Saturday, January 28, 2012

Hocking Hills State Park, Part 3: Rock Bridge

 After visiting Ash Cave, we headed about eight miles up the road to Rock Bridge Nature Preserve. This nature preserve contains the second largest natural rock bridge in the United States.


The giant slab of sandstone that makes up the bridge is over 100 feet long and 20 feet wide at its widest place.


It spans a gorge that is fifty feet wide.


Rock Bridge Nature Preserve covers 250 acres of land and runs along the Hocking River. The lovely beech woods that makes up a good deal of the preserve  is an ideal place for finding native wild flowers in the spring.


The small stream that makes up the waterfall that drops between the rock bridge and face of the gorge flows into the Hocking River.


The stream that flows down to the river has a rock bottom and is was only an inch or two deep.


Next post: Photos from our hike of part of the Grandma Gatewood Trail.

                             Hocking Hills Park Part One: Introduction
Hocking Hills Park Part two:  Ash Cave
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10 comments:

  1. You sure got some wonderful photos of the park! If I were anywhere close, I'd be sure to spend some time there!

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  2. It sure looks cold with all those icicles! I'll bet the wildflowers would be just gorgeous in the spring. Thanks for taking us on this tour of Hocking Hills, I'm enjoying it! :)

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  3. I love all the icicles! This looks like an amazing place. That last shot~wow!

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  4. The rock bridge in amazing... never been to this area, but your post makes me want to visit!

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  5. I'm loving your photos and the bits of history that go along with them. I'm sure I will be back to explore your site more.

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  6. Are all those features natural? That is an amazing place.

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  7. Sandy, yes, all the features of the this stone bridge and waterfall are natural--no tampering by man! Even the trail to get there is primative--a small winding footpath that first runs along the edge of a farmer's field then about 1/2 mile through the woods. The entrance to the nature area wasn't very obvious and it looked liked this was one of the more hidden treasures in this area.

    Also, it is pretty neat that you can walk across the bridge--it isn't fenced off like so many natural wonders are.

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  8. Such beautiful photo's but oh it did look mighty cold.

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  9. Hi there - this place must be a wonderland for kids to explore. I think mine would be climbing all over the place!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  10. Your photos are absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!!!

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