Hocking Hills State Park Part 4: Grandma Gatewood Trail

 I have a confession to make. You don't want me to be your tour guide on a sightseeing trip. I didn't do much in preparing for this trip in the way of looking up maps and getting a feel for how we would spend our days. I figured when we got there we would just stop by the visitor center and pick up some maps and figure out where to go from there. Well, we got to Hocking Hills late in the evening in the middle of a rainstorm. When we woke up in the morning the rain had turned to ice and a light dusting of snow. That didn't stop us from going out, but the park service decided the ice and snow made for a good day to take off--and since the visitors center was closed on Saturday and Sunday as well, we spent our whole trip without a real map or any good idea of where we were going. To complicate matters, the signage along the trails can be confusing. There would be places where three trails connected--but only two signs with arrows vaguely pointing off in the distance--but not necessarily directed toward any of the trails. As a result, on our second day we took a very long unintended hike with no food (my husband will never let me forget that part of the day!), but the good part is, we saw got to see all kinds of things on the way, and even managed to find our way back to car all in one piece and before dark.) The first part of  our unintended long hike took us along part of the Grandma Gatewood Trail.

The Grandma Gatewood Trail is a 5 mile rim trail that runs from Ash Cave to Old Man's Cave. While is a relatively easy trail, Grandma Gatewood who it is named after, was a tough little lady. A farmer's wife and a mother of 11, she took up hiking in her older years. She was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Main--solo, in one season, and at the age 67 to boot. And her hiking didn't end there. Later she hiked 2000 miles of the Oregon Trail and traveled every state in the US. She traveled light, eating very simply and sleeping under a plastic shower curtain and an army blanket. All in all, she gives me something to aspire to when I get older!

The trail follows the rim of gorge through hemlock woods. Many small streams wind through the wood and tumble down into the gorge. We passed many mini waterfalls and some larger waterfalls--and some that we knew were there, but didn't dare get close enough to the edge of the gorge for fear of falling over to be able to see them.

Rose Lake (a man made reservoir) is about half way between Cedar Falls and Old Man's Cave. This photo was taken while standing on the dam.

There were lots of icicles along the rocks overhanging the streams...

...as well as many twisted interesting roots along the way.

This is the top of a waterfall that plunges deep into the gorge. I believe it is Whispering Falls--photos of the waterfall from the gorge trail coming with another post.

Another small gem of a waterfall...

Next Hocking Hills post--Old Man's Cave.
Previous posts:
Hocking Hills Park Part one: Introduction
Hocking Hills Park Part two: Ash Cave
Hocking Hills Park Part three: Rock Bridge
Related Posts:
Musings At Rock House (a poem)
Ice Swirls