Conkles Hollow

Conkle’s Hollow is one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in Ohio, a narrow, shadowed chasm in the Hocking Hills where sheer cliffs of Blackhand sandstone rise as much as 200 feet above a cool, lush, fern-carpeted floor. Protected as a State Nature Preserve, the hollow is a place of dramatic beauty and remarkable ecology, its depths so sheltered and moist that they shelter plants more typical of far northern forests.

Two trails reveal its grandeur: an easy, accessible gorge trail winds along the green floor between the towering walls to a slender waterfall at the box-canyon head, while the more strenuous rim trail climbs to follow the cliff tops, offering breathtaking and vertigo-inducing views down into the chasm and across the forested hills. Named for the ‘W.J. Conkle 1797’ carving found on its wall, Conkle’s Hollow is a quieter but profoundly scenic jewel of the Hocking Hills, prized for both its depth and its delicate beauty.

Conkle’s Hollow offers two distinct hikes: an easy, accessible gorge-floor trail that winds along the lush, fern-filled bottom between towering cliffs to a slender waterfall, and a strenuous rim trail that climbs to follow the cliff tops with dramatic overlooks into the chasm. Hiking, photography, nature study and taking in the deep gorge and cliff-top views are the draws. As a State Nature Preserve, it emphasizes quiet enjoyment, making Conkle’s Hollow a scenic and peaceful highlight of the Hocking Hills region.

Spring brings wildflowers and the fullest flow over the head waterfall, summer cool, deep-green shade on the gorge floor, and fall spectacular color, especially dramatic from the rim trail. Winter brings ice and a stark beauty to the cliffs. The gorge is cool and moist year-round; the rim trail’s views are finest in fall color, while the sheltered floor is a refreshing summer retreat. Arrive early on busy weekends, and take care on the rim trail in wet or icy conditions.

Conkle’s Hollow takes its name from an inscription — ‘W.J. Conkle 1797’ — carved into the sandstone wall of the gorge, one of the oldest such markings in the region. The deep hollow, long known for its dramatic depth and beauty, was protected as one of Ohio’s State Nature Preserves to safeguard its rare plant communities and spectacular scenery. Managed for preservation and quiet enjoyment within the broader Hocking Hills, Conkle’s Hollow remains a cherished and protected natural landmark of southeastern Ohio.

Conkle’s Hollow is a deep, narrow gorge carved into Blackhand sandstone, where a stream has cut a remarkably deep and slender chasm — among the deepest in Ohio — with sheer walls rising as much as 200 feet. The cross-bedded sandstone, deposited some 350 million years ago, erodes into the towering cliffs, the box-canyon head with its slender waterfall, and the recessed walls. The narrowness and depth of the hollow, sculpted by water over vast time, create its dramatic, shadowed character and cool microclimate.

The deep, cool gorge of Conkle’s Hollow shelters salamanders and amphibians in its moist, fern-filled floor, while the surrounding forest and cliffs host white-tailed deer, wild turkey, foxes, and a rich community of birds, including species that nest on the cliff ledges. The shaded hollow supports wildlife adapted to its cool microclimate. Hikers on the gorge and rim trails may glimpse wildlife in this sheltered, biodiverse preserve, where the depth and moisture create distinctive habitat in southeastern Ohio.

Conkle’s Hollow is ecologically remarkable for its cool, moist depths, where eastern hemlock, Canada yew, birch, ferns and relict plants thrive in the shaded gorge as living remnants of the colder Ice Age climate, isolated far south of their usual range. As a State Nature Preserve, the hollow is protected specifically to safeguard these rare plant communities and the deep-gorge ecosystem. The towering cliffs, the lush floor and the cool microclimate make Conkle’s Hollow one of the most ecologically significant gorges in Ohio.

Conkle’s Hollow, with its profound depth, towering cliffs, lush gorge floor and breathtaking rim, holds a treasured place among the natural wonders of the Hocking Hills, prized for both its dramatic scenery and its rare ecology. From the centuries-old Conkle inscription to its protection as a State Nature Preserve, the hollow embodies the deep, shadowed beauty and the ecological richness of the region, a quieter but profoundly scenic jewel beloved by hikers and naturalists.

Conkle’s Hollow is a State Nature Preserve in the Hocking Hills of southeastern Ohio near Rockbridge, off State Route 374 near Big Pine Road, about an hour southeast of Columbus, with a parking area and trailheads. It is free to enter, with an easy, accessible gorge-floor trail and a strenuous, cliff-edge rim trail. As a nature preserve, rules emphasize preservation and quiet use. The rim trail has dangerous drop-offs. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for preserve rules, trail conditions and access before visiting.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources protects Conkle’s Hollow as a State Nature Preserve, safeguarding its deep gorge, towering cliffs and rare relict plant communities. Visitors help by staying strictly on the designated trails (off-trail travel and climbing damage the fragile sandstone and rare plants), keeping well back from the rim’s cliff edges, not carving or marking the rock, taking only photographs, and respecting the preserve’s quiet-use rules. Protecting the deep hollow and its cool-gorge ecosystem sustains one of Ohio’s most significant natural areas.

Conkle’s Hollow’s rim trail follows the very edge of sheer 200-foot cliffs with no railings in places — keep well back from the edges, watch footing on the narrow, sometimes slippery path, and supervise children extremely closely, as falls from the rim have been fatal. The rim trail is not for young children or anyone uneasy with heights. The gorge-floor trail is far gentler. Wear sturdy footwear, avoid the rim in wet or icy conditions, and respect the deadly drop-offs.

As a State Nature Preserve, Conkle’s Hollow has strict rules: stay strictly on designated trails, keep off the rock formations and back from cliff edges, and take only photographs — collecting plants, rocks or artifacts and carving the rock are prohibited. Pets may be restricted; check current rules. Drones, climbing and rappelling are prohibited. Camping and fires are not allowed. Pack out all trash. Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for preserve regulations and conditions before visiting.

Conkle’s Hollow lies in the heart of the Hocking Hills near Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave, with Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs to the north, all within Hocking Hills State Park or its surrounding preserves and forest. The town of Logan, the Hocking State Forest’s rock-climbing area, cabins and the lodge lie nearby, and Columbus is about an hour northwest. Conkle’s Hollow is a deep, scenic and peaceful addition to a tour of the Hocking Hills wonders.

Walk the easy, accessible gorge-floor trail to experience the towering cliffs and lush depths up close, then — if you are sure-footed and comfortable with heights — take the strenuous rim trail for breathtaking views into the chasm, keeping well back from the unguarded, deadly cliff edges. Visit in fall for color from the rim or summer for the cool gorge floor. Stay on the trails (it’s a nature preserve), wear sturdy footwear, and avoid the rim in wet or icy weather.