Best For:
Ohio Hikers, Outdoor Enthusiasts looking to Visit Hocking’s less touristy trails, & individuals who read nature journals.
The Essence:
Reading Time: ⏰ 10 mins | Weight: 🪶 light| Mood: 👀 Serene, Observant, Cautious|
The Vault:
- The Fungi in Hocking Hills State Forest
- The Less Touristy Side of Hocking Hills the Forest
- Yes we ran into an Off-leash dog… Again
- The Nervous Feelings
- Our trek – 2 miles, May 18th 2026, mid 80’s
Rockstall, Hocking State Forest, Ohio.
The Trails:
I’ve hiked many trails here some became memorable because of sweeping overlooks or towering waterfalls. While others stay with me because of the small details that I quietly collected along the way. Rockstall Nature Preserve offered both.
What I expected was a peaceful afternoon exploring one of the region’s lesser-known trails with Luna. I found a landscape layered with moss, fungi, flowing water, and reminders that every hike is shaped not only by the place itself, but also by the people and wildlife that happen to cross your path.
What are you waiting for? Folllw Luna and I on our late spring trek through Rockstall Natural Sanctuary. The forest rewarded us with quiet beauty and a few unexpected lessons about awareness, preparation, and trusting your instincts.
The Timing:
I’ve been meaning to explore this area ever since moving from Eastern Ohio to Central Ohio more than three years ago. We all know how life happens though.
Between my work schedule and everything else life throw at me, Rockstall in Hocking Hills just kept getting pushed further down my list. Sometimes I just flat out forgot to consider it… if I’m being honest.
However after getting my shift at work covered and also using a little bit of my PTO, the ability to visit finally aligned on May 18th. We parked around 1:38 p.m., with the temperature sitting around 85 degrees, Luna and I headed out to see what we’d been missing.
The Nature Preserve:
This preserve is located in Logan, Ohio inside of Hocking State Forest, and also is known as Rockstall Natural Sanctuary. This 1.1 – 1.5mile secluded loop is owned by Camp Akita, who generously open their beautiful private part to the public.
This preserve is open 9am to 5 pm daily. The parking lot is very small holding maybe seven vehicles maximum and there are no amenities. Make sure to download or print your maps as most carriers do not have signal here.
Do note that to access the basin, hikers descend a long wooden staircase containing close to 104 steps. Most hikers recommend that you follow the trail fork to the right to trek counter-clockwise. Some even opt to head straight down the stairs to the basin if they want to avoid walking along the high rim walls.
Though dogs are permitted here unlike at most nature preserves camping, fires, and wading are prohibited.
The Fungi:
It didn’t take long for Hocking State Forest to start rewarding Luna and I. We were able to spot shelf mushrooms that clung to the sides of fallen trees while and clusters of cap mushrooms that seemed to just appear across the trail. It felt as though everywhere I looked I was rewarded with another variety of spore or fungi waiting to be found.
Yellow cup-shaped fungi, darker brown cap mushrooms, pale shelve-like fungi in patches, moss, and spiderwebs stretched between branches, all turned an ordinary walk into one of those hikes where you’re constantly stopping… to look a little closer.
Or if you’re like me stopping to get the webs off your face.
The Sounds:
The sound of water followed us for much of the trek. Several small streams spilled through the ravine, each one adding another layer to the quiet atmosphere.
Frogs called from the wetter sections of the trail, occasionally revealing themselves before disappearing back into the water and its undergrowth.
The Off-leash Dog:
As fate would have it not long into our hike, the peaceful rhythm we had built was interrupted when an off-leash dog charged toward Luna. Thankfully, nothing to serious happened.
Luna is reactive around unfamiliar dogs, so I always try to keep situations like that from escalating. The owner struck up a conversation and asked if I wanted the dogs to meet. I politely declined and continued on.
Of course the dog wasn’t the problem. Owners are responsible for keeping their dogs under control, especially on shared trails where not every dog is comfortable with unexpected encounters, and Ohio laws require owners to leash their dogs unless in special areas.
The Waterfall:
When we reached the waterfall, where water flowed over a broad rock face before disappearing downstream my nerves had eased again. This was easily one of the highlights of the hike.
