Conkles Hollow Rim Trail

Conkles Hollow Rim Trail is a roughly 2-mile loop around the high edge of the preserve’s narrow gorge. Start at the preserve parking area, climb the wooden stairs to the rim, follow the cliff-top path past open overlooks, and descend by stairs back toward the lot. The rim route is one-way; follow its marked direction and budget several hours for the steep footing and stops. If you want a less strenuous visit, the separate Gorge Trail has a paved stretch toward the waterfall, but the rough final section is not wheelchair accessible.

This is a hard hike for people who are comfortable on uneven ground near open drops. The climb and descent use many steps; roots, wet stone and narrow breaks in the rock-and-soil tread need steady attention. In places the cliff falls 70 to 100 feet. Stay on the marked path, especially where the tread narrows, and don’t step toward the edge to get a better look. Pets are not allowed anywhere in the preserve.

Dozens of wooden steps lead up from the parking area. A small rest spot about halfway has an interpretive sign about the change from plants on the gorge floor to those on the rim. Views begin soon after the climb, so you don’t have to wait until the far side of the loop to see the gorge. A wooden observation deck looks down into it, and broad openings recur along the cliff edge. The views come between wooded stretches where roots and stones take more attention than the scenery. The last stair descent returns you to the preserve access.

The hollow is cut into Black Hand sandstone. Its cliffs rise nearly 200 feet above the valley, while the gorge pinches to about 100 feet wide in places. About 350 million years ago, rivers carried sand into a vast inland sea here and spread it in broad deltas. Later silt and clay buried the sand; pressure hardened the layers into sandstone. Uplift raised the land, and water and weather gradually wore it back to the narrow hollow and ledges you see from the rim. Some consider it Ohio’s deepest gorge.

The top and the cool gorge below support different plant and animal communities. The sign on the climb points out that change, and the preserve lists spring wildflowers and fall color among its natural features. Specific species to look for from the rim weren’t established, so there’s no reason to expect a particular flower or animal on this route. The waterfall belongs to the separate Gorge Trail experience, not the rim loop.

Ohio bought Conkles Hollow in 1925 to preserve its scenery, then dedicated it as a state nature preserve in 1977. The rim’s views are part of a protected place with fragile rock and habitats, which is why the preserve asks hikers to remain on designated trails. Access runs from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; plan to finish within those hours.