Chapel Cave Trail

Chapel Cave Trail is a 1.75-mile out-and-back along Long Hollow in Hocking State Forest, ending at a large sandstone recess. Choose it for a distinctive cave without taking on the longer Airplane Rock loop. Plan about 1¼ hours with a pause to look inside. The shaded creekside approach is mostly easy walking, but the horse-worn dirt can be muddy, and the route crosses the stream several times. The final climb is short, steep and uneven, so this is more than a stroll.

Use the gravel lot for the Rock Climbing and Rappelling Area at 24798 Big Pine Road. Start at its north end by the kiosk; the obvious track across the road leads into the separate climbing-area trail network. Follow Long Hollow beside the stream. At the confusing split near a large sandstone outcrop, take the cave approach uphill; a split-rail fence rises on the right. Markers can be confusing, so follow the mapped route instead of relying on color alone. Give horses room on the shared bridle trail. Forest entry is limited to 30 minutes before sunrise through 30 minutes after sunset, with no hiking on bridle trails after dark.

The cave appears at the top of the rocky climb: a deep recess beneath a high, layered ceiling. “21 Horse Cave” is a local story about space for 21 horses and riders, not a measured capacity. The back is dark, so a small light helps if you want to look farther in. For a photo, include the arch and the trees framed in its opening to show the scale.

Twin Falls, also called Chapel Falls, is a seasonal creekside continuation in the same hollow, but its added distance is not reliably established and it is not included in this cave route. The falls depend on recent rain and can be weak or dry after a dry spell.