These people came from South America in January," Emily Garnish laughs, "And I said to them, 'what are you doing here in January? Isn't it summer there!' But I guess everywhere you go, it's good to have change." Garnish is talking about Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio where she is a seasonal naturalist. Hocking Hills State Park is a change, too, from the quietly rolling hills and farmlands of the Midwest. One reviewer says, "One of our absolutely favorite places in the world. It's like going to another country it's so hard to believe something so stunning is in Ohio. You expect to see little woodland fairies flying out from under the moss covered bridges and rocks in Old Man's Cave." There are waterfalls, trails, valleys, campsites, and so much more .
There are seven different sections that make up the park: Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Cedar Falls, Conkle's Hollow, Old Man's Cave, Rock House and Whispering Cave. Some sections have caves, others have gorges, and almost all of them have waterfalls. The most popular is Old Man's Cave. Thousands of years of erosion on the sandstone caused the cave and gorge to come into existence. In the one-half mile gorge, hemlock, black birch, and Canadian yew thrive. It is names Old Man's Cave because of a man named Richard Rowe who came to the area from the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee to set up a trading post.
He moved to the Hocking Hills area, supposedly in the cave, and is said to be buried there. In the Hocking Hills Visitor's Guide it interestingly says, "To keep their children from playing on the dangerous ledges and cliffs that are found in Hocking Hills State Park , they (families of the area) would tell them ghost stories about these Ohio trails. “Don’t go there. That’s where the old man died.” Or “That’s where the old man shot himself.” Or “The old man’s ghost roams the bottom of the (Old Man’s Cave) gorge.” It’s probably not haunted by Rowe, as there is debate if he is even buried there, but it is a beautiful place to visit to appreciate the nature and history of Hocking Hills.
“Tourists take photos near the staggering waterfall at Hocking Hills Ash Cave” [Photo Credit: Ramsey Buckeye]
The human history of the area is interesting, as is the natural history of the area. For example, why does it exist? The area has a high concentration of Black Hand Sandstone. While interacting with glaciers from the ice age millions of years ago, the land changed from a flat surface to developing cliffs, gorges, and different water features. According to Ohio History Central, "Because of its thickness and resistance to erosion, the Black Hand forms sheer cliffs and gorges" and is responsible for, "the most significant and prominent scenery in the state." The name of the sandstone purportedly comes from early settlers in the area seeing a black handprint in the rocks from ancient humans in the area.
As a naturalist, Garnish gets to talk about all of this with people coming through, as well as contemporary issues and education. "We get to connect visitors to nature and, in some ways, reconnect people with things they may have lost through the years," she says. "It puts it in perspective why the park exists. It's more than just a place to camp and have a vacation." Naturalists share what's common and invasive to the area and why it matters, and they make classes and programs that appeal to all types of learners. "We have a lot of trails here so we make sure people stay on the trail and check on people that may be lost." By all accounts, Hocking Hills State Park has hiking trails instead of walking paths. Though most say they are not too difficult because most of the trails are relatively short, they are a bit strenuous with lots of up-and-down in elevation.
Recreationally, there is a ton to do in the park. Of course there is hiking. There is also fishing, mountain bike riding, camping, archery, and other activities. There are over 200 campsites, some with full hookup, some primitive, and most with electric. The campground is well reviewed and close to all the attractions the state park has to offer. Over two million people from all over the country and world visit the park annually. Hocking Hills is currently building a brand new visitor center, set to open in December. Therefore, as an important note to visitors: The Hocking Hills Visitors Center is under construction through 2018. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise caution as there may be increased construction traffic on weekdays. Please do not enter marked construction zones. All trails will remain open and accessible. “We also do kayaking and paddleboarding on Rose Lake,” Garnish says.
Garnish’s favorite moments are being able to watch the ‘light bulb’ go off in the guests’ head when they learn something new. “It really is a thrill,” she says, “And reassures me that I am doing my job.” She likes when the things she is able to teach are understood and then taken home with the visitors to put into practice. Not only ways to combat invasive species or keep a more natural environment, but just to show respect for nature and an awareness of why it is important to conserve it means a lot to her. A place like Hocking Hills State Park, where natural beauty is everywhere, gives us all a great reason to respect and conserve the wonders this country has to offer.