Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve near Hocking Hills, Ohio

This once-private, now-public nature preserve doesn’t get anywhere near the attention that nearby Hocking Hills does. But its gentle forested corridors, a new stretch of the Buckeye Trail, and a secluded waterfall offer much of the Hocking Hills magic with just a tiny fraction of the crowds.

If you enjoy venturing outside of well-known spots, Boch Hollow is a must-see during a Hocking Hills visit. The park is 607 acres big and home to about 7 miles of hiking trails, easily enough for a full day of exploring in solitude.

Below, you’ll learn how to get to Boch Hollow, what to expect from each of the trails, and how to get access to the permit-only Robinson Falls.

What is Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve?

Boch Hollow is a moderate-sized nature preserve to the north of Hocking Hills State Park. Often used for school education programs, it’s mostly unknown to tourists who head to Hocking Hills—even though the scenery is still fantastic. As such, it’s a favorite choice among locals who want somewhere with solitude and great views.

Wooded hills, green corridors, ponds, sandstone walls, and a corkscrew waterfall are all easily-viewed in Boch Hollow. All in all, you could spend a whole day exploring every corner of the nature preserve. A new stretch of the famous Buckeye Trail, recently rerouted to avoid road crossings, also runs through the park.

Where is Boch Hollow, and how do I get there?

Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve is located about 30 minutes, by car, to the north of Hocking Hills State Park—which makes it a great place to visit if you’re also visiting Hocking Hills.

Getting there can be confusing at first, though, because there are three entrances. Here are the addresses for each of them:

North Entrance: 31983 Beach Camp Road, Logan, OH, 43138.
East Entrance: 7793 Bremen Road, Logan, OH, 43138
West Entrance: 7100 State Route 664, Logan, OH, 43138

You’re probably wondering if it matters which entrance you go to. The answer depends on which trails you’d like to hike, which we’ll cover in the next section. However, none of the trails in the park are particularly long, and they all connect with one another. You can park at any of the trailheads and get to any of the trails in the park without hiking more than a mile or two.

Boch Hollow hiking and trail information

The trail system within the park is simple, each trail as beautiful as the last. With the exception of the Buckeye Trail, you’ll have to take short connector hikes to get to each of these trails, which are included in the mileage numbers below.

Here’s a breakdown of each trail, as well as the park entrance they’re located closest to:

Buckeye Trail: The stretch of the 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail in Boch Hollow was constructed in 2017 to replace a piece of the trail which crossed too many roads. It’s the longest trail in Boch Hollow, at 4 miles in total, and it’ll take you through some of the most scenic parts of the park. It’s easy to branch off from the Buckeye Trail to the other trails in the park, too. This trail runs from the West to the East entrances of the preserve.

Cemetery Trail: This trail is just under 2 miles in total, and it’ll take you to a 19th-century pioneer burial ground. It’s a slice of history that not many people get to see, with quiet forest scenery to boot. This trail is most easily accessed from the East entrance of Boch Hollow.

Pond Trail: The name of the trail does most of the talking here—this one’ll take you to a small pond. It’s a quiet little spot, encircled by trees. You’ll probably be the only one here. The hike, in all, is nearly 2 miles round trip. This trail is most easily accessed from the North entrance of Boch Hollow.

Meadow Trail: This easy trail meanders into a meadow, one of the few small clearings within the state nature preserve. It’s most scenic in the summer, but can be visited any time of year. The Meadow trail itself is under a mile long, but you’ll need to hike at least a mile on the Buckeye Trail first in order to get to it. This trail is most easily accessed from the North and the East entrances of Boch Hollow.

Ridge Trail: As the name suggests, this trail guides you up to a small ridge. It’s just 0.2 miles and is, in effect, a short detour from the Buckeye Trail. You’ll have to hike at least a mile each way on the Buckeye Trail to get here. This trail is most easily accessed from the North entrance to Boch Hollow, though it’s similar distances from all three.

Robinson Falls (Corkscrew Falls) Trail: This is a short, permit-only hike which’ll take you to the only waterfall in the park. You’ll first have to apply for a permit, and you’ll park at a different location to get to this waterfall. Want to get there? Read more about the falls here.

A recommended hiking route at Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve

Want to spend a good part of your day exploring all of Boch Hollow? It’s doable. Start from the West entrance, on the Buckeye Trail, and hike towards the East entrance. Or vice versa—it doesn’t make a difference where you start. Along the way, take every detour you find: This will cover almost every single trail in the park, taking you to a meadow, a pond, a ridge, and an old cemetery.

You’ll have hiked about 7 miles by the time you finish your hike entrance. If you brought two cars, you can get in your car here. If not, you’ll hike 4 miles back on the Buckeye Trail to get to where you parked, bringing the hike to 11 miles in total. It’s not difficult terrain, but the mileage makes it a good workout.

The history behind Boch Hollow

In the 60s, the late Dr. Francis and Joyce Kessler started purchasing land at Boch Hollow. On the weekends, they’d motor out to their home on the private nature reserve. Dr. Francis built a 10-car garage on the property, where he spent days in nature restoring vintage cars.

Years passed, and Dr. Francis and Joyce Kessler gave the land to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, so that it could be enjoyed by the public. They also provided an endowment fund for buildings, land, and an educational ecology program that still serves children from local schools.

There’s another relic of the past you’ll find in Boch Hollow: Running Buffalo Clover. It’s a clover, bright-green with a pearly-white flower, which is now endangered. The clover mainly relied on soil and seed disturbance from bison—hence the name. But now, with fewer bison, habitat destruction, and non-native plants, it’s hard to find the Running Buffalo Clover. At Boch Hollow, however, the clover is still in abundance. Even in the absence of buffalo.

FAQs about Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve

Can I bring my dog to Boch Hollow?

No pets are allowed at Boch Hollow. Nature preserves in Ohio often have stricter rules than state parks.

When is Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve open?

You can visit the park from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset—in effect, you can go anytime it’s not dark outside.

How can I get to Robinson Falls?

To get to Robinson Falls, you’ll need to apply for a permit on the ODNR website at least 2 weeks before your visit.

How many trails are in Boch Hollow?

You’ll find 7 miles of trails in Boch Hollow, made up of six trails in total. Four of these miles are part of Ohio’s legendary Buckeye Trail.

Places to stay near Boch Hollow and Hocking Hills

Wondering where to stay when you visit Hocking Hills? Clear Falls has luxury cabins situated on a private, 500-acre wildlife preserve. It’s paradise in the wilderness—and just a few minutes’ walk from most of Hocking Hills’ most beautiful attractions. Find your cabin below.

Browse cabins by style:

Browse cabins by size:

The Bottom Line

There’s hardly a better place than Boch Hollow if you want to spend a day exploring trails, especially if you want some solitude. It’s the perfect spot to visit on a trip to Hocking Hills, and if you decide to check out the trails, try reserving a permit for Robinson Falls at least two weeks before you go. That way, you’ll get the best of Boch Hollow—and a permit-only waterfall where you’re almost guaranteed to be the only visitor.