Hocking Hills
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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 (6 unconnected areas: Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Conkles Hollow)
- Hocking State Forest
- Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve
- Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve
- Lake Logan State Park
- Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
- Rock House State Park
The geological series that forms the Hocking Hills extends south and west, gradually diminishing but still forming impressive bluffs and gorges in:
- Tar Hollow State Park
- Tar Hollow State Forest
- Lake Katharine 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:
- Clear Creek Metro Park, part of the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District
- Lake Logan State Park
- Lake Hope State Park
- Zaleski State Forest
