The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau in Ohio, primarily in Hocking County, that features cliffs, gorges, rock shelters, and waterfalls. The relatively extreme topography in this area is due to the Blackhand Sandstone (so named because of Native American graphics on the formation near Newark, Ohio), a particular formation that is thick, hard and weather-resistant, and so forms high cliffs and narrow, deep gorges.Component open-space areasMost of the more scenic areas of the region are under state ownership, including: Hocking Hills State Park (with five use areas: Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Old Man's Cave, Rockhouse, and Cantwell Cliffs) Hocking State ForestConkle's Hollow State Nature PreserveSheick Hollow State Nature Preserve (entry by permit only)Little Rocky Hollow State Nature Preserve (entry by permit only)Kessler Swamp State Nature PreserveLake Logan State ParkWayne National ForestRockbridge State Nature Preserve The core area also includes two privately owned preserves, Crane Hollow and Camp Oty-Okwa (owned by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Ohio).
