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Who Knew Ohio Could Be So Pretty?
Paul Austin is a creative director and author who freelances for Thumbwind Publications. His real passion and creative outlet is researching historical sites and people with fascinating stories. You can find most of this work on Michigan4You.
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All photos were taken by Michelle Guilbault (@mightybombshell) and Jake Hooker (@mitten_expedition)
As a Michigan outdoor enthusiast, I almost spit my beer when my girlfriend Michelle suggested a hiking trip to the public lands of Ohio. The Buckeye State has never appealed to me for wilderness endeavors, serving as nothing more than a four-hour drive through one big farm on spring break road trips. Was it possible that we could set sports rivalries aside for a trip to the natural wonders of Ohio?
It took some persuading, however the Bombshell obliged to hang off of Blue Hen Falls for a photo.
So before this turns into a blue/green vs red fiasco, work with me and open your mind to Michigan's southern neighbor, as we are all part of the red, white and blue. After all, where else can nature lovers experience waterfalls and cliffs within 3 hours of Metro Detroit?
No pot of gold, but we were thrilled to see this rainbow in a seasonal waterfall, spraying from 150 feet above.
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Ego aside, I will admit my disinterest with Ohio's outdoors was due to partial ignorance. Until Michelle's photo-filled sales pitch, I was oblivious to the vast amount of cliffs, caves, waterfalls, and trails scattered throughout the state. We started planning a weekend road trip centered around Cuyahoga National Park (just outside of Cleveland), and Hocking Hills State Park (located an hour southeast of Columbus).
Michelle showing just how massive these cliffs are.
I became more tolerant to the Ohio trip as our research ensued. March in Southeast Michigan isn't always the most photogenic, so the thought of heading south to waterfalls and cliffs proved to be an efficient way to embrace the weekend outside.
Spring was a legit time to visit, but one can only ponder what peak fall colors would look like from this view.
We arrived to Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve with the sun greeting us, along with a wind chill in the high 30s. Despite the cool air, we were immediately impressed with Conkle's intimidating landscapes. The park, though small, allows hikers to completely disconnect with reality throughout the remote location. The two trails making up Conkle's Hollow include:
The gloomy, grey weather of March was soon forgotten entering the gorge.
A 2.5 mile loop around the top of a "horseshoe" shaped gorge, as hikers stare down 200 foot cliffs into the valley. The trail leads to a waterfall at the bend, directly at the halfway point.
A 1 mile "out and back" through Conkle's 100-foot wide valley, surrounded by the same cliffs from the aforementioned trail. The turnaround point is at a beautiful waterfall, which can vary from rapid to dehydrated depending on rainfall.
Life was lush in the valley.
The giant rock formations, cliffs, and ledges felt anything but Ohio-like. For a park of this size, Conkle's Hollow trails are some of the best three hours any adventurer could spend in the Midwest!
Hocking Hills is undoubtedly one of, if not the most picturesque areas within the state. Over ten miles of trails with creeks paralleling at certain stretches, led us to become captivated with views of immense boulders, cliffs, waterfalls, and even a handful of small caves along the way. We had opted for an "out and back" trek on Hemlock Bridge Trail to Cedar Falls, a trail just under 5 miles.
Who would guess this could be in Ohio? And is that Baja Blast from Taco Bell in the stream!?
The clear waters of Queer Creek predominately border the entire path, giving us a serene background along the entire route. The creek faded from turquoise to midnight blue, resembling that of Lake Michigan along Sleeping Bear Dunes (or Taco Bell's Baja Blast). Complete with moss-covered boulders, the dense valley surrounded by cliffs left the possibility to indigenous Hobbit sightings (no such luck).
Seasonal waterfalls are a bonus of spring hiking- along with mud..... Totally worth it!
Hocking Hill's terrain is a tad sketchy at times, primarily when mud replaces winter's melting snow. The seasonal runoffs create bonus waterfalls, as they magnificently rolled off of the 150-foot cliffs to create a rainbow in the sunlight.
