop/grab-and-go for people who don't have the time to eat in the diner.  

I love how open the foyer is, and how when you walk in you can see straight out to the back of the hotel.

There's this awesome map/artwork on the wall that highlights the main attractions of the park.

I don't have photos of our room.  It was just ok in comparison to the rest of the hotel.  But I also chose the most inexpensive room as we never spend much time in our room to justify a big expense for a nicer room.

Next week I will cover the best part of Hocking Hills:  Old Man's Cave!  Don't miss it!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

 

Hocking Hills: Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House

This post is day one of a travel series of our road trip in the midwest where we traveled to four states Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana to visit one state park, two national parks, and a historic farm.

Today I am excited to start a new travel series with you!  Normally I write my travel posts in the winter as I do not have the time during the summer due to garden season, but I seem to forget a lot by the time winter rolls around😄, so I'm gonna try to write my travel posts more promptly after taking my trips.

Rock House, Hocking Hills Ohio

This year our travel plans were made by the arrival of a new grand baby.  We knew the baby was due in May, sometime around Mother's Day so we planned a trip around the new baby.  Our first stop on our adventure was Indiana to welcome baby Lazarus into the world and to celebrate Mother's Day.  

We made a road trip loop beginning and ending in Indiana.   We first went east to Ohio and West Virginia, then we headed southwest to Kentucky,  ending our trip back in Indiana again.

After spending Mother's Day weekend with family, we headed out bright and early Monday morning for Hocking Hills, Ohio.

I had never heard of Hocking Hills before and I was absolutely blown away by it!  How has this incredible place been kept a secret for so long, and more importantly how is this in Ohio?  😆  Sorry my Ohio residents, but when I picture the state of Ohio in my mind, these images do not come to mind.

Hocking Hills is a state park in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio.  Within the park are 25 miles of hiking trails, rock formations, waterfalls, and recessed caves.  

Cantwell Cliffs

Our first stop was Cantwell Cliffs.  This is the most remote part of the region, but it worked out perfectly for us because it was the first stop coming from the direction we were originating from, so it wasn't remote at all.   

This trail is a one way one mile in one mile out loop and the highlight of this trail is the narrow rock steps in-between two large rock formations.  It was so funny taking this trail because one minute your literally standing on top of a hard, flat surface (the top of the rock) and the next minute you see a narrow opening descending down into a mysterious abyss.

It is tricky getting down these narrow, steep, stone steps, I sure appreciated having my walking sticks with me.

This area of the trail is known as "Fat Woman's Squeeze". Don't worry, I managed to squeeze through.  😂

The trail then leads to this recessed cave that stands about 150 feet tall.  During the rainy season a waterfall (you can see remnants of the waterfall in the photo below) falls over the edge.

The trail goes through a beautiful forest. 

There is an old stone bridge on the trail, you can see it at the very top center of this picture.

And here I am standing on that very same bridge.

Rock House

The next stop on our route was Rock House.  Wow! This is definitely not to be missed if visiting Hocking Hills.  

Once again, there are lots of stone steps...bring those walking sticks!

The trail to get to Rock House was gorgeous, filled with so many interesting rock formations.

Rock House Loop Trail is only one mile long loop.

I'm always fascinated by moss and tree roots!

And here I am, standing just outside the entrance to Rock House. 

The inside of Rock House was incredible!  I loved the gothic arched "windows" and the great sandstone columns.  I loved how the light poured in through all the "windows".  

Seriously, how is this Ohio?  😆

I liked how the windows framed in the scenery.  It is just as interesting to look out from inside the cave as it is to be looking at the inside of the cave.

Here is a short video showing my excitement at seeing Rock House for the first time:

After exiting cave another 'dry' waterfall greets you.  I imagine during the rainy season there is much more water flowing over the edge into the pond below.

There's also another beautiful old stone bridge that is no long used for safety reasons.  They build a new one right alongside it.

 Next week I'll cover more trails inside the Hocking Hills region...the best is yet to come!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!