Hocking Text Side

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/H
Division of Forestry • 2045 Morse Rd., H-1
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693
7. Disturbance or defacement of any property,
materials, natural feature or vegetation is
prohibited. This includes the digging of
Ginseng and other roots or plants. Berries, nuts
and mushrooms may be gathered and removed,
except from seed orchards and nature
preserves.
2. Operation of motor vehicles is restricted to
roads provided for such travel. The speed limit
on state forest roads is 30 mph unless otherwise
posted. Vehicles may not be parked where
traffic or access to division service roads or
trails will be obstructed.
Hocking State Forest
19275 State Route 374
Rockbridge, Ohio 43149-9749
877-247-8733
Additional Information
SOUTH BLOOMINGVILLE
374
SR
80
LAURELVILLE SR 1
HOCKING
STATE
FOREST
MOUND CROSSING
56
LOGAN
0
18
SR
To
GIBISONVILLE At
hen
s
ROCKBRIDGE
bu
s
olu
m
To
US
OHIO
33
SUGAR GROVE
C
LANCASTER
Location Map
Forest Vegetation
One of the special attractions of Hocking State
Forest is the natural vegetation. Plant species
commonly found farther north mix with typically
southern species to provide an unusual variety of
native plant life and associated wildlife.
Virginia and pitch pines, sassafras, and black,
scarlet, white and chestnut oaks grow on the
generally dry ridge areas. Hemlock, beech, black
birch, red and sugar maples, yellow poplar, white
ash, red oak, basswood and hickories grow in cool
gorges, moist coves and on slopes. Flowers, shrubs
and ferns commonly associated with these site
conditions also abound.
General Rules for
Forest Visitors
SR
SR
The ninety-nine acre area is located on Big Pine
Road, one mile east of Conkle’s Hollow. A parking
area is within easy walking distance of the rock and
cliff face. Be sure to use quality equipment and
climb with experienced people. Climbers and
rappellers must register prior to entering the Rockclimbing and Rappelling Area (see Rockclimbing
and Rappelling Area map).
The Hocking State Forest area receives hundreds
of thousands of visitors each year. Please respect
the forest community that you find. Your
consideration of other visitors using the forest will
help provide an enjoyable experience for all.
56
Rockclimbing and
Rappelling Area
1. Visitors are free to walk on state forest property
during daylight hours. However, because of the
many cliffs located throughout the area,
extreme caution is urged particularly when ice
or snow is present. Because of these hazards,
Hocking State Forest closes at dark.
STATE FOREST
HOCKING
The many gas wells and transmission lines that
you see are a result of the development of a natural gas storage field underlying the forest area.
3. Use of horses is permitted on designated bridle
trails only. There is an official Bridle Trail Map
available.
Hocking Hills State Park
20160 State Route 664
Logan, Ohio 43138-9537
(740) 385-6841 Park Office
4
During the spring and fall fire season months—
March, April, May, October and November—
the division works to prevent, detect and
suppress wildfires that occur on state and private
land within Hocking County and parts of Vinton
and Fairfield counties. Prescribed Fire is a
management tool used on Hocking State Forest
to reduce fuel loads in the forest and promote
oak regeneration. Trained forestry professionals
conduct controlled fires, as dictated by a written
plan and overseen by a certified Prescribed Fire
Manager.
4. Camping and building of fires are prohibited.
Division of Natural Areas & Preserves
2045 Morse Rd., F-1
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693
(614) 265-6453
66
Since 1924, Hocking State Forest has been
managed through application of the multiple use
concept. The forest continues to improve and
sustain many products and benefits. Water, soil,
habitat, and aesthetics are among the many
variables considered during the land management process. Foresters are able to enhance
areas for visitors to enjoy many outdoor
activities including hiking, camping, wildlife
watching, hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
These benefits are in addition to growing highly
desirable timber for wood products which are
shipped throughout the U.S. and the world.
5. Public display or consumption of any alcoholic
beverage is prohibited.
ohiodnr.com/forestry
SR
Forest Management
6. Trash and litter should be handled with the
back-country ethic, “Pack it in, pack it out.”
EMERGENCIES
Call 911
SR 374
SR 93
Welcome to
Hocking State Forest
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park, administered by the
Division of Parks and Recreation, includes five
areas which contain some of the most striking
cliffs and land formations found anywhere in
Ohio. Additional information regarding Ash
Cave, Old Man’s Cave, Rock House, Cedar
Falls and Cantwell Cliffs is available at the park
office.
