Local Attractions - Things to Do - Hocking Hills

Things to do at the Glenlaurel Estate:

Camusfearna Gorge - Why leave Glenlaurel? We have some amazingly beautiful walking trails with our own Camusfearna Gorge & Thistle Bluff walk. These trails offer you beautiful rock formations with 50 to 100 foot rock cliffs, caverns, two creeks, and restful waterfalls.

Bird Watching - With over 50 species sighted on premise, including two bald eagles, you can spend the entire day watching all the birds. The depth of our gorge and the profusion of ferns & wildflowers make this an ideal spot see all the varieties you don't normally see elsewhere.

Star Gazing - At Glenlaurel, you can enjoy the benefits without urban lights to interrupt your view. We are located in an area that has one of the darkest skies in central Ohio. Therefore, each night you have a wonderful chance of enjoying the beauty of star gazing and seeing a shooting star or two.

Wildflowers - While at Glenlaurel, take a stroll around the grounds and enjoy the natural beauty.

Bonfires - We have a fantastic fire pit available for guest use. It is also the perfect spot to star gaze.

Annual Open House - This coming year Glenlaurel will be 15 years old! Come join us in the celebration with open house on Sunday, July 11th, from 2 to 5 pm.

Things to do in the local area:

Canopy Tours Zip Line - World-class zipline adventure! Located in Rockbridge (off US Rt 33). Open daily, (740) 385-9477. Located just 10 minutes from Glenlaurel, The Hocking Hills Canopy Tours and Zip Lines promises breathtaking views of the Hocking Hills. The 2.5 hour canopy tour experience will include a progression of 10 zip lines, 3 sky bridges, and a rappel where you will fly over rock bridges, fern covered gulleys, & traverse the bluffs of the Hocking River.

Basket Weaving - Leota Hutchison teaches the craft in classes everyday except Sunday. She is a "living treasure" here in the Hills. Call (740) 385-8130 to make your own basket.

Golf - From rugged country hillside terrain (very Scotlandish) to country club-style links, add a round of out of the ordinary golf to your next trip to the Hills. Call the Brass Ring Golf Club (740) 385-3806.

Horseback Riding - Spotted Horse Ranch. Located between S. Perry & Laurelville on St. Rt. 180, open daily & weekends, (877) 992-RIDE or (740) 332-RIDE.

Lake Logan - This Ohio State Park has a very nice fishing lake. From northern pike, bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and saugeye, Lake Logan provides scenic picnic areas & secluded walking paths to enjoy.

Canoeing - Hocking Valley Canoe Livery is located in Logan, open seasonally & for special events, (800) 686-0386.

Hiking - Hocking Hills features numerous hiking trails. From state parks to trails, one day is not enough to see them all.

Shopping - From antique shops to flea markets to shopping in downtown Logan, there is a special treasure to be found.

Arts & Crafts and Museums - There are so many craftsmen & women in Hocking Hills; it would be hard to list them all. Ask us for a visitor guide and recommendations. For starters, try The Columbus Washboard Company (free tours M-F, 9am-3pm).

Workshops -
• Touch the Earth Adventures - Women's hiking, kayaking and backpacking (740) 592-3496
• Old Bear's Den Photography Center - Nature photography workshops (740) 380-2039
• Horseback Riding - Happy Trails Horseback Rides (740) 380-6372

Scenic Train Rides at Hocking Valley - The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is an old-time passenger train in Nelsonville with departures on Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm, beginning in early spring running through the first weekend in November. To make reservations call, (800) 967-7834.

Bicycling - There are many rider-friendly bike paths in the area, including the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. This path is 17 miles long and runs from Nelsonville to Athens. You can also rollerblade on this path & it is handicap accessible. Bring your bike or rent one from the local shops.

Hocking County is best known for the Hocking Hills, an area containing thick forests, cascading waterfalls, deep rocky gorges and amazing rock formations. It has primarily been the process of surface erosion that has sculpted the beautiful Hocking Hills.

The Hocking Hills Region is a geological anomaly in the state of Ohio. As a whole, Ohio has been historically connected to the Ohio Valley, a region of 1700's settlements east of the Appalachia Mountains. But the glacier-created flatlands that represent a majority of this state do not account for the rock and ridge canyons of the Hocking Hills.

Over 5,000 years ago, the last of the glaciers created the bowl of the Ohio Valley and much of the Midwest. The ancient walls of Hocking Hills...an eroding weave of sandstone gorges existed as the base of the Appalachia range. Cooled by the nearby glaciers, the canyons of the Hocking Hills became an ideal microclimate for seedlings of northern flora released from the glaciers in their melting retreat. Hemlock forests and fern filled wetlands would have bordered these glaciers until long after their retreat north. However, the Hemlocks themselves retreated southeast...into the cool, preserving climate of what is now Hocking Hills.

In recent history, the state of Ohio bought thousands of acres and created six state parks within 10 miles of the gorge and woodlands. Within the Hocking Hills State Park system are Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls (containing the largest tree in Ohio - a hemlock); Conkle's Hollow (the deepest gorge in Ohio), Rock House, and Cantwell Cliffs. Additionally, a dedication toward preservation in private ownership accounts for much of the respected woodlands that fill in the spaces between state parks, including the softly treaded canyon and mature woods of Camusfearna Gorge.

Adding to the natural color and uniqueness of the region, a fair number of local artists and skilled craftspeople have set up shop along the winding roads of the county. Along with canoeing, horseback riding, boating, golf and year-round hiking, the leisurely atmosphere of the region makes the Hocking Hills a premiere site for nature enthusiast...or those simply wishing to relax in the company of a natural world.

The Hocking Hills is one of the premiere tourism areas in Ohio. There are numerous cabins, inns, and bed and breakfast facilities throughout the region. The landscape attracts campers, canoers, hikers, boaters, and rock climbers. Hocking County is also a magnet for history buffs as they seek out the preserved portions of the Hocking Canal locks, dams, and aqueducts. In addition, the county was home to Wyandotte Indians and Logan, the county seat, is named in honor of the famous Mingo Indian Chief.

To celebrate our connection to this natural world and the leisure opportunities available in it, we welcome and invite you to click The Hocking Hills Tourism Board for more comprehensive, yet personal exploration of our beautiful Hocking Hills.