Airplane Rock Trail

Airplane Rock Trail is a 3.6-mile out-and-back in Hocking State Forest, just outside Hocking Hills State Park. From the Hockman Road lot, an old gravel road rolls through hemlock-shaded woods to a short signed spur and a sandstone ledge above a wooded valley. The ledge is the payoff; the walk takes longer and climbs and dips more than a quick overlook stop. Allow about two hours for the return walk and time at the rock.

The first stretch shares the Buckeye Trail. At about 0.3 mile, the blue-blazed Buckeye route turns left; keep right on the old roadbed and follow the orange bridle markers. The track is shared with horses and can be muddy. The first split is easy to miss, so an offline map helps you stay on the direct Hockman Road route instead of wandering onto a longer Chapel Cave loop.

A short signed spur reaches the sandstone outcrop itself. The rock opens onto the wooded valley, though the view can feel more enclosed than the big overlooks elsewhere in Hocking Hills. The ledge has an unguarded drop, so give its edge room, especially with children. For a photo, leave a strip of the pale rock in the foreground with the valley beyond; it shows how the ledge sits above the trees.

Use Airplane Rock Parking at 17741 Hockman Road, the small gravel lot for this route. Parking is limited, and the informal Pine Creek pull-off is a poor substitute: it involves a muddy creek bank and a steep climb, with access unclear. Hocking State Forest is open from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset; hikers can't use bridle trails after dark.