State Nature Preserves
Three state nature preserves have been
established in Hocking State Forest. These
preserves—Conkle’s Hollow, Sheick Hollow
and Little Rocky Hollow—have unique
ecological systems.
Conkle’s Hollow has hiking trails for the general
public. No hunting is permitted and all visitors
must stay on the trails.
Sheick and Little Rocky Hollows are designated
as interpretive and scientific preserves respectively, and are not open to the general public.
Admission is by permit only. Permits are issued
by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
who cooperatively administer the preserves.
Plantations of red, white and shortleaf pines have
developed from plantings of seedlings on
abandoned farm fields. These stands of native and
planted pines often indicate where corn and wheat
once grew on subsistence farms in the 19th and
early 20th centuries.
Trail and Boundary Marks
Hunting and Fishing
Many different colors of paint are seen on trees
throughout the area. Yellow spots indicate the
boundary between state and private land. White
and/or red spots are the boundaries around the
three nature preserves. Blue spots designate the
Buckeye Trail. The Bridle Trails are designated
by various colors (see Bridle Trail map).
Hunting and fishing are permitted within Hocking
State Forest as regulated by the Division of
Wildlife. Shooting is prohibited within 400 feet of
any building, facility, recreation area or within any
designated nature preserve. It is unlawful to shoot
from, on, across or along a public road or highway.
Our mission is to promote
and apply management for the
sustainable use and protection of
Ohio’s private and public forest
lands.
HOCKING
To
US 33
T-123
STATE FOREST
T-1
12
T-33
CANTWELL
CLIFFS
Miller Rd.
T-1
14
tuliptree
Note: Contact 877-247-8733 for
information on the bridle trails, and
rockclimbing and rappelling area.
0
SR
SR 3
74
18
74
5
BT
&3
shellbark hickory
T21
SR 687
T-221
BT
BT
SR
180
Mound Crossing
C
um R
.
SHEICK HOLLOW
STATE NATURE
PRESERVE
C-11
R
SR 374
Rd
d.
ge
T2
Ke
iste 31
rR
d.
shba
Rid
8
23
T-
T
am
o
ps
m
ho
Cre
.
d
nR
19
T-2
Horse
Camp
C-36
LITTLE ROCKY
HOLLOW STATE
NATURE
PRESERVE
BT
Gibisonville
ROCK
HOUSE
Krea
18
y Fork Rd. T -23
ock
2
-9
0
SR
06
Ho
8
T-15
BT
C-3
nR
Airplane
Rock
d.
CONKLE’S
HOLLOW
STATE NATURE PRESERVE
T-243
Motor
Vehicles
Prohibited
ma
ck
59
T-
BT
FOREST
HEADQUARTERS
T-59
C-11
.
SR 6
4
664
HOCKING
HILLS STATE
PARK
5
25
C-
57
T-2
Chape
l
BT
d ge Rd.
Ri
To Laurelville
C-272
Cedar Falls
Blin
dR
d.
T-27
0
-Pas
s
61
T-2
84
C-1
BT
9
C-24
C-255
BT
South
Bloomingville
6
T-24
BT
SR 664
56
1
SR 374
37
SR
&
4
24
T-
SR
T-2
7
64
U
Rd
OLD MAN’S
CAVE
T-245
K
B i g Pine Rd.
r
nge
1
T-237
e if e
BT
25
T-
l R d.
T-155
Rockclimbing & Rappelling Area
C-2
87
SCALE
LEGEND
0
BT
BT
State Highway
County (C) or Township (T) Road
State Forest Land
Villages, Cities, Towns
Point of Interest, Facility
Buckeye Trail
Buckeye Trail (Park Bypass Trail for Horses)
Fire Tower
Horse Camp and Day-use Parking
Rockclimbing and Rappelling Parking
State Park Land
State Nature Preserve
2000
4000
6000
BT
SR 56
To Athens
Hocking County
Vinton County
BT
Hors
e By
Ash Cave
FEET
white oak
Map reviewed and approved by David Lytle, Chief,
ODNR-Division of Forestry 09/07
State forest ownership shown is representative and
believed to be correct but not warranted. State forest
boundary lines on the ground are identified with signs
and/or yellow paint marks on trees.