Hocking Hills

This article is about the region. For the state park of the same name, see Hocking Hills State Park.
Conkle's Hollow

The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau in Ohio, primarily in Hocking County, that features cliffs, gorges, rock shelters, and waterfalls. The relatively extreme topography in this area is due to the Blackhand Sandstone (so named because of Native American graphics on the formation near Newark, Ohio), a particular formation that is thick, hard and weather-resistant, and so forms high cliffs and narrow, deep gorges.

Component Open-Space Areas

Most of the more scenic areas of the region are under state ownership, including:

The core area also includes two privately owned preserves, Crane Hollow and Camp Oti-Okwa (owned by Big Brothers and Big Sisters).

The geological series that forms the Hocking Hills extends south and west, gradually diminishing but still forming impressive bluffs and gorges in:

The Buckeye Trail, along with the North Country Trail and the American Discovery Trail, passes through the Hocking Hills region.

Also nearby are:

Hocking Hills Area

Climate

The region has mild weather with an average rainfall of 40.3 inches per year and an average of about 175 sunny days. The average July high is 84.8 degrees Fahrenheit and the average January low is 19.3 degrees Fahrenheit.[1]

Climate Hocking Hills United States
Rainfall (in.) 40.3 36.5
Snowfall (in.) 18.2 25
Precipitation Days 110 100
Sunny Days 175 2-5
Avg. July High 84.8 86.5
Avg. Jan. Low 19.3 20.5
Comfort Index (higher=better) 46 44
UV Index 5.2 4.3
Elevation ft. 776 1,060

History

The region was first settled by Christian Eby and was named from a shortened version of the Hockhocking River by the Shawnee Indian tribe. Hockhocking, in the Delaware tongue, signifies a bottle. The Shawnee people thought that a very narrow and straight creek above the waterfall on The Hockhocking River resembled a "bottle" neck. Other notable settlers were George Starkey and Moses Dolson. The first election on county matters was held in Eby’s mill near Queer Creek. The first post office in the area was called the “Rockhouse” and located in Herschel Badford’s home. [2]

Hocking County Formation

Hocking County was formed on March 1, 1818, from Ross, Athens, Fairfield and Logan. The county's boundaries and townships haven’t been altered since 1851, and due to its natural surroundings, has become a tourist attraction. [3]

Outdoor Activities

Visitors can experience Hocking Hills through outdoor activities, year round, including farmers markets, wine tastings and train rides. Some activities include:

Hiking Trails

Hocking County offers miles of trails that vary in length and difficulty depending on location. Some of the trails are also pet friendly.[4]

Rare Plants

The Hocking Hills area harbors a number of rare plants, including Huperzia porophila, the rock firmoss; Botrychium simplex, the least grape fern; Silene rotundifolia, the round-leaf catchfly, Trichomanes boschianum, the Appalachian filmy fern, and others.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Climate in Hocking County, Ohio". Sperling's.
  2. ↑ "Hocking County Name". 1800hocking.com.
  3. ↑ "Hocking County History". 1800hocking.com.
  4. ↑ "Bring Your Pets to Hocking Hills For Some Four-Legged Fun". Hocking Hills Tourism Association. Retrieved 2012-06-24.

External links

Coordinates: 39°28′N 82°34′W / 39.467°N 82.567°W / 39.467; -82.567

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