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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

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

Also nearby are:

Climate

The region has mild weather with an average rainfall of 40.3 inches per year and an average of about 175 sunny days per year. The average July high is 84.8 degrees Fahrenheit and the average January low is 19.3 degrees Fahrenheit.^[1]

Climate	Hocking Hills	United States
Rainfall (in.)	40.3	36.5
Snowfall (in.)	18.2	25
Precipitation days	110	100
Sunny days	175	205
Avg. July high	84.8	86.5
Avg. Jan. low	19.3	20.5
Comfort index (higher=better)	46	44
UV index	5.2	4.3
Elevation (ft.)	776	1,060

History

The region was first settled by Christian Eby and was named from a shortened version of the Hockhocking River by the Shawnee Indian tribe. "Hockhocking", in the Delaware tongue, signifies a bottle. The Shawnee people thought that a very narrow and straight creek above the waterfall on the Hockhocking River resembled a bottle's neck.

Other notable settlers were George Starkey and Moses Dolson. The first election on county matters was held in Eby's mill near Queer Creek. The first post office in the area was called the "Rockhouse" and was located in Herschel Badford's home.^[2]

Hocking County formation

Hocking County was formed on March 1, 1818, from Ross, Athens, Fairfield and Logan. The county's boundaries and townships have not been altered since 1851. Due to its natural surroundings, it has become a tourist attraction.^[3]

Outdoor activities

Visitors can experience Hocking Hills through outdoor activities year round, including farmers' markets, wine tastings and train rides. Activities include:

Athens Farmers Market
Earth, Water, Rock: Outdoor Adventures
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours (late March through the last weekend in November)
Happy Hills Fun Park
Hocking Hills Gem Mine
Hocking Hills Marina at Lake Logan^[4]
Hocking Hills Primal Trek
Hocking Hills Adventures
Ultimate Zipline Adventures
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
Hunting at Hocking Hills Cabins
Shade Winery
Sharp Farms Pumpkins & Corn Maze
The Buckeye Trail
Touch the Earth Adventures
Valley Zipline Tours Walker Farm
Wayne National Forest
Nelsonville's Historic Public Square
Uncle Buck's Riding Stable and Dance Barn

Hiking trails

Hocking County offers miles of trails that vary in length and difficulty depending on location. Some trails are pet friendly.^[5]

Old Man's Cave: 1 mile
Ash Cave Gorge: ¼ mile, wheelchair accessible
Ash Cave Rim: 1⁄2 mile
Cedar Falls: 1⁄2 mile
Rock House: 1 mile
Cantwell Cliffs: various trails, around 3 miles
Conkle's Hollow: 1 mile, wheelchair accessible
Conkle's Hollow Rim: 2+1⁄2 miles
Buckeye Trail: Cedar Falls – Ash Cave: 3 miles, Old Man's Cave – Cedar Falls: 3 mile; also over 1,400 other miles around the state of Ohio, coincident with the North Country Trail and the American Discovery Trail in the Hocking Hills area.

Rare plants

The Hocking Hills area harbors a number of rare plants, including Huperzia porophila, the rock firmoss; Botrychium simplex, the least grape fern; Silene rotundifolia, the round-leaf catchfly, and Trichomanes boschianum, the Appalachian filmy fern.