Best For:
Individuals interested in rockhounding, Ohio Hikers, and those who enjoy spending time in nature.
The Essence:
Read Time: ⏰ 5-7 minutes| weight: ☀️light| Mood: ✨ hopeful & bright |
Trail Notes:
- Date & Time: May 20th at 2:00 PM
- Distance: 5.71 miles
- Duration: 3 hours 41 minutes
- Conditions: High 60s, ideal late-spring weather with clear air
- Chapel Cave aka 21 Horse Cave, Twin Falls, & Airplane Rock
- Falling Turkeys & Puddling Butterflies
Unplanned Highs on the Trail:
Some days on the trail you step onto the dirt expecting a simple afternoon trek and leave with pockets full of stones, a heart full of inspiration, and a life-changing memory. Our 5.7-mile loop to Airplane Rock was supposed to be a straightforward May outing.
A chance to get out into the damp hemlock gorges and rocky heights the Ohio landscape offers. What it turned into was an unpredictable, electric blend of scrambling down what felt like rock faces, stumbling across rare natural phenomena, dodging falling wildlife, and celebrating one of my pal’s biggest personal milestones right in the middle of the woods.
Hocking State Forest:
Cyble spent a lot of the entire first leg of the trail determined to find a way down the hillside that more like the front of a cliff face. Watching her scout the drop line set the tone for the day: rough, focused, and leaning into the scramble.
After testing a few angles along the rocky edge, we finally spotted a safe path in the hillside that allowed us to climb down off the rim and drop into the throat of the gorge below.
This allowed us to see the cliff face and smaller caves from below instead of from above and off to the side alone. We also were able to access the bottom of one of the twin waterfalls here also.
Into the Waterfalls and Rock Shelters:
Down inside the gorge, the environment transforms entirely. We ducked inside a massive, ancient sandstone rock shelter. Here we found a place to hideaway from the heat.
Further down the trail we were able to walk underneath one of the twin falls. We had to mind our footing and climb up a few wet large boulders after climbing through the creek in order to do so. But the cool water awarded us with a much needed second chance to cool off.
The Accidental Rap Line:
Even in the most awe-inspiring outdoor spaces, the trail finds a way to keep you grounded in absurdity. While stepping back out from the damp rock faces, I felt a heavy thread catch across my nose and cheeks.
I turned to say “there’s a spiderweb on my face,” but my brain mashed the words together into a seamless flow, accidentally spitting out: “Spider face on my web.” It was so smooth and utterly unprompted that it instantly became the official trail motto for the day.
Chaos in the Canopy:
Just as we were recovering our breath from laughing at my sudden hip-hop debut, a massive noise broke out right over our heads. High up in the mature hardwoods above the rocks, a wild turkey lost its footing or got startled, and took a heavy, desperate plunge through the branches.
We shrieked as we waited it run off into the distance. I swore it absolutely had to be a buzzard or something, of course I was wrong,
How do wild turkeys end up in trees?
We usually see wild turkeys strutting through fields or along backroads, but did you know that actually roost up high? They make their beds in tree canopies every night to stay safe from ground predators like coyotes and foxes.
During the day, Turkeys use the upper branches to rest, feed, or even keep a lookout. Adult turkeys are heavy-bodied birds, taking off or losing balance on a weak branch causes a loud, chaotic avalanche of breaking twigs, heavy wing-flapping, and a steep downward plummet before they regain momentum and “fly” or run away.
That turkey crashed through the leaves, hit the ground near the trail with a thud, and sprinted full-tilt into the thick brush like a walking, feathered anxiety attack.
It scared the absolute daylights out of us, leaving us laughing in the sudden silence.
Trail Amenities & Their Arachnid Landlord:
Further down the loop, we came across an actual pit restroom on the trail. Finding functional plumbing or a maintained privy deep in the backcountry always feels like hitting a luxury jackpot when you’re miles out. The catch?
