CANTWELL CLIFFS—

In the Hocking Hills State Park

About 3 or 4 hundred million years ago this area of Ohio was under an ocean.

Sediments there were under enormous pressure and they compressed into what is today known as Black Hand Sandstone, the basic ingredient in the various rock formations in the Hocking Hills including the Cantwell Cliffs.

In more recent history the continents, then joined in what was known as Pangaea, drifted apart and ultimately formed the globe as we would recognize it today. The oceans drained. Ice ages and glaciations came and went.

Ultimately a little stream, we now know as Buck Run, went to work and eroded the softer of those ocean created sediments and left us with the formations we enjoy today.

The Cantwell Cliffs are 17 miles north of Old Man’s Cave. That distance from the popular cave venue plus their relatively remote location discourages visitation.

But, it certainly deserves to be on your hiking agenda when in that general area.

The erosion work of the little stream now accounts for the deep valley, steep cliffs and rock shelter under that cliff. Approaching that overhang today’s trail winds its way through narrow passageways caused by large slump blocks that have fallen away from the main cliff.

The narrowest passage has been named Fat Woman’s Squeeze.

The cliffs extend upward about 150 feet from the creek bed and offer a commanding view from their Lookout Point on the East Rim Trail.

That's on the agenda for our next visit.
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That's Mark Meinzer (above right) between sloping slump blocks while wife Nancy leads Sue Brooks, Don Karger (red shirt) and wife Roberta below.