POPULAR CONKLE’S HOLLOW STATE NATURE PRESERVE REOPENS
FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF TRAIL UPGRADES
COLUMBUS, OH - Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve in Hocking County has reopened with improvements that increase accessibility along the preserve’s popular Lower Gorge trail.
The improvements include: an upgraded trail surface, two new footbridges, and additional culverts to move water under the Lower Gorge trail, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“The new concrete trail, similar to the one used at nearby Ash Cave, will increase visitor accessibility while providing maximum protection for the preserve’s ecosystem,” said ODNR Director Sam Speck. “Conkle’s Hollow is one of the most visited state nature preserves in Ohio, with more than 150,000 visitors annually, and we are taking extra measures to protect this special place.”
The $305,000 trail improvement project was funded by a NatureWorks grant and a private donation. The NatureWorks bond issue program was designed to fund major renovations and improvements for Ohio’s natural facilities, such as nature preserves and parks.