Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve in Hocking Hills, Ohio

It took millions of years to carve out the gorge at Conkle’s Hollow, and you can tell.

It’s the deepest gorge in Ohio, filled with waterfalls and cliffs and scenery that’ll make you forget you’re just a few hours from Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Even after visiting the main attractions at Hocking Hills—Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave—it’s still hard to imagine that a place like Conkle’s Hollow exists. And in Ohio, no less.

Filled with cliffs and waterfalls, Conkle’s Hollow is said to be the deepest gorge in Ohio. Here’s what you need to know about visiting:

It’s a must-see spot in Hocking Hills. Conkle’s Hollow is one of the major hiking areas in Hocking Hills. It’s not technically in the state park, but Conkle’s Hollow is just a 5-minute drive from the park entrance.

It has one of the most strenuous trails in the area. Many of the trails in Hocking Hills are easy to moderate hikes, but the Rim Trail at Conkle’s Hollow is one of the most tiring. It’s just 2 miles round-trip, but there is some steady elevation gain as you traverse the tops of the cliffs.

Conkle’s Hollow has some of the best viewpoints in Hocking Hills. The Rim Trail at Conkle’s Hollow leads you to the tops of the cliffs, where you’ll get sweeping views of the valleys and hills surrounding the gorge.

What is Conkle’s Hollow?

Conkle’s Hollow is a nature preserve that’s about 3 miles to the northwest of Hocking Hills State Park. Its signature feature is a large, deep gorge, which looks stunning from down below on the gorge floor and from up above on the cliffs. Of all the gorges in Ohio, this one is the deepest—and the most impressive. The cliffs at Conkle’s Hollow reach 200 feet above the valley floor.

There’s a 20-foot waterfall at the end of the gorge, called Conkle’s Hollow Falls. If you want to see it at full strength, visit during the late winter through mid-spring. The waterfall is beautiful during the summer and early fall, but isn’t quite as powerful.

To reach the great views at Conkle’s Hollow, you’ll need to do some hiking. See the trail section below for more details.

Where is Conkle’s Hollow?

Technically, Conkle’s Hollow is just outside the Hocking Hills State Park boundary. But for all practical purposes, you can consider Conkle’s Hollow part of Hocking Hills.

Conkle’s Hollow is central to most of the other spots in Hocking Hills. It is just a 5-minute drive from the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center and some of the most popular attractions in Hocking Hills State Park. You won’t be going out of your way to explore this wild gorge.

These are the driving distances from nearby major cities:

From Cleveland: About 3 hours.
From Cincinnati: About 2 hours.
From Columbus: About 1 hour.

Conkle’s Hollow is an easy day trip from almost anywhere in Ohio.

Conkle’s Hollow hiking trails

Conkle’s Hollow is one of the seven major hiking areas in Hocking Hills.

Finding your way around is easy: There are only two trails. Here’s what you need to know about both.

Gorge Trail: True to its name, this trail takes you deep through the valley in the Conkle’s Hollow gorge. You’re in the middle of it all. By the time you get to the end, you’re met with a waterfall. The Gorge Trail is the easier of the two trails in Conkle’s Hollow, at around 1.2 miles round trip. The trail is paved for most of its length. If you’re looking for a good place to take kids or older family members, the Gorge Trail is the one to take.

Rim Trail: Want to get a birds-eye view of the gorge instead of hiking through it? Take the Rim Trail. It’s a 2-mile loop, and involves some elevation gain as you make your way up to the small plateau above the gorge. You’ll get beautiful views from up here of the surrounding forests and the cliffs below. Be careful with bringing little ones or people who don’t have stable footing. The cliffs are tall, and there are stretches of the trail where you’ll need to be careful. Take extra care to stay back from the ledge.

If you can, hike both of the trails at Conkle’s Hollow. They each offer compelling views of this gigantic, historic gorge.

The story behind Conkle’s Hollow

How Conkle’s Hollow got its name

In the 1800s and 1900s, settlers did a lot of wandering through the Ohio wilderness. During one expedition, a few pioneers came across a massive gorge—and they saw something strange. A name, carved into the sandstone wall.

The carving read: W.J. Conkle.

The 200-foot-deep gorge has been named Conkle’s Hollow ever since. Whether the story about W.J Conkle and his name carving is accurate or just urban legend, only the rock walls know for sure.