Nearby, I noticed what appeared to be a campsite with a tent set up among the trees and artwork hanging from their branches. The same man was there, carrying and occasionally playing a bongo-style hand drum. It was certainly one of the more unusual sights I’ve come across on an Ohio trail.
After spending a little time enjoying the falls, I decided to head back toward the trailhead.
The Nervous Feelings:
As we continued hiking, I expected that to be the end of the interaction. Instead, we kept crossing paths with this same man. By our fourth encounter, it had become impossible not to notice the pattern.
Each time his dog was still off leash, he was still playing his bongo drum, and each meeting made me a little more aware of my surroundings.
What stood out was that although his campsite remained near the waterfall still setup, I somehow continued running into him several more times throughout the return hike. I even used different trails that cross and reconnect, so seeing someone again isn’t unusual.
Though seeing the same person over and over after they appeared to have settled into camp felt a little different.
The Parking Lot:
Back at the parking area, I wanted to load Luna into the car, but he continued talking. After he placed his own dog inside his vehicle he remained between me and my driver’s door while trying to carry on the conversation. I eventually asked if he could give me enough room so I could get Luna into the car. Once she was secured, I started the car and prepared to leave.
During that final conversation after he allowed me to put my dog into the car he mentioned using hard drugs. He kept himself behind my car pacing back and forth almost blocking my exit and he brought up a few places I’d recently been researching to hike.
While this may have been nothing more than coincidence combined with repeatedly running into him throughout the afternoon, it left me feeling uneasy. I didn’t argue or linger. I simply waited for my chance to jump in and drive away.
The Impression:
Despite that uncomfortable ending, the trail itself left a much stronger impression than one awkward encounter. The waterfall, frogs, mushrooms, moss-covered forest, and quiet beauty were exactly what I’d hoped to find after wanting to visit for so many years.
Sometimes the biggest reminder from a hike isn’t just to appreciate nature. It’s to stay aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and remember that sharing public spaces means preparing for unexpected encounters with people as much as wildlife.
The Reminder:
I continue seeking out places that sit just beyond the busiest trail systems. The waterfall, countless fungi, singing frogs, and cool ravine created exactly the kind of afternoon I’d hoped for after putting this hike off for years.
The trails do not exist separately from the people who visit them.
Most hikers I have encountered are friendly, respectful, and simply happy to share the trail. Occasionally, though, an interaction leaves you paying closer attention to your surroundings. That doesn’t mean every stranger is a threat, but it does mean to keep listening when your instincts tell you to stay alert.
That ended up being the lesson I carried home.
Appreciate the beauty around you, respect the wildlife and fellow hikers, keep your dog under control, and never ignore your intuition. Sometimes what surrounds you isn’t just the sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and forests. It’s every decision, encounter, and observation that shapes the story you take home with you.
TLDR:
This secluded Hocking State Forest trail delivered peaceful streams, abundant fungi, frogs, moss-covered ravines, and a beautiful waterfall that made the hike memorable.
An encounter with an off-leash dog and repeated interactions with another visitor served as reminders that trail awareness extends beyond watching for wildlife.
While the preserve’s natural beauty far outweighed one uncomfortable experience, it reinforced the importance of trusting your instincts and staying aware of your surroundings.
If you’re looking for a quieter alternative to Hocking Hills’ most popular destinations, Rockstall Natural Sanctuary is a rewarding stop. Just download your trail map before arriving, bring plenty of water, and enjoy one of Ohio’s hidden natural treasures.
Plan Your Trek:
Sheep’s Dip at Bison Hollow. Permit Hocking Hills Hikes. Rockbridge.
What the Hike:
- Black Hand Gorge –
The main paved multi-use trail, along with three key parking areas, remains closed for extensive structural repairs. Only the Marie Hickey Trail (2-mile loop) and the Canal Locks Trail (0.4-mile trail) are open to the public this summer. - Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve –
If you are planning to visit this unique bog located on Buckeye Lake, remember that it requires an advanced access permit to step onto the boardwalk due to its fragile ecosystem. Processing takes up to two weeks via the ODNR Cranberry Bog Portal.
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