Thursday, April 26, 2012

ACCESSIBLE OHIO -- PART 6


CONKLE’S HOLLOW AND ASH CAVE,
IN THE HOCKING HILLS

Thousands of years ago, mammoth glaciers sculpted the land in the Hocking Hills, creating peaks, basins and caves.

As a result, the area is a beautiful spot for hiking. 

Happily, accessible trails exist for the modestly ambitious to the rough and tumble.

Conkle’s Hollow, on Big Pine Rd., just off Rt. 374, has nearly a mile of trails on wooden walkways suitable for people who use walkers or wheelchair users capable of rolling through a somewhat challenging course.

The trail winds its way along the basin of the deep, rocky gorge.

Here, eye-catching wildflowers lush ferns and spring up at the feet of birch and hemlock trees.

For the more fainthearted, the one quarter mile paved trail to Ash Cave is very wheelchair-friendly.

The brief hike leads to a massive shelter cave and nearby 90-foot waterfall. 

The cave is on Rt. 56, just off Rt. 374.

STORY CONTINUES TOMORROW -- APRIL 27

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