A Visit to Cantwell Cliffs

Last Friday was a rare warmer day sandwiched between continuing winter. I took advantage of it to head to Cantwell Cliffs for a bit of exploring.

I’ve said it before. Most visitors to Hocking Hills visit the main attractions but rarely head off the beaten path. Yet hidden off to the sides are other recess caves and waterfalls that easily rival the standard fare.

When I’ve been to Cantwell Cliffs before (Hidden Hocking Hills, Escarpment Escapement), I have visited the tall waterfall at the end of one of the gorges. Then on the way back out, I’ve stayed near the stream and noticed a row of smaller recess caves above me. But by then I was too tired to ascend up to them and I promised myself I’d save them for another day.

Well, Friday was another day.

Here’s the topo map of the area that I made using LIDar data.

Topo Map Around Cantwell Cliffs

Cantwell Cliffs itself is the blob at the bottom. The gorge I went to, in the State Forest that adjoins the State Park, is the one extending to the left. What I did was follow a trail that skirted above the edge of the cliff face.

But I started at Cantwell Cliffs, where I noticed a spectacular rock formation right near the beginning. Photo time:

Rock Formation Near the “Fat Woman’s Squeeze” (Hey, I didn’t name it, they did.)

Up along the cliff edge (bit of a scramble to get there), I saw again a tree that had lost it last year.

Uprooted Tree

A lot of the trees in this area have rather shallow root systems because the soils sit atop large rocks. A strong wind just peels it right off. I’m standing on the once-underlying rock.

The cliff edge has an occasional access point where one can scramble down, which I did when I thought I was near the recess caves I wanted to check out. In previous visits I’d notice a device there, too, so this time I had the chance to check it out.

Climate Monitor

This is what it says on the tag:

The sensors connected to this data logger are monitoring relative humidity and soil and air temperature. This information is being collected as part of a study of hemlock forest stands, before, during, and after infestation by hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA). HWA is a non-native insect that feeds on hemlock trees, and HWA infestation results in high hemlock mortality. The loss of hemlock, with its dense evergreen canopy, likely will result in dramatic changes to the microclimate of the forest.

It’s signed by a professor at Ohio University.

It’s really sad that we keep losing so many trees to foreign invasives. Chestnut, elm, ash, dogwood. Hemlocks are signature trees here in the Hocking area, and give it much of its character and beauty.

I descended at the right place, directly near a set of recess caves. These form when small streams/drainages head over the sandstone. The water penetrates the porous rock, and then freezing/thawing breaks apart the rock.

Here’s the view as I approached.

Small Recess Caves in the Cliff Face

You can see the recesses. I went into the one you can see at the middle-right, which went back surprisingly deep.

In the Recess Cave

From here I stayed below the cliff for a bit, and came across yet another set of caves.

The Next One Down

This set even had a narrow gap I managed to squeeze into a bit.

High On Crack

From there I climbed back up to the top of the cliff and headed to the tip of the gorge, where there is a waterfall. Here’s a picture I took of the waterfall last year from the bottom.

The Other Waterfall

And here’s another one from last summer of the side near the waterfall, with fellow barefooter Burton Koss (notice him sitting way up near the top).

At the Tip of the Gorge (click for double-size version)

On Friday’s visit I got a shot while standing in the waterfall at the top.

The View From Above

This is a shot stitched together of four side-by-side photos. Click on it for a large version. I think it can give you a pretty good impression of the impressiveness of the area.

This hike was just wonderful for walking along. The forest surface in this area is just a sensual delight. Here’s an idea of some of what I was walking on.

Hiking Texture

A lot of it was a thick layer of slowly decaying hemlock needles (another reason the loss of the hemlocks would be devastating). But there was also moss, and a melange of twigs providing a bit of texture and stimulation to the sole.

It’s hard not to find peace out there.