Rockbridge State
Nature Preserve
Rockbridge 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: 
Acreage (total):202 acres (82 hectares)
Miles of trails:2.75 miles (4.4 kilometers)
Hunting:No hunting allowed
Nearby open-space areas:Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking State Forest
Clear Creek Metro Park
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve
Lake Logan State Park
Official preserve website:http://naturepreserves.ohiodnr.gov/rockbridge
Rockbridge is Ohio's longest natural bridge. It is located close to the Hocking River west of Logan, Ohio. Natural bridges are fairly rare in Ohio and this one, like most of them, is close to a bluff face -- actually, a sizeable rock shelter under the bluff. Here, the blackhand sandstone is located much lower in the stratigraphic profile than the core of the Hocking Hills area farther to the southwest, and is not far above the level of the Hocking River.

A half-mile trail through farmland must be walked to reach the preserve proper. The preserve is situated on hills overlooking the Hocking River, with mostly recovering woodland. At the end of the half-mile is a fork. Both ways go to a loop trail leading to the rock bridge. Going to the right also accesses the Rock Shelter Trail, which features a linear trail to another rockhouse to the east, then a short loop beyond that.

If going to the right at the first fork, then left at the second fork, the sign says "1/4 mile" to the rock bridge, but it's really 1/3 of a mile. The trail system at this preserve, unfortunately, was not well planned, built, or, like most trails in the Hocking Hills area, maintained, but it's walkable. It's worth seeing the rock bridge. At the rock bridge, a further trail allows hikers to access the nearby Hocking River bank.

Directions to Rock Bridge

To reach Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, take US-33 west 28 miles from OH-13 to a frontage road turnoff, Dalton Road, T-503, just past the OH-180 exit. Turn right, and then immediately turn right on Dalton Road. Go to the end of the road, 3/4 mile, to the small parking area on the left. Total driving distance from downtown Athens: about 31 miles.