One of the interesting formations in Hocking Hills is Rockbridge. This is a natural rock arch spanning around 95 feet. It is the longest such natural arch in Ohio.
I haven’t been to Rockbridge for quite a while. Usually, if I’m heading into Hocking County I’m looking for a longer hike, so I’ll go elsewhere. However, I’m still paying extra attention to my feet after peeling some of the skin, so, particularly with yesterday’s temperature in the mid- to upper-30s, I thought I’d revisit it.
The park (nature preserve) itself located about ½ mile from its parking lot, so one has to traverse a narrow access panhandle that is bordered by farmer’s fields. That was rather boring hiking.
But once you get into the woods, things perk right up again.
The great thing about hiking this time of year is being able to see the topography. That also helps for placing oneself on topo maps. As with other hikes in the area, one of the hillsides was just packed with ground cedar.
Rockbridge itself is another ¼ in. It’s really just another recess cave, but one for which part of the roof has fallen in.
Rockbridge from Above
The waterfall was running pretty good. We’ve had quite a bit of rain lately, so everything is flowing. You can also see the effect of the cold weather we’ve been having, which has left behind ice curtains.
The Rockbridge Waterfall and Gap
Looking downstream from atop the bridge you can see how much water is flowing. That is usually a trickle. And in the distance you can see the Hocking River.
The Downcreek View from atop Rockbridge
The Hocking itself is quite swollen from all the rain.
The Hocking River at Rockbridge
Flow rate in that picture is about 1200 cubic feet per second, as compared to the normal for this time of year of about 400 cubic feet per second. About 2 miles upstream from here is the town of Rockbridge. It used to be called Millville (back in the 1800s), but they changed the name when they saw the tourist opportunities.
Looking back at the Rockbridge from the River, this is what you see:
Rockbridge
More ice curtains, too.
And who can resist a shot atop the bridge?
Comfortable Perch
By the way, that photo required a tripod, a camera with a timer, and being able to climb and run like hell!
I found that the trail had been changed since I had last been there. There used to be wooden steps leading down the nose of a ridge that approaches the rockbridge. Those steps have been removed, and the trail rerouted to gradually climb along the side. Actually, I shouldn’t say the stairs have been removed. They have been dismantled, and there are pieces of wood still sitting around where the steps used to be.
On the way back to my car, I also checked out another of the trails, which heads by their “rock cave”, another recess cave where the resistance blackhand sandstone is again exposed by a creek.
Along the Rock Cave Trail
After that it was back to my car, for a total of around 2½ miles. Again, I had to traverse the panhandle.
Oh, did I mention that all of the rain had made that part of the trail pretty muddy?
Muddy Trail
Fortunately, my footwear choice was waterproof, and cleans up easily afterwards.
That’s one neat place. The sixth picture with you sitting on top of the bridge looks almost like a cave. Can you go through underneith?
Tim, it’s a recess cave, so it is quite shallow, just like all the other recess caves in Hocking Hills. You can get a glimpse of what is behind by looking at the second picture. In the second picture I am standing at about the same place I am sitting in the sixth picture (but facing the other direction).
It is possible to go through underneath, but they have it roped off (another change since the last time I was there). This is a nature preserve, and that sign says that they are letting that location “rest”. Supposedly, there used to be a lot of wildflowers that used to grow there until folks tramped all over them.
I do recall that there is a bit of a pool under there that holds fish (up to about 4 inches long). Well, maybe not this time of year.