Hocking Hills

The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau in Appalachian Ohio, primarily in Hocking County, that features cliffs, gorges, rock shelters, and waterfalls. The relatively extreme topography in this area is due to the Blackhand Sandstone (so named because of Native American graphics on the formation near Newark, Ohio), a particular formation that is thick, hard and weather-resistant, and so forms high cliffs and narrow, deep gorges. Component open-space areas Most of the more scenic areas of the region are under state ownership, including: Hocking Hills State Park (with five use areas: Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Old Man's Cave, Rockhouse, and Cantwell Cliffs) Hocking State Forest Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve Sheick Hollow State Nature Preserve (entry by permit only) Little Rocky Hollow State Nature Preserve (entry by permit only) Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve Lake Logan State Park Wayne National Forest Rockbridge State Nature Preserve The core area also includes two privately owned preserves, Crane Hollow and Camp Oty-Okwa (owned by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Ohio). The geological series that forms the Hocking Hills extends south and west, gradually diminishing but still forming impressive bluffs and gorges in: Clear Creek Metro Park, part of the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District Rising Park in Lancaster Wahkeena Memorial State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County Shallenberger State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County Saltpetre Cave State Nature Preserve in Hocking County Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve (exposure is along the westernmost edge only) in Hocking County Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve in Jackson County Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve in Licking County Liberty Wildlife Area in Jackson County