Guarding the doorway was an easily palm-sized spider (including the leg span) holding court over the frame. It was a classic “EEEEK” moment, but a restroom on the trail is still a massive win. Even if you have to negotiate entry with the eight-legged landlord.
Pockets Full of History: Flint, Fossils, & Shimmering Matrix:
For anyone like me, who keeps their eyes on the ground, this loop is an absolute geological minefield. I gathered heart-shaped stones to bring home and took photos of the larger specimens too heavy to pack out.
The Black Hand sandstone matrix here is stunning. You’ll find it riddled with tiny, silver-glittering flecks of mica that catch the light like buried treasure.
Beyond the raw geology, the history here runs deep. I picked up several pieces of what I assume was worked flint. These were sharp debitage left behind by ancient hands near small marine fossils pressed directly into the rock layers.
Butterfly Puddling:
Later along a damp and muddy stretch of trail, we came across a small cluster of bright yellow butterflies. These ones were doing something I hadn’t seen before in person, they gathered together on the wet soil. I had actually just learned about this phenomenon, which is called puddling, within the last few days.
What is Butterfly Puddling?
Male butterflies gather on damp soil, mud, or wet gravel to drink water rich in essential minerals, salts, and amino acids. The typical butterfly’s plant-nectar diet lacks sodium and vital nutrients, puddling allows them to extract these essential salts from the earth, which aids in reproduction and stamina.
Butterflies have always carried a deep personal meaning for me, especially yellow ones. Watching them quietly siphon minerals right at our feet felt like an intentional moment reminding us to take time for grounding. Life tends to hand us reasons to pause right when we need them.
A Milestone at the Top:
Just as we were soaking in the ridge, Cyble checked her phone and got the news she had been waiting on: she was accepted into the Ohio State University Architecture program. Celebrating a major life achievement surrounded by small snails, mossy stones, and towering cliffs made the entire 5-mile trek feel charged with hopeful energy.
Dangling Feet – Airplane Rock:
We ended the day sitting on the precipice of Airplane Rock, dangling our legs over the edge just like I had on the Conkle’s Hollow rim trail. The view opened out in every direction: layered Ohio forests, cliff faces, hidden caves, and winding creeks catching the late afternoon sun.
Though sitting on the edge here was much different than the flat edges of Conkle’s Hollow. The edges here slope downward towards the arms of airplane rock on either side. We took photos and explored the rock awhile while we got used to being up there near the ledge.
This is by far one of Hocking State Forests best views to experience in my opinion.
Why We Walk the Ridge:
Nearly 6 miles and almost 4 hours later, we walked off the trail completely spent. Hiking isn’t just about putting miles under your boots; it’s about making space for the unexpected.
Between the chaos of falling turkeys, ancient worked flint, shimmering rock matrixes, and a life-changing acceptance letter, this trail reminded us why we keep coming back to the dirt. You step into the woods looking for a quiet walk, and you come out carrying stories and pockets full of stone, that stay with you for good.
What the Hike:
- Cliff Safety Reminder: Hocking Hills’ sandstone cliffs are stunning but unforgiving. During our visit, an elderly hiker lost her life after a fall at Cantwell Cliffs. Give cliff edges with markers plenty of space and remember: no photo is worth the risk. Do not attempt to approach edges where erosion is present.
- Water Volume Advisories: True to mid-summer patterns, the waterfall flows at Cedar Falls and Upper/Lower Falls have decreased to their steady summer trickle. Deep gorge trails remain comfortably cool, maintaining temperatures between 70–75°F even when above-ground heat indexes spike.
- Tar Hollow Forest Closure: Hikers looking to avoid crowds in the nearby state forests should note that portions of the Orange Boundary Trail and the White connector trails at Tar Hollow State Forest are temporarily closed between Poe’s Run Road and Park Road 39. This is due to active timber management though The Boundary Trail Rest Area remains accessible.
Plan Your Trip:
Airplane Rock. The Hocking Hills.
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