Rim and Gorge Trails

Conkles Hollow State Park, Ohio

Waterfalls, spring wildflowers, colorful autumn forests, sandstone outcroppings, and scenic views—a rarity in Ohio—all await the hiker along the Conkles Hollow Rim Trail, one of state’s most scenic trails.

Conkles Hollow is a cool, deep gorge with sandstone walls that rise 200 feet above the hollow—two trails skirt the rim of this magnificent gorge in the Hocking Hills, namely the East Rim Trail and the West Rim Trail. Each trail is a mile long and they can be combined for a 2 mile loop hike that encircles the rim of the gorge. You will begin your hike on the valley floor and climb, via several—92 to be exact, wooden steps, to the rim of the gorge. The trail then meanders around the rim, precariously skirting the sheer drop offs—you really have to pay attention to what you are doing, because one false step could lead to a fatal mistake. Once at the top of the gorge’s rim you will be awed by the view—forested ridges complete with massive sandstone outcroppings dot the landscape.

We hiked the loop in a counter-clockwise direction, taking the East Rim first—from here you can catch the rays of the late afternoon sun, which is very nice for lounging on the sandstone cliffs, snack in hand. As you hike the East Rim Trail, be sure to stop and turn around to catch the awesome vistas of blackhand sandstone jutting out into the forest, this is especially breathtaking at the peak of fall color.

In contrast, the West Rim Trail is shady and cool in the afternoon—along this part of the trail you will have views across the gorge to the East Rim and you will find a deep chasm filled with huge ferns and a cascading waterfall if the season is right. Return to the floor of the gorge via two sets of stairs, containing six and fourteen steps respectively, where you can then hike the Gorge Trail—a half-mile foray into the heart of the hollow, a cool microclime that supports towering evergreen, hemlock, yew, and abundance of wildflowers in the spring. Adding the Gorge Trail to your hike will bring your total mileage to 3.1 miles.