LANCASTER
SUGAR GROVE
ROCKBRIDGE
LOGAN
MOUND CROSSING
GIBISONVILLE
LAURELVILLE
SOUTH BLOOMINGVILLE
To C
olum
bus
To Athens
HOCKING
STATE
FOREST
US
33
SR 180
SR 180
SR 56
SR
374S
R 664
SR
374
SR 56
SR
93
HOCKINGSTATE FOREST
OHIO
Division of Forestry • 2045 Morse Rd., H-1
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/H
Welcome to Hocking State Forest
Forest Management
Since 1924, Hocking State Forest has been
managed through application of the multiple use
concept. The forest continues to improve and
sustain many products and benefits. Water, soil,
habitat, and aesthetics are among the many
variables considered during the land manage-
ment process. Foresters are able to enhance
areas for visitors to enjoy many outdoor
activities including hiking, camping, wildlife
watching, hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
These benefits are in addition to growing highly
desirable timber for wood products which are
shipped throughout the U.S. and the world.
During the spring and fall fire season months—
March, April, May, October and November—
the division works to prevent, detect and
suppress wildfires that occur on state and private
land within Hocking County and parts of Vinton
and Fairfield counties. Prescribed Fire is a
management tool used on Hocking State Forest
to reduce fuel loads in the forest and promote
oak regeneration. Trained forestry professionals
conduct controlled fires, as dictated by a written
plan and overseen by a certified Prescribed Fire
Manager.
The many gas wells and transmission lines that
you see are a result of the development of a nat-
ural gas storage field underlying the forest area.
Trail and Boundary Marks
Many different colors of paint are seen on trees
throughout the area. Yellow spots indicate the
boundary between state and private land. White
and/or red spots are the boundaries around the
three nature preserves. Blue spots designate the
Buckeye Trail. The Bridle Trails are designated
by various colors (see Bridle Trail map).
General Rules for Forest Visitors
The Hocking State Forest area receives hundreds
of thousands of visitors each year. Please respect
the forest community that you find. Your
consideration of other visitors using the forest will
help provide an enjoyable experience for all.
1.Visitors are free to walk on state forest property
during daylight hours. However, because of the
many cliffs located throughout the area,
extreme caution is urged particularly when ice
or snow is present. Because of these hazards,
Hocking State Forest closes at dark.
2.Operation of motor vehicles is restricted to
roads provided for such travel. The speed limit
on state forest roads is 30 mph unless otherwise
posted. Vehicles may not be parked where
traffic or access to division service roads or
trails will be obstructed.
3.Use of horses is permitted on designated bridle
trails only. There is an official Bridle Trail Map
available.
4.Camping and building of fires are prohibited.
5.Public display or consumption of any alcoholic
beverage is prohibited.
6.Trash and litter should be handled with the
back-country ethic, “Pack it in, pack it out.”
7.Disturbance or defacement of any property,
materials, natural feature or vegetation is
prohibited. This includes the digging of
Ginseng and other roots or plants. Berries, nuts
and mushrooms may be gathered and removed,
except from seed orchards and nature
preserves.
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park, administered by the
Division of Parks and Recreation, includes five
areas which contain some of the most striking
cliffs and land formations found anywhere in
Ohio. Additional information regarding Ash
Cave, Old Man’s Cave, Rock House, Cedar
Falls and Cantwell Cliffs is available at the park
office.
State Nature Preserves
Three state nature preserves have been
established in Hocking State Forest. These
preserves—Conkle’s Hollow, Sheick Hollow
and Little Rocky Hollow—have unique
ecological systems.
Conkle’s Hollow has hiking trails for the general
public. No hunting is permitted and all visitors
must stay on the trails.
Sheick and Little Rocky Hollows are designated
as interpretive and scientific preserves respec-
tively, and are not open to the general public.
Admission is by permit only. Permits are issued
by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
who cooperatively administer the preserves.
Rockclimbing and Rappelling Area
The ninety-nine acre area is located on Big Pine
Road, one mile east of Conkle’s Hollow. A parking
area is within easy walking distance of the rock and
cliff face. Be sure to use quality equipment and
climb with experienced people. Climbers and
rappellers must register prior to entering the Rock-
climbing and Rappelling Area (see Rockclimbing
and Rappelling Area map).
