Hocking Hills

The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau in 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.

Most of the more scenic areas of the region are under state ownership, including:

• Hocking Hills State Park
• 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 Oti-Okwa (owned by Big Brothers and Big Sisters).

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
• Tar Hollow State Park
• Tar Hollow State Forest
• Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
• Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

The Buckeye Trail, along with the North Country Trail and the American Discovery Trail, passes through the Hocking Hills region.

Also nearby are:

• Lake Hope State Park
• Zaleski State Forest
• Camp Wyandot