Cantwell Cliffs is located in the northern reaches of Hocking
Hills—17 miles from Old Man’s Cave on S.R. 374. Its remote
location discourages visitation, but those who travel the extra
distance will not be disappointed. Many visitors proclaim the
Cantwell area as the most picturesque in Hocking County.
Cantwell Cliffs Geography in Hocking Hills
The erosion caused by Buck Run accounts for the deep valley, steep
cliffs and rock shelter under the cliff. Approaching the rock
shelter, the trail winds its way through narrow passageways
caused by large slump blocks that have fallen away from the main
cliff. The narrowest passage has been sarcastically named Fat
Woman’s Squeeze. Unique to the Cantwell region is the limited
amount of cross bedding in the middle zone of the Blackhand.
Usually the middle zone is extremely cross-bedded but only
slightly in the Cantwell area. Another feature here is the
number of concretions that occur on the cliff face.
Concretions occur where the cementing agents
solidify. One can choose to follow the trails of the valley floor or the
rim(Yellow Trail). A commanding view of the cliff and rock
shelter is offered at Lookout Point on the east Rim Trail(Red
Trail).