Rockbridge State Nature Preserve ***RETIRED LbNA #13304 (ARCHIVED)
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | trailtracker  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jan 30, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Rockbridge |
| County: | Hocking |
| State: | Ohio |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Found by: | DSS (3) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 17, 2007 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jan 30, 2005 |
HOW TO GET THERE
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve is off US Rt. 33 south of Lancaster, Ohio and south of Rockbridge, Ohio. There are two road side rests just south of Rockbridge, Ohio. This would be a great place to make a pit stop before heading to the preserve as there are no facilities there. The preserve is just north of Hocking Hills State Park. The exit to get to the preserve is just north of S.R. 180 which goes to Laurelville. Watch for the familiar brown and white park indicator signs to lead you to the preserve. You will see a market stand immediately after turning off Rt. 33. Turn to the right running parallel to the highway. You will see a small sign telling you which road to turn left onto.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Be sure to take your camera, water, and take a map from the covered sign at the preserve entrance. None of the letterboxes have pens or stamps in them. It is a very good idea to wear boots or shoes that have a good tread and that are waterproof. CAUTION: The trails are almost always wet, muddy and slippery. The wonderful, wooden footbridges can be very slippery when wet and/or they have snow on them. Borrow a walking stick if you would like at the trail entrance. Taking this all into consideration, it is WELL worth the 1 mile trek to get to the rock bridge and back. It is also spectacular in the winter as well as the warmer weather seasons!
"Welcome to Rockbridge State Nature Preserve. You are entering one of the more geologically significant natural areas in Ohio. The natural rock bridge, the longest in the state, lies nestled in the Hocking River Valley. Not only is the bridge striking in its size and beauty, but it has also played a significant role in the cultural history of the valley."
***Please take a quick look at the map to get an idea of where you will be heading. You will be hiking all the way to the canoe access just past the "Natural Bridge" and then back. You will be following the Natural Bridge Trail only in order to find the 5 letterboxes.
CRESTED DWARF IRIS
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Start walking along the grassy trail to the right of the covered entrance sign. The path runs parallel to the fence line on your left. This will be the case much of the trail. Follow the trail until the beginning of the 2nd footbridge. From the front edge of the boardwalk take 13 paces. At that point go an additional 11 paces at 40 degrees. There are two large-trunked trees; part of one is dead in the middle. On the high side of the bank about 5 feet up is the evidence of a woodpecker and a hollowed out section. Look behind bark in that hollow.
ROCKBRIDGE STATE NATURE PRESERVE
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
After completing your walk over the footbridge, continue upward along the fenceline. The path will make a 60 degree turn. Just 7 paces later it will turn and go due North once again. From that second turning point where it heads due north again, go 33 paces up the trail and stop. Just 5 feet off the trail to your right, look inside the hollow of this tree. There is your box hidden behind some rocks and decayed wood. If you stand at that hollow and look across the trail at 260 degrees, there is a nice spot to stamp in!
LOOKIE HERE ***Replaced and Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Continue along the trail as it turns back toward that fenceline and then runs along it going uphill. Watch on your left as you reach the crest of this hill for yet another great bench to catch your breath and to stamp in. Look at the tallest fence post and then go 2 posts to your right. "Lookie" under two rocks at the base of that post. Be sure to 'lookie' to your left for a great view of Ohio country.
KENTUCKY WARBLER
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Follow the descending trail until you see a trail post with a backpacker on it. Make your choice to stay on the high side path at this juncture. Watch for the very next bench on your left. Facing the bench, go 6 paces at 240 degrees. Look at the base of a large tree. Our bird is hiding under three rocks where the fence wires touch the tree.
ROCKBRIDGE ***Confirmed missing***
Now on to the real reward for your hike. Follow the trail to the natural rock bridge. At this point, basically all trails lead there. You will go down hill quite a bit and you will cross two additional footbridges. When you see a trail post with white arrows on it....you are only a few more feet from the bridge. You can walk across the bridge AND you can walk past it and go under it. Take time to take in the incredible view. Take note of the sign at the beginning of the rope handrail leading under the bridge. You may also want to take note when you are standing in the middle of the bridge to look directly down the creek bed to the Hocking River. Can you see a sign on the river bank? When you are ready to find the last letterbox, go back to that sign that says, "Area at Rest." Facing that sign you will take the trail to your right leading you downward and parallel to that creekbed. You will wind your way to the canoe access and find a post with a framed picture of Rockbridge. Be sure to look back at the bridge from here!!! Starting at the post you will take 10 paces along the trail back toward the bridge. "Rockbridge" is to your right, underneath that fallen tree right behind where the smaller upright tree touches the dead one.
