7 Caves (Blog Hike #22)

Trails: Cave Canyon, Palisades, and Indian Trails

Hike Location: 7 Caves

Geographic Location: east of Hillsboro, OH (39.21995,-83.36597)

Length: 2 miles (but see my update comment at the end of the hike)
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)

Date Hiked: Fall 1998

Overview: An unusual, but difficult hike passing through all seven caves in the park.

Preserve Information: http://arcofappalachia.org/highlands-nature-sanctuary/

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=139636
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Hillsboro, take US 50 east to Cave Road, which goes off to the right just before reaching the Ross County line.  Turn right on Cave Rd.  Seven Caves is located atop the hill with the parking on the left and the concession stand on the right.

The hike: To the strictest of nature hikers, this hike at Seven Caves would not be considered a nature hike, and in the strictest sense of the word they would be right.  Nevertheless, the scenery seen on this hike is so unique that I felt compelled to include this hike in my blog.  Seven Caves is a combination nature preserve and tourist attraction (but not nearly as touristy as some areas) located just off US 50 at the Ross-Highland County line.  As such, many of the walkways are improved with extensive concrete steps, and there is only one pathway through each area (there are three areas, thus the three trails).  Moreover, the hike uses pavement for part of the way, and the trails are heavily traveled, causing a lack of serenity and the occasional destruction of the natural environment.  In spite of all of these drawbacks, the unique geography of the area makes Seven Caves a special place worth exploring to tourists and nature lovers alike.

            The walk through Seven Caves is a difficult one, as the trail uses steep stone staircases to dip in and out of the gorge cut by Rocky Fork Creek.  Start your journey with the Cave Canyon Trail.  No maps are provided by the park, but there is only one trail in each area and the trails are well marked and worn, so it is hard to get lost.  The Cave Canyon Trail leaves the main park road and begins to curve around the eastern side of a steep gorge cut by a small creek, which can be seen running through the bottom of the gorge.  First come to Witch's Cave (yes, there are indeed seven underground caves in the park), a small cave with barely enough room for two people.  As with all of the caves, the underground trails are well lit, and lights activated by pushing a button point out cave formations of interest. 

Entrance to Witch's Cave

Calcite in cave

            Continuing on up the gorge, the second cave is the largest, with an impressive rockface at the entrance.  A couple caves later, the trail turns left, goes under a natural arch, then descends a steep stone staircase to the gorge floor where you come to a T-intersection.  First, take the trail to the right, which dead ends shortly at a small but very pretty waterfall with lots of small, green plants along the sides of the creek.  This is the head of the gorge.  Reversing course, the trail follows the creek downstream with steep walls on either side to the top of a waterfall that goes underneath a bridge on the main park road; you will get a better look at this small waterfall later. 

Small waterfall at head of gorge

            The trail then climbs out of the gorge via a stone staircase.  At the rim of the gorge, first turn right to view Bear Cave, then retrace your steps past where the trail came up out of the gorge to the park road.  This marks the end of the Cave Canyon Trail. 

            Turn left on the road, cross the bridge, and begin the Palisades Trail, which leaves the road on the right. This area features mature forest, as does most of the undeveloped land at Seven Caves.  The trail shortly comes to a T, and a sign directs you to go to the right first.  This portion of the trail takes the hiker to the very edge of the rock-walled gorge cut by Rocky Fork Creek.  This gorge is much wider and deeper than the one the Cave Canyon Trail passed through. The trail continues along the south wall of the gorge and dead ends at a cave once used by an outlaw to hide from the sheriff.  After retracing your steps back to the intersection, continue straight as the trail continues to skirt the gorge on the right while passing behind the concession shack on the left. 

Overlook of Rocky Fork Creek

            After crossing a tributary on a high bridge, the trail first turns left, then turns 180-degrees back to the right, all the time descending more stone steps, to arrive alongside Rocky Fork Creek at the base of the gorge.  The trail turns right to follow beside the creek, going downstream, then passes some talus (large slabs of rock that have fallen from the cliff long ago) and a couple of very large hemlocks, which grow well in the cool, damp gorge.  After following the creek for a few hundred feet, the trail comes to the waterfall that you got a peak of earlier.  This is another small but pretty waterfall which looks much like the one at the head of the gorge without all of the greenery.

            The trail then climbs out of the gorge via, you guessed it, more stone steps, and arrives at the park road to conclude the Palisades Trail. Turn right on the park road and cross the bridge, arriving at the concession stand.  The sheltered picnic area adjacent to the building makes a nice place for a well-deserved rest, as do the numerous benches located along the trails. 

            The last segment of the hike, the Indian Trail, starts immediately in front of the buildings and heads west.  Of all of the trails at Seven Caves, this one most resembles a nature trail, as it is paved with dirt and has only one concrete stairway.  To top it off, the scenery is fabulous.  The trail starts along the south rim of the gorge, passing a couple of creek overlooks and crossing two tributaries.  The trail then takes a sharp right and descends the concrete stairway to the floor of the gorge, again coming out by the Rocky Fork Creek. 

Battleship Rock in Rocky Fork Gorge

            The trail turns left and soon begins to tread a narrow path between the creek on the right and a 100-foot sheer rock wall on the left.  The trail is very rocky and rooty here, so watch your step.  After following this pattern for a few hundred feet, the trail dead ends underneath a rock shelter.  The view here is terrific: the creek threads its way through the sheer rock gorge in the background as a huge slab of rock in the shape of a ship dominates the foreground.  From here, retrace your steps back to the concession stand; arriving there for the fourth time today marks the end of the hike.