Nelson-Kennedy Ledges vs. Hocking Hills vs. Little Rocky Hollow
Trail Map
Interactive map showing the trail route for Nelson-Kennedy Ledges vs. Hocking Hills vs. Little Rocky Hollow. The map displays topographic information and trail markers.
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In this blog I am comparing three different Ohio state parks/preserves. All three of some features in common but also differ in many aspects. The three parks are listed below:
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
Sandstone: Pennsylvanian (about 300 MYA)
Cliff Height: 40-50 feet
Landscape: Tight Ravines, narrow passages
Permit Required: No
Size: 167 acres
Trails: 1.5 miles rugged
Infrastructure: Very limited
Crowd Level: Low-Moderate
Waterfalls: Seasonal (e.g. Minnehaha Falls)
Streams: Small ravines
Moss & Ferns: Abundant
Early Tourism: 1800s scenic curiosity
CCC Development: None
Preservation Style: Leave-it-wild
Hocking Hills State Park
Sandstone: Pennsylvanian (about 300 MYA)
Cliff Height: Up to 200ft in places
Landscape: Deep gorges, waterfalls, caves
Permit Required: No
Size: 25,000+ acres (park + forest)
Trails: 25+ miles, engineered
Infrastructure: Extensive (steps, bridges, parking)
Crowd Level: Very high
Waterfalls: Numerous, reliable
Streams: Major gorge systems
Moss & Ferns: Abundant
Early Tourism: 1800s-1900s resort area
CCC Development: Extensive (1930s)
Preservation Style: Designed scenic access
Little Rocky Hollow State Nature Preserve
Sandstone: Pennsylvanian (about 300 MYA)
Cliff Height: 40-50 feet
Landscape: Compact gorge and box canyon
Permit Required: Yes
Size: 167 acres
Trails: 1 mile, minimum
Infrastructure: Almost none
Crowd Level: Very low
Waterfalls: Seasonal cascade
Streams: Intermittent creek
Moss & Ferns: Present but lighter
Early Tourism: Minimal
CCC Development: None
Preservation Style: Natural preserve
What is CCC?
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), launched in 1933 as part of the New Deal, was designed to give young men jobs and practical training during the Great Depression. It centered on environmental projects like replanting forests, preventing soil erosion, and developing national parks, all while boosting the economy and tackling unemployment.
All three feature Black Hand sandstone, but erosion and exposure differ greatly.
Black Hand Sandstone differences:
Nelson Ledges compresses dramatic geology into a very small footprint, while Hocking Hills spreads it across miles of watershed.
Scale & Trail Development:
Nelson Ledges feels wild despite being small; Hocking Hills feels grand but managed; Little Rocky Hollow feels quiet and secluded.
Historic Use & Preservation:
Nelson Ledges is historically closer to Little Rocky Hollow in philosophy than to Hocking Hills.
Conclusion: All 3 are amazing places to visit. I love them all.
The Best Analogy for Comparison:
- Hocking Hills = a national-park-style showpiece
- Nelson Ledges = Hocking Hills geology in a pocket-sized, rugged setting
- Little Rocky Hollow = a quiet, stripped-down echo of both
So hike on fellow explorers and enjoy!!
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Little Rocky Hollow State Nature Preserve
Little Rocky Hollow was one of the early acquisitions by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in the state’s nature preserve program. It became part of the collection around the time the Natural Areas Act of 1970 went into effect, expanding protections