Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never planned.
When I set out that morning, Conkles Hollow wasn’t even on my itinerary. My intention had been to explore the surrounding state forest, but as has happened more than once during my travels, I found myself following the quiet inner nudges that have become part of the way I explore with muscle testing. Those nudges led me somewhere entirely unexpected. The first thing I noticed was a large cabin from the 1930-1940’s and a nearby trail. It felt like the direction I was meant to go, so I followed it. Before long, a sign welcomed me into Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve.
The preserve immediately felt alive with activity. Voices drifted through the trees as hikers enjoyed one of Ohio’s most popular natural areas. Although I usually seek quieter places, I decided to continue. It turned out to be one of the most memorable hikes I’ve ever taken.
Quietness: 6-8/10 (Traffic from the nearby road is sometimes noticeable where the trail is close to the road, but when there aren’t any people talking nearby it is very peaceful.)
Crowds: Medium-High (Early morning or challenging weather may keep some of the crowd away.)
Accessibility: Challenging (The rim trail has many steps and once you get to the top it is mostly flat, the gorge trail looked paved and flat but I only saw the beginning of it so I have no clue how it is deeper in the gorge.)
Photography: Outstanding in every season.
Solitude Potential: Medium-High( Depending on the weather and how many people are hiking.)
Suggested Visit: 2–4 hours (Depending on how fast you hike.)
For trail map, directions, and other resources you can find more on the ODNR website here: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/conkles-hollow-state-nature-preserve
A Walk That Became a Treasure Hunt
Not far along the trail, I stopped to photograph a cluster of tiny mushrooms growing beside the path. As I adjusted my camera settings, I heard an owl call. There was something about it that immediately caught my attention. To me, it didn’t sound quite like an owl. It sounded… imitated. I had to smile when I heard the hikers who had just come into view mention an owl call. Whether others would interpret that moment the same way doesn’t matter to me. In my own experience, I immediately sensed that one of my Sasquatch friends was nearby. From that moment on, the walk seemed to change.
As I continued down the trail, I began noticing mushrooms lying in unusual places. Some appeared to have been carefully picked and left where they would easily be seen. It wasn’t something I had ever noticed on previous hikes, and it quietly stirred my curiosity. Then I came upon a mushroom resting on the wooden trail railing. It felt intentional. I paused for a moment, wondering who might have placed it there. According to the intuitive methods I personally use while exploring, I felt it had not been left by another hiker. That simple discovery filled me with delight. Without realizing it, my hike had transformed into a treasure hunt. Instead of simply walking the trail, I found myself paying close attention to every log, stump, railing, and patch of moss, wondering what small surprise might appear next.
The greatest surprise came a little later. Growing beside the trail on the edge of the cliff was a raspberry bush. A few yards beyond it stood a weathered sapling, and tucked neatly into a crevice in its bark, at almost exactly chest height, was a single freshly picked raspberry. I laughed out loud. It felt like finding the tiniest gift waiting to be discovered. Whether someone believes that raspberry arrived there through chance, another visitor, an animal, or something more mysterious isn’t really the point. For me, it transformed an ordinary hike into something playful. It reminded me how different the world feels when you begin looking for small wonders instead of rushing toward the destination.
There were other moments that morning as well. I noticed several unusual arrangements of fallen trees, including one enormous structure that incorporated several dead trees, one of which appeared to be an upside-down pine tree. I spent some time quietly observing them, fascinated by their complexity.
The only difficult part of the day was the number of people. Conkles Hollow is understandably popular, and after a while I found myself feeling a little overwhelmed by the constant stream of hikers. More than once I considered turning around, but each time I felt gently encouraged to keep going. Only later did I discover why.
I eventually reached the main trailhead and realized I had unknowingly walked the one-way trail in reverse. Instead of retracing my steps or walking along the road, I simply continued until I arrived back at my vehicle. As I unlocked the door, I noticed a handprint on the inside of my window that hadn’t been there earlier. For the next 3 days I kept wondering how and why in the world I would have placed my hand like that on my window. I even touched it to see if it really was on the inside of the window and it was. My vehicle had been locked the entire time I was hiking. I knew what I did—and didn’t—do before setting out that morning, and I realized the print hadn’t been there when I left my vehicle. Finally after 3 days I realized that the handprint was not mine…
I can’t explain it in a way that would satisfy everyone. I simply know how the experience felt to me and who I believe it was. The whole day had unfolded like a series of quiet surprises, each one arriving only when I was ready to notice it, turning the day’s explorations into what felt like the most magical time I had ever experienced in the woods…
What This Place Gave Me
Conkles Hollow reminded me that wonder doesn’t always announce itself with grand miracles. Sometimes it arrives as a tiny mushroom beside the trail. A single raspberry waiting to be noticed. Or the feeling that the world may be far more playful than we usually allow ourselves to believe.
