Setting the Day
Saturday afternoon found me passenger-seat riding into southern Ohio, the deep autumn colors folded into Hocking Hills. I was there with my buddy Kylie. I was only one hike off a two‑week hiatus from hiking… depression is weird. Today was important to me, though. It was the anniversary of my mom’s passing. I wanted to celebrate her life in motion, in elevation, on trail, and somewhere I know she would have loved. Obviously, the chosen Rim at Conkle’s Hollow for just that. She boasts wide views, edge‑of‑cliff moments, autumn colors, and air that makes you feel alive.
We parked at the trail head of Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve. The location is 24858 Big Pine Road, Rockbridge, Ohio. That’s started up the Upper Rim loop. The Rim Trail is about 2 miles (3.22 km) long and one-way, though per Hocking Hills hikers normal lack of etiquette it seems seldom followed. The terrain is moderate to steep with exposed roots and edge of cliff drop-offs. Some of the hike kept us on the literal edge. It was not a casual stroll. It should be noted that the preserve warns it may be strenuous for those who don’t hike regularly. Kylie and I both were surprised by our over-all lack of feeling worn from this.
From the moment we climbed the wooden stairs leading up from the valley floor, the energy shifted. Our joking started almost immediately. We joked about cliff edges and how you can’t bring your friend to celebrate his mom’s death at a cliff. He might jump off himself to re‑join her. Yes, dark jokes, but we were healing. Ahead of us were hikers, who were being cautious and speaking about a friend lost to a cliff fall. Though they didn’t stay to close to us much longer…. So, laughter came louder and less infrequent because sometimes that’s what you choose instead of tears.
The Upper Rim Views & Trail Reality
Once you crest the valley floor, you step onto the Rim Trail. You are walking a loop that literally hugs the top of sandstone cliffs. The cliffs at Conkle’s Hollow rise nearly 200 feet above the gorge below. The geology is impressive: Black Hand sandstone, deeply eroded over millennia into steep walls, narrow gorges, and dramatic rock formations.
As you walk the Rim, you gaze down into a gorge. In places, it is only 100 feet (30.48 m) wide. From the bottom yet still undiscovered by me are towering walls that rise straight up on either side. The breeze along the rim felt different. You could hear the echo of the gorge. As we paused at lookout points, the view unfolded in layers of tree‑topped ridges and stone.
We reached vantage points where the bottom of the gorge revealed the valley floor farther away than I expected. The trail views were unbelievable. Streams, waterfalls, and giant rock formations were highlighted. Caution was advised for the steep cliffs. Because of that height, you’re part of the scene and above it at the same damn time. For me, there was something cathartic in that duality.
Memory, Laughter, and Ladybugs
What made this hike stand out wasn’t just the rock and the view, though those were stellar. It was celebrating her life. It was doing something visceral, physical. Likewise, it was high enough so I felt like I was reaching. Kylie, laughed as ladybugs literally attacked us. In one pause, I felt a swarm of red‑speckled wings in my ear. We both jumped and giggled because yes, nature doesn’t pause for solemnity.
Yes, this is the second hike of the week for me—but it already ranks among my top three ever. Why? Because it was layered: terrain challenge, emotional depth, natural beauty, story. I’m going back this week to do the Gorge Trail of the Conkle’s Hollow Preserve. This isn’t just a day on a trail. It’s part of what hinges my entire rhythm.
The Bottom Trail Awaited
I’m headed back to the bottom part of Conkle’s Hollow this Wednesday after work. The preserve has two major trail systems. One is the Rim Trail, a two‑mile one‑way loop. The other is the Lower Trail or Gorge Trail. It is wheelchair accessible for a part. Then it becomes a natural path that leads into the gorge floor. Some adventure‑seekers combine both for a full day.
On the gorge floor, we will be surrounded by the walls of sandstone instead of on them. Hemlock and fern canopies stretch above us. We will walk between cliffs that feel alive. According to one site, I consulted during trip planning, this trail concludes in a bowl of massive sandstone walls. Waterfalls cascade over these walls, though they do tend to be dry in summer. When I go back, Thursday, I’ll see the other side of things.
Practical Tips & Details
Trail head & Location: Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve, 24858 Big Pine Rd, Rockbridge, Ohio 43149.
GPS coordinates: approx 39.4529, ‑82.5721.
Trail Info: The Rim is approx 2 miles (3.22 km) long, moderate to strenuous, one‑way loop with cliff edges and steep terrain. No pets allowed.
Views & Terrain: Sheer cliffs of nearly 200 feet (60.96 m), extremely narrow gorge in places, rich plant life at the base including hemlock and fern communities.
Note: The preserve was designated a State Nature Preserve (1977) to protect its rugged geology and ecosystems.
When to Go: Weekdays or early mornings avoid lots of visitors; parking fills quickly, especially on weekends. Though, I have heard that The Rim trail offers more solitude than the paved Lower Trail.
Why This Was One of My Top Three
Because it met multiple layers: challenge, scenery, emotion. Because I wasn’t just escaping—I was celebrating. The jokes with Kylie, the memory of my mom, and the ladybugs. They’re the good part of different. Trails and places like this don’t ask for perfection, they ask for presence.
And because I’ll be back this week. Because doing the bottom part means continuity. Because in the business of indie publishing, rockhounding, nature‑crafting, life intervals like this matter.
A Note of Nostalgia
The ladybugs dive bombed us at every overlook like tiny kamikaze pilots in polka‑dot suits. I joked about one hitting me in the throat as I sat on the edge of a cliff. Claiming that I’d yeet myself right off the ledge, because one hit my throat and scared me. Then one clipped my neck mid‑sentence & mid-throat. The air smelled of ladybugs, nostalgic… oddly. When I was a kid, I once got seconds of mashed potatoes, took a bite, and crunched a ladybug. It tasted exactly how they smell. I spat it out and sprinted to my mom, screaming, while she tried not to laugh. Some memories never leave, they just follow you up mountains in red shells.