Another temporary waterfall off in the distance flows through the remaining snow along our Cedar Falls hike.
A second, more rapid waterfall greeted Michelle and I before our halfway point at Cedar Falls. Roaring heavily across the river, we failed to obtain any adjacent photos, but were still mesmerized by scenes reminiscent of "The Hunger Games". As we reached our halfway point, foot traffic suddenly became apparent with weekend hikers (there is a short trail coming to Cedar Falls for those desiring a short route to Hocking's most robust waterfall).
Cedar Falls is quite impressive with its 50-foot drop into a rocky pool of aqua water.
Cedar Falls, a Conkle's Hollow must-see.
(note: these area falls fluctuate dramatically based on rainfall and snowmelt. As summer's dry climate ensues, these waterfalls become progressively sparse).
Old man's Creek turned waterfall, just before Cedar Falls.
As our hike came to an end, we traveled the dense forest through pockets of sunlight, at times forgetting we set foot in Ohio. The woods of Hocking Hills immediately take visitors out of the Midwest, which can be attributed to its Pacific Northwest persona. With Cuyahoga National Park next on the itinerary, we drove off to Akron as a resting point for our next rendezvous.
A vast majority of Michiganders are oblivious to Ohio's Cuyahoga National Park, providing a 32,000-acre oasis of back country between Cleveland and Akron. Although not to the extent of New York's Central Park, Cuyahoga is indeed rare, being a National Park surrounded by developed areas. The natural makeup is similar to Hocking Hills, complete with waterfalls, cliffs, and ledges along Ohio's rolling hills.
Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga National Park.
As the sunrise began to combat 20-degree temperatures, our expedition commenced with a short stop at Brandywine Falls. Brandywine isn't exactly a hike, as it is almost visible from the 271 Expressway. Despite the overly-accessible location, a 65-foot cascade into a deep gorge was an impressive sight. As the red-winged blackbirds chirped with gratitude for spring this morning, we set our GPS for Blue Hen Falls.
Blue Hen Falls, as the water drops over a small cave into the sandstone river valley.
Blue Hen Falls Trailhead was relatively busy despite our early arrival, as the panoramic views proved to be worth the effort. At under a half mile, these quaint falls can easily be enjoyed by adventurers of any size. The modest Spring Creek drops 15 feet from a cliff into a relatively dry creek bed of sandstone. Upon exploring the area, one could imagine how bright autumn trees illuminating the forest could make a breathtaking scene.
Michelle atop of Buttermilk Falls, attempting to maintain dry feet.
We opted to journey downstream along a muddy path, seeking Buttermilk Falls. The creek was relatively dry, as we were able to cross on several instances with just hiking boots and the assistance of exposed rocks. Since this hike was not exactly a "trail", we came in contact with only 1-2 other small groups on the way. Buttermilk Falls made quite the presence on our arrival, with a 20-foot drop along the snow-covered banks. Because Spring Creek's shallow nature, we were able to get up close and personal with the crest of Buttermilk.
"One day Simba..."
Next on the list was a trail known as "The Ledges", as I could already envision Michelle pleading for my descent from one of the many cliffs. The trail starts on somewhat of a plateau, winds downhill and then circles the ledges/boulders. These ancient structures have even created bat-dwelling caves, with "Icebox Cave" being the most prominent of these habitats (it was closed at the time to impede the spread of disease to native bats). Giant sandstones proved to be an exciting landscape, with groups of all ages enjoying one of Cuyahoga's signature hikes.
Pictures rarely do justice, and the Ledges Trail was no exception... the geological makeup is legendary.
Anyone down for hide and go seek?
In an attempt to maximize our efforts, we scurried over to Great Falls at Tinker's Creek. Set in an urban environment, these massive falls snake through moderate human development. I can always appreciate nature's charm in metro areas, but one couldn't help imagining the potential beauty of Great Falls prior to man's arrival. We were even fortunate enough to have sight of a second waterfall, caused by the snowmelt protruding from a neighboring cliff.
