Conkles Hollow
State Nature Preserve
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve at a Glance
Note: All Ohio state nature preserves prohibit dogs, hunting and fishing. A permit is always needed to go to any area off-trail.
Date established:Purchased 1925 as part of Hocking Forest Park
Dedicated as state nature preserve in 1977
Acreage (total):87 acres (35 hectares)
Miles of trails:2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers)
Hunting:No hunting allowed
Official preserve website:http://naturepreserves.ohiodnr.gov/conkleshollow
 
Photo by Dennis Reinhart
87 acres in Benton and Laurel Townships, Jackson County. Conkle's Hollow is part and parcel of the Hocking Hills complex, with spectacular cliffs formed of the Blackhand sandstone. These are some of the highest cliffs in the state. Conkle’s shelters many more northern-type plant species. NOTE: The environment within the hollow is very fragile. PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL.

Very close by are two other publicly-owned preserves, Sheikh Hollow State Nature Preserve and Little Rocky Fork Hollow State Nature Preserve, both of which are closed to the public. All three of these preserves are embedded within the Hocking State Forest (and were carved out of the Forest).

Trails at Conkles Hollow

This preserve features a paved handicapped-accessible trail that extends most of the way up this deep canyon from the parking area. There is also a rim trail.
  • Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail: 0.6 mile: handicapped-accessible for most of its length. Linear, dead-end trail.
  • Conkles Hollow Rim Trail: 2.0 miles: not a difficult trail, but often wet, with steep dropoffs. Loop trail with long climbs at each end.
 

Directions to Conkles Hollow

To reach Conkles Hollow, take US-33 27.5 miles west from OH-550 to the OH-180 exit. Turn left onto OH-180 and take it 3.8 miles to OH-678. Turn left on 678 and take it 4.0 miles to OH-374. Turn left on OH-374 and take it 3.4 miles to Big Pine Road, Co-11. Turn left to the entrance to the preserve, 0.2 mile. Total distance from downtown Athens: 41 miles.