***Please be patient if others are around when you are letterboxing. The placement of these boxes is easy so that you can always take mental note of where they are and stop on the way back. Happy hiking!
Email me if you find these: mmfunk99@greenapple.com
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve is off US Rt. 33 south of Lancaster, Ohio and south of Rockbridge, Ohio. There are two road side rests just south of Rockbridge, Ohio. This would be a great place to make a pit stop before heading to the preserve as there are no facilities there. The preserve is just north of Hocking Hills State Park. The exit to get to the preserve is just north of S.R. 180 which goes to Laurelville. Watch for the familiar brown and white park indicator signs to lead you to the preserve. You will see a market stand immediately after turning off Rt. 33. Turn to the right running parallel to the highway. You will see a small sign telling you which road to turn left onto.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Be sure to take your camera, water, and take a map from the covered sign at the preserve entrance. None of the letterboxes have pens or stamps in them. It is a very good idea to wear boots or shoes that have a good tread and that are waterproof. CAUTION: The trails are almost always wet, muddy and slippery. The wonderful, wooden footbridges can be very slippery when wet and/or they have snow on them. Borrow a walking stick if you would like at the trail entrance. Taking this all into consideration, it is WELL worth the 1 mile trek to get to the rock bridge and back. It is also spectacular in the winter as well as the warmer weather seasons!
"Welcome to Rockbridge State Nature Preserve. You are entering one of the more geologically significant natural areas in Ohio. The natural rock bridge, the longest in the state, lies nestled in the Hocking River Valley. Not only is the bridge striking in its size and beauty, but it has also played a significant role in the cultural history of the valley."
***Please take a quick look at the map to get an idea of where you will be heading. You will be hiking all the way to the canoe access just past the "Natural Bridge" and then back. You will be following the Natural Bridge Trail only in order to find the 5 letterboxes.
CRESTED DWARF IRIS
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Start walking along the grassy trail to the right of the covered entrance sign. The path runs parallel to the fence line on your left. This will be the case much of the trail. Follow the trail until the beginning of the 2nd footbridge. From the front edge of the boardwalk take 13 paces. At that point go an additional 11 paces at 40 degrees. There are two large-trunked trees; part of one is dead in the middle. On the high side of the bank about 5 feet up is the evidence of a woodpecker and a hollowed out section. Look behind bark in that hollow.
ROCKBRIDGE STATE NATURE PRESERVE
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
After completing your walk over the footbridge, continue upward along the fenceline. The path will make a 60 degree turn. Just 7 paces later it will turn and go due North once again. From that second turning point where it heads due north again, go 33 paces up the trail and stop. Just 5 feet off the trail to your right, look inside the hollow of this tree. There is your box hidden behind some rocks and decayed wood. If you stand at that hollow and look across the trail at 260 degrees, there is a nice spot to stamp in!
LOOKIE HERE ***Replaced and Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Continue along the trail as it turns back toward that fenceline and then runs along it going uphill. Watch on your left as you reach the crest of this hill for yet another great bench to catch your breath and to stamp in. Look at the tallest fence post and then go 2 posts to your right. "Lookie" under two rocks at the base of that post. Be sure to 'lookie' to your left for a great view of Ohio country.
KENTUCKY WARBLER
***Alive and well 04.28.2006***
Follow the descending trail until you see a trail post with a backpacker on it. Make your choice to stay on the high side path at this juncture. Watch for the very next bench on your left. Facing the bench, go 6 paces at 240 degrees. Look at the base of a large tree. Our bird is hiding under three rocks where the fence wires touch the tree.
ROCKBRIDGE ***Confirmed missing***
Now on to the real reward for your hike. Follow the trail to the natural rock bridge. At this point, basically all trails lead there. You will go down hill quite a bit and you will cross two additional footbridges. When you see a trail post with white arrows on it....you are only a few more feet from the bridge. You can walk across the bridge AND you can walk past it and go under it. Take time to take in the incredible view. Take note of the sign at the beginning of the rope handrail leading under the bridge. You may also want to take note when you are standing in the middle of the bridge to look directly down the creek bed to the Hocking River. Can you see a sign on the river bank? When you are ready to find the last letterbox, go back to that sign that says, "Area at Rest." Facing that sign you will take the trail to your right leading you downward and parallel to that creekbed. You will wind your way to the canoe access and find a post with a framed picture of Rockbridge. Be sure to look back at the bridge from here!!! Starting at the post you will take 10 paces along the trail back toward the bridge. "Rockbridge" is to your right, underneath that fallen tree right behind where the smaller upright tree touches the dead one.
***Please be patient if others are around when you are letterboxing. The placement of these boxes is easy so that you can always take mental note of where they are and stop on the way back. Happy hiking!
Email me if you find these: mmfunk99@greenapple.com