Forest Vegetation
One of the special attractions of Hocking State
Forest is the natural vegetation. Plant species
commonly found farther north mix with typically
southern species to provide an unusual variety of
native plant life and associated wildlife.
Virginia and pitch pines, sassafras, and black,
scarlet, white and chestnut oaks grow on the
generally dry ridge areas. Hemlock, beech, black
birch, red and sugar maples, yellow poplar, white
ash, red oak, basswood and hickories grow in cool
gorges, moist coves and on slopes. Flowers, shrubs
and ferns commonly associated with these site
conditions also abound.
Plantations of red, white and shortleaf pines have
developed from plantings of seedlings on
abandoned farm fields. These stands of native and
planted pines often indicate where corn and wheat
once grew on subsistence farms in the 19th and
early 20th centuries.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting and fishing are permitted within Hocking
State Forest as regulated by the Division of
Wildlife. Shooting is prohibited within 400 feet of
any building, facility, recreation area or within any
designated nature preserve. It is unlawful to shoot
from, on, across or along a public road or highway.
Location Map
Additional InformationHocking State Forest
19275 State Route 374Rockbridge, Ohio 43149-9749
877-247-8733
Hocking Hills State Park20160 State Route 664
Logan, Ohio 43138-9537(740) 385-6841 Park Office
Division of Natural Areas & Preserves2045 Morse Rd., F-1
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693(614) 265-6453
ohiodnr.com/forestry
EMERGENCIESCall 911
Our mission is to promote
and apply management for the
sustainable use and protection of
Ohio’s private and public forest
lands.
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
BT
Kre
ashbaum
Rd.
C-9
C-11
GibisonvilleT-2
19
LITTLE ROCKY
HOLLOW STATE
NATURE
PRESERVE
SHEICK HOLLOW
STATE NATURE
PRESERVET-238
C-11
T-59
T-251
SR
37
4
&664
C-306
T-59
SR
664
T-271
T-246
C-272
SR
374
CONKLE’S
HOLLOW
STATE NATURE PRESERVE
FOREST
HEADQUARTERS
T-2
37
Big Pine Rd.K
eifel R
d.
T-2
43
T-1
55
C-36
SR 180
Mound Crossing
SR 180 & 374
SR 374
T-3
3
CANTWELL
CLIFFS
T-123
To
US 33
SR 180
Rockclimbing & Rappelling Area
Cedar FallsC-255
C-287
Hors
e B
y-P
ass
SR 56 To Athens
Ash Cave
C-2
49
South
Bloomingville
T-2
61
C-1
84
Chapel Ridge Rd.
SR 664
C-255
T-244
T-2
45
To Laurelville
Hock
ing C
ounty
Vin
ton C
ounty
OLD MAN’S
CAVE
Motor
Vehicles
Prohibited
HOCKING
HILLS STATE
PARK
Airplane
Rock
Thompson Rd.
Keis
ter R
d.
T-23
1
T-2
57
Unger Rd.
Hockm
an Rd.
Cre
am
Rid
ge R
d. Roc
ky
Fork
Rd.
T-2
32
Blind Rd.T-270
Mill
er
Rd.
ROCK
HOUSE
Horse
Camp
T-11
4
T-112
T-2
21
SR
687
T-21
5
SR
374
T-1
58
SR 56
State forest ownership shown is representative and believed to be correct but not warranted. State forest
boundary lines on the ground are identified with signs and/or yellow paint marks on trees.
tuliptree
HOCKINGSTATE FOREST
Note: Contact 877-247-8733 for information on the bridle trails, and rockclimbing and rappelling area.
SCALE
0 2000 4000 6000
FEET
shellbark hickory
white oak
LEGEND
State Highway
County (C) or Township (T) Road
State Forest Land
Villages, Cities, Towns
Point of Interest, Facility
Buckeye Trail
Buckeye Trail (Park Bypass Trail for Horses)
Fire Tower
Horse Camp and Day-use Parking
Rockclimbing and Rappelling Parking
State Park Land
State Nature Preserve
BT
BT
Map reviewed and approved by David Lytle, Chief,
ODNR-Division of Forestry 09/07