How Conkle’s Hollow was formed

The gorge at Conkle’s Hollow was formed like most gorges in the area: It was carved out by water, slowly, and over millions of years. But it’s the formation of the cliffs that makes Conkle’s Hollow unique.

Millions of years ago, Ohio was covered by a shallow sea. This sea eventually began to recede. When it did, sediments formed to create a special type of sandstone. That special stone is called Black Hand sandstone, and that’s what the cliffs at Conkle’s Hollow are made of.

You won’t just see Black Hand sandstone at Conkle’s Hollow. It’s all over Hocking Hills, and makes up most of the area’s popular cliffs and gorges.

Attractions near Conkle’s Hollow

Conkle’s Hollow is set right in the middle of a hikers’ paradise. There are a number of attractions you can hike to while you’re in the Conkle’s Hollow area.

Here are a few of the popular nearby spots.

Airplane Rock

A fun and quiet spot, Airplane Rock is a large rock outcropping that overlooks the forest below. The hike to the rock is about 2 miles round-trip. Getting to the trailhead can be tricky, and it’s one of the reasons Airplane Rock stays a quiet trail.

Here’s how to find the trailhead: Head east on Big Pine Road past Conkle’s Hollow until you cross over Big Pine Creek. About 0.1 miles after crossing the creek, you’ll see an orange gate on the side of the road marked “Do Not Block”. That’s where the trailhead is located. There are limited spots to pull off and park on the side of the road. If you can’t find a spot, you can park at the Hocking Hills Climbing and Rappelling area and hike a half-mile west on the road to reach the trailhead.

The Airplane Rock Trail is a horse trail, but hikers are welcome–the trail conditions are just a little rougher than the rest of Hocking Hills. You can do a loop hike from nearby Chapel Cave (featured below), which will take you 4 miles through the forest on horse trails before finishing up back at the trailhead.

Chapel Cave (or 21 Horse Cave)

Chapel Cave is one of the most unique caves at Hocking Hills. The name is fitting: The cave’s diagonal, triangular-shaped cave’s walls do evoke the spitting image of a chapel. Chapel Cave is big enough to hold 21 horses and their riders, which has earned it the nickname 21 Horse Cave.

The 2-mile trail to Chapel Cave is on Big Pine Road, about a half-mile east of Conkle’s Hollow. You’ll find the trailhead at the north end of the Hocking Hills Climbing and Rappelling parking lot.

Balanced Rock

The trail to Balanced Rock is one of the most underrated in all of Hocking Hills. You’ll start in the Hocking Hills Climbing and Rappelling parking lot—just feet away from the Chapel Cave trailhead—and hike through small valleys and massive rock outcroppings.

After around one mile, you’ll end up at Balanced Rock. At first glance, it looks like a massive rock balancing on a narrower pillar, ready to fall at any time. Fortunately, that’s not the case. You can thank differential erosion for the pattern at balanced rock: Some parts of the rock eroded faster than others, creating the balancing illusion you see today.

To get to Balanced Rock, start in the Hocking Hills Climbing and Rappelling parking lot. Walk across the street and cross the metal footbridge. You’ll get to a trail junction. Take the left trail—it’s a horse trail, so it’s hard to miss.

FAQs about Conkle’s Hollow

How long does it take to hike to Conkle’s Hollow?

If you take the Gorge Trail, your hike will take between 30 minutes and an hour. Hiking the Rim Trail takes closer to 2 hours.

Are dogs allowed at Conkle’s Hollow?

Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed at Conkle’s Hollow. Remember: You can bring your dogs (on a leash) to most of the trails in Hocking Hills State Park. But Conkle’s Hollow is a nature preserve, and it’s not in the state park. So, the rules are different–and dogs aren’t allowed on the trails.

Are there waterfalls at Conkle’s Hollow?

Yes, there are multiple waterfalls at Conkle’s Hollow. Many of these waterfalls are seasonal, though. If you want to make sure you see them, go in the winter or spring when water levels are at their highest.

Places to stay near Conkle’s Hollow

There are some fabulous cabins just minutes away from Conkle’s Hollow. Here are some of the best accommodations if you’re looking to stay in the area.

Browse cabins by style:

Browse cabins by size:

The Bottom Line

It’s not even in the state park, but many visitors leave Hocking Hills with Conkle’s Hollow as one of their favorite spots in the whole area. If you’re going to Hocking Hills, it’s a no-brainer: Head to Conkle’s Hollow.