Trails: Rim and Gorge Trails
Hike Location: Conkles
Hollow State
Geographic Location: southwest of Logan ,
OH (39.45339, -82.57319)
Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Dates Hiked: May 1998, July 2016
Overview: A scenic hike around and through attractive
Conkles Hollow.
Preserve Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/conkles-hollow-state-nature-preserve
Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of
SR 664 and US 33 on the west side of Logan, take SR 664 south 12.1 miles
(passing Old Man’s Cave en route) to SR 374. Turn
right on SR 374. Drive SR 374 north 1
mile to Big Pine Road and
turn right on Big Pine Rd. The preserve entrance is 0.2 miles ahead on
the left. Park either in the cul de sac
at the entrance road’s end or in the paved parking area near some picnic tables
at the top of the hill.
The hike: My first visit to the Hocking Hills, which
many experts regard as Ohio ’s
best hiking destination, lasted for two days in May 1998 many years before I
started even the earliest version of this blog.
That visit was a whirlwind tour of the region’s most famous sites, and
it included quick stops at Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, Cantwell Cliffs,
Rock House, Conkles Hollow, Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls ,
and Ash Cave Ohio
needing to pick a destination for my 600th blog hike and 100th
Ohio hike, the decision to come back
to Conkles Hollow and officially add it to my blog was an easy one.
Although
the area did not become a state nature preserve until 1977, the land was
purchased by the State of Ohio in
1925. Due to the rugged terrain, this
land was never farmed and rarely logged, so tall trees and old growth forest
take center stage here along with the 200-foot sandstone cliffs that line the
hollow. The hollow’s name comes not from
a former land owner but from an inscription on the hollow’s west rock wall that
read “W.J. Conkle 1797.” The inscription
is no longer visible, but the name has stuck.
The
preserve offers two trails, a 2 mile Rim Trail that traces the hollow’s rim and
the 0.5 mile one-way Gorge Trail, which takes you along the stream through the
middle of the hollow. On my first visit
in 1998, I hiked only the shorter and easier Gorge Trail, but to get a full
sense of the hollow’s special scenery you really need to hike both trails. Such is the route described here.
 |
| Bridge entering Conkles Hollow |
The hike
starts by crossing a long wood/iron bridge over Pine Creek. Pine Creek does not pass through Conkles
Hollow, but the small creek that does go through the hollow empties into the
much larger Pine Creek at the hollow’s mouth.
Next you pass a trailhead area with information boards and kiosks on the
right. At 300 feet, the Rim and Gorge
Trails part ways at a signed intersection.
Turn right to begin a counterclockwise journey around the Rim Trail.
The Rim
Trail climbs to the east rim first on constructed wooden steps, then on
moderate grade dirt trail, and finally over some rock outcrops. Some wires strung between metal posts keep
you on the trail. Although the trails at
Conkles Hollow are not blazed or otherwise marked, they are well-trodden and
easy to follow. A final sharp left turn
brings you to the rim, which this trail will follow for the next 1.4 miles.
 |
| Approaching the rim |
The east
section of the Rim Trail alternates between sunny rock outcrops and shady
forest, and very quickly the views for which this trail is famous start to
emerge. No fences or guardrails protect
the cliff edge, so you have to be careful where you step. While there are no particularly precarious
spots, the edge stays close enough often enough to keep it mindful, especially
if you are scared of heights like I am.
Overall, the hiking on the rim is a little rough due to rocks and roots
but fairly level.
 |
| Rim view, looking down Conkles Hollow |
 |
| Rim view, looking up Conkles Hollow |
At 0.7
miles, you reach an especially scenic overlook that stands over a narrow part
of the hollow with a vertical sandstone cliff on the opposite side. As you continue north along the east rim, a
bridle trail called the Orange Trail can be seen in adjacent Hocking
State Forest
 |
| Observation platform at hollow's head |
Just shy of
1 mile, you reach a wooden platform that overlooks the head of the hollow. The trees are too numerous here to allow any
broad views like the ones you passed earlier, but some benches make nice places
to rest near the midpoint of the Rim Trail.
After a brief descent on wooden steps, the trail crosses the main stream
through Conkles Hollow on a wooden footbridge located just above where the
creek falls into the hollow. Some short sandstone
ledges just upstream from the bridge foreshadow the interesting rocky scenery
you will see later in the gorge.
 |
| Crossing creek above Conkles Hollow |
After
crossing the creek, the trail curves sharply left to begin heading down the
west rim. While the state forest bridle
trail bordered the preserve on the east, moderately trafficked SR 374 borders
the preserve on the west, so intermittent vehicle noise will be heard on the
west rim. Also, the west rim is mostly
forested with no open rock outcrops, so there are few expansive views like
those found on the east rim. In between
passing cars I heard several woodpeckers while hiking through the nice pine
forest on the west rim.
The trail traces around several semicircular
alcoves carved into the west rim of Conkles Hollow. Peering down into these alcoves reveals that
Conkles Hollow actually has three levels: the rim level on which you stand, the
creek level where you will be in a few minutes, and a third middle level that
is inaccessible by trail. The lack of
broad views on the west rim allows you to focus on the hollow’s intricate
shapes and walls.
 |
| Alcove along west rim |
After a
particularly close encounter with the state highway, the trail begins its
descent from the rim. The descent is
steep and rocky at first, but later several sections of wooden steps ease the
grade. 2.2 miles into the hike, the Rim
Trail ends at its intersection with the Gorge Trail. The parking lot and hollow’s mouth sit only a
few hundred feet to the right, but this hike turns left to begin the Gorge
Trail as it heads up the center of the hollow.
 |
| Concrete portion of Gorge Trail |
Unlike the
pine trees that dominated on the rim, the forest in the hollow includes some
sycamore and even some birch trees, which usually live in much colder climates.
The easy Gorge Trail is nearly flat, and
the first part of this trail is paved with concrete, thus making it accessible
for wheelchair-bound visitors. About
half way up the Gorge Trail, a nice recess cave called Diagonal
Cave
 |
| Diagonal Cave |
The
hollow’s sheer sandstone walls close in on both sides as you get deeper into
the hollow. Just before 0.4 miles into
the hollow, the wheelchair-accessible trail ends where the treadway turns to
dirt. Some large slump blocks, chunks of
sandstone fallen from the surrounding cliffs, sit beside the trail.
 |
| Head of Conkles Hollow |
After a
brief climb up and over a small side ridge, you cross the creek on stepping
stones just before reaching the head of the hollow. The creek makes a dramatic entrance into the
hollow: a 15 foot ledge-type waterfall with a shallow plunge pool. The waterfall was nice on my May 1998 visit
but dry on my July 2016 visit. This area
also has nice acoustic qualities that make the waterfall sound bigger than it
is. The Gorge Trail ends at the hollow’s
head, so after enjoying the waterfall area your only choice is to retrace your
steps back out the hollow to the parking lot to complete the hike.
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