Date: 10/24/2020 – Distance: 6.1 mi – Elapsed Time: 3.25 hr – Ascent: 1004 ft – Descent: 968 ft – Difficulty: Medium
My first full day this weekend in Hocking Hills, I was trying to hike areas I have never seen. Today, I was going into Hocking Forest to hike the Orange Bridle Trail into Long Hollow to see Chapel Cave and Twin Falls. A fellow blogger told me about an alternative parking area than the Rappelling Area parking on Big Pine Road, called Airplane Rock Parking on Hockman Road. From there, there is a short White Trail to the Orange Trail.
I started the day off with breakfast and espresso from my favorite stop down here, Coffee Emporium on SR 664. Their espresso, quiche, and breakfast pizzas are the bomb.
The road leading to this parking is one lane gravel, but there’s a good size lot.
Follow the access road to this corner where the Orange Trail goes left and right.
I did this loop clockwise, since I wanted to see Chapel Cave first.
There is a shear cliff to the right.
Being a horse trail, it can be muddy.
Some of the cliff edges are awesome.
This little hollow is Chapel Falls. The cave is near this cliff.
Chapel Falls from around the bend.
There is a steep foot trail going into the ravine.
And then I saw Chapel Cave.
It’s impressive.
You can make your way down the ravine to another trail which takes you to the cave. Look for the split rail fence leading to the cave.
Chapel Cave, aka 21 Horse Cave is big enough to build a house in.
Looking out from Chapel Cave.
Continuing to follow the cliff around Chapel Cave further up Long Hollow is this ravine just past the cave.
Long Hollow continues to get more intense as you proceed toward it’s end.
Then you arrive at a dramatic end to the hollow at Twin Falls.
This fall on the left is dry today.
The right fall had just a trickle of water.
Looking back down Long Hollow.
The hemlock trees here have been treated for wooly adelgid.
Newly installed trail marker maps along the bridle trails.
Wow.
Airplane Rock.
Airplane Rock looking toward the right wing.
Crane Hollow is a permit only preserve which borders this trail.
This access road takes you back to the parking lot.
It was nice talking to you at the Hocking Hills Lodge last night. We love Coffee Emporium as well. We always stop in for a breakfast sandwich and coffee but your blog convinced us to try the breakfast pizza before heading home this morning. Great choice! We agree it is delicious!
Safe travels and happy hiking,
-Ryan and Chris
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