Posted in Hiking, Park review, Southeastern Ohio

Hocking Hills State Park: Old Man’s Cave

Hocking Hills State Park is the most popular park in Ohio, and Old Man's Cave is the most popular location in the park. Old Man's Cave is not a cave in the traditional sense of an underground limestone cavern. Instead it is a deep gorge with a large, overhanging lip made of erosion-resistant, blackhand sandstone. The stream that runs through the gorge is marked by a series of waterfalls and rapids. This region is known as "Old Man's Cave" because one side of the gorge has a recess cave where an "old Read more ➜
Posted in Hiking, Northeastern Ohio, Park review

Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve

Most of Ohio was deforested for agricultural purposes during the 18th and 19th centuries. However there are a handful of virgin forests that were left alone, and one of these is found within the confines of Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve (previously known as Graber Woods). Although I usually don't get off the freeway when I'm traveling between central and northeast Ohio, I decided it was worth making a side trip to see this primeval forest. There are trees in Johnson Woods that are over 400 Read more ➜
Posted in Central Ohio, Hiking, Park review

Honey Run Highlands Park

My husband and I began our afternoon here by parking off Hazel Dell Road near the waterfall. It is a relatively small, but charming falls, about 25 feet in height. The surrounding region has many sandstone cliffs and bouldering (climbing) is allowed. Here are some additional sights near the falls. Trails Across the Road from the Falls Across the road from the falls is additional parking and a trail head. There are about 4 miles of trail. The trail quickly branches into Read more ➜
Posted in Central Ohio, Hiking, History, Park review

Seymour Woods State Natural Preserve

Seymour Woods State Nature Preserve is a 115-acre preserve in Delaware County. It is named after James O. Seymour who donated the property to the state in 1972. His family's cabin, though boarded up, remains within the preserve. The preserve also contains the foundation of a settler's home that was built in 1830; it's known as the Avery Powers Homestead. While hiking the loop trail that winds around the property, I also noticed the remains of a concrete silo off in the distance. When Read more ➜