Once you get past graffiti and random scrap metal, Great Falls is beautiful!
With only two more destinations left, Michelle and I raced against the fading daylight with a stop at Bridal Veil Falls. Bridal Veil is extremely close to Great Falls, yet its woodland setting gives the perception that you have traveled miles from any city. A quick, quarter-mile walk from the parking lot led us to a wooden bridge with two sets of falls. The lower falls expand off a cascade down 20-30 feet into thin water, giving the perception of a bridal veil.
Bridal Veil Falls is an angled cascade, so capturing it via photograph is tricky... check out Michelle to the right for perspective.
Our last stop was to the small town of Chargin Falls, just east of the Akron-Cleveland Metro area. While the whimsical village seemed ideal for a weekend getaway to explore downtown shops, local restaurants and pubs- we left disappointed. Due to the "inclement weather" (4 inches of cold, hard snow), the steps to Chargin's waterfall was closed off. We vacated with a couple of lackluster pictures of what potentially would have been an impeccable conclusion to the outing.
Fire and ice along the Blue Hen Falls trail
We wrapped up our memories and left Akron for the Great Lakes State. As with any trip, hindsight is always 20-20. Though our time spent was the perfect escape from Detroit, the following bullets are ideas we would have done differently with our weekend in Ohio:
Spend more time at Hocking Hills as opposed to Cuyahoga National Park. By no means can Cuyahoga be explored completely in one day, however, Hocking Hills offered more scenic landmarks that appealed to us. Also, Hocking Hills is in a more rural setting, and our goal was to escape the reality of metro life.
We booked an AirBnB in Akron. While I have nothing against Akron, it just has nothing to offer someone who seeks a vacation focused on the outdoors. I would recommend staying around Hocking Hills and driving up early to make a day trip out of Cuyahoga. There are also several cabins within the Cuyahoga area, presenting a possibility as well.
For Hocking Hills, check out Getaway Cabins. These wooden cabins are as beautiful as the forest surrounding them.
Bridal Veil Falls from dead center in the stream. Hit me up if your waterproof boot company is looking to sponsor.
Watch the speed limit while driving: expressways abruptly change from 55-70 every five miles for some insane reason. With a Michigan driver's license, play the Ohio "speed limit game" wisely with Buckeye police.
Our smiles, "hellos" and nods went overwhelmingly ignored amongst fellow hikers. And no, I wasn't repping any home state apparel... it just wasn't too friendly for the most part on the trails (to the point of it becoming comedic). I have nothing against Ohio residents, but damn, you all gotta lighten up!!
Looking like I'm attempting a photoshoot for an album cover or something...
So needless to say, Michelle's Ohio proposition was consensually a spectacular success. We shared countless moments in which we were both left in absolute shock that Ohio could be this breathtaking.
For a 3-4 hour drive from Metro Detroit, I would undoubtedly advocate a "Mitten Abroad" road trip to Hocking Hills or Cuyahoga National Park. After all, countless Michiganders visit Cedar Point every summer- I can assure a detour into these natural wonders will be more memorable than the hour-long roller-coaster lines.
Album cover #2...
What is your #mittenexpedition?
Tags: Ohio outdoors, Ohio waterfall, Ohio waterfalls, Hocking Hills, Hocking Hills State Park, Cuyahoga, Cuyahoga National Park, Blue Hen Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Conkle's Hollow, Conkles Hollow, Ohio road trip, explore Ohio, Ohio national park, Cedar Falls, Hemlock Bridge Trail, Queer Creek, Cedar Falls Trail, Conkle Hollow Trail, Conkles Hollow Trail, Brandywine Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Buttermilk Falls hike, the Ledges, Ledges Trail, Ledges Ohio, Ledges Trail Ohio, Icebox Cave, Icebox Cave Ohio, Great Falls, Tinker Creek, Chargin Falls, hiking, Ohio hiking, hike Ohio
