A state nature preserve and one of the deepest gorges in Ohio, with sandstone walls rising up to 200 feet. You get two very different experiences here. The Lower Trail is a flat, paved, wheelchair-accessible path that runs up the cool, fern-filled floor of the canyon to a waterfall at the box-end.
The Rim Trail is the opposite: a strenuous 2-mile loop along the unfenced cliff edge with the best panoramic views in the park — and serious, fatal drop-offs. It’s spectacular and not for small kids, dogs, or anyone uneasy with heights.
Conkle’s Hollow is a state nature preserve and one of the deepest gorges in Ohio, with sheer sandstone walls rising up to 200 feet and a cool, fern- and hemlock-filled floor that stays shaded year-round. It’s named for W. J. Conkle, who carved his name into the cliff in 1797 — still faintly visible today.
The Lower Trail is a flat, paved, wheelchair-accessible path up the gorge floor to a waterfall at the box canyon’s end. The Rim Trail is the opposite experience: a strenuous 2-mile loop along the unfenced clifftop with the best panoramas in the park — and sheer, fatal drop-offs.
Pro tip: No pets are allowed at Conkle’s Hollow (it’s a nature preserve) — plan a dog-sitter stop or leave it for a pet-free leg of the trip. Stay well back from the rim; the edge erodes and there are no railings.
Photo: Boston Public Library (DPLA) · Public domain
- • No pets allowed — Conkle’s Hollow is a nature preserve (the same applies to Rockbridge and Boch Hollow).
- • The Rim Trail edge is unfenced with 100-foot drops; keep children close and stay well back from the lip.
- • The Lower Trail is paved and accessible; the Rim Trail is strenuous and not for small kids.
- • No swimming in the creek, and cell signal is especially poor down in the gorge.
- Can you bring dogs to Conkle’s Hollow?
- No — Conkle’s Hollow is a state nature preserve where pets are prohibited (as they are at Rockbridge and Boch Hollow). Dogs are welcome at most other Hocking Hills areas, including Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave.
- How dangerous is the Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail?
- It demands respect — the 2-mile rim loop runs along unfenced cliffs with drops of 100 feet or more, and there have been fatal falls. It’s spectacular but not for small children or anyone uneasy with heights. The paved Lower Trail is a safe, accessible alternative.
