Hiking And Burgers Pair Perfectly On This Southern Ohio Road Trip
By Melissa Mahoney|Published June 25, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Sometimes there’s nothing better than getting in the car and hitting the road, especially when you have a couple of incredible destinations in mind. Ohio seems to offer endless opportunities for adventure, and oftentimes you only need one tankful of gas for the entire trip. This particular road trip takes you from Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail in Rockbridge to The Pour House in Chillicothe. Taking this trip will fill your day with gorgeous scenery and fresh air to fuel your soul and some awesome burgers to fuel your body.
Depending on the driving route you choose, the distance between Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail in Rockbridge and The Pour House in Chillicothe will be between 30 and 34 miles and will take approximately 47-50 minutes one way without traffic. You can use thisGoogle Maps link to help plan your road trip adventure.
Hiking and burgers make a perfect road trip pair in any part of the Buckeye State. Regardless if you live near Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail and The Pour House or not, you can check out these 10 wonderful adventures around Ohio for more ideas.
Make sure you're wearing a good pair of hiking shoes and have your gas tank filled before hitting the road to Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve, an 87-acre preserve near Logan and Rockbridge. Over 350 million years ago, this area was under inland ocean waters, which left come impressive sandstone rock formations behind.
Here you will take a hike along the Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail. This two-mile scenic out and back trail is rated easy and has a 236-foot elevation gain. It is partially paved about two-thirds of the way, making it accessible to just about anyone. The last portion of the trail has some steps, however, so keep that in mind.
The trail meanders through the forest, past a cave and fascinating rock formations, and through a sandstone gorge that's considered to be one of the deepest, if not the deepest, gorge in the state. Waterfalls can also found trickling over the cliffs.
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and views you will encounter before the trail eventually ends at a stunning waterfall cascading into a small pool. Stay, relax, and take in the beauty all around you before hiking back.
For more information on the trail through this gorgeous gorge, visit the webpage on AllTrails. You can also learn more about Conkles Hollow on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
After your hike along the Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail, it's time to get back in your car and head to the next destination. It will take about 50 minutes to arrive at The Pour House located at Machinery Hall in Chillicothe's historic downtown.
This full service restaurants uses only high-quality and fresh ingredients to ensure that every dish is flavorful and delicious. The Pour House is also known for having live music, a wide selection of beers on tap, craft cocktails, excellent service, and an incredible ambiance.
Although there is a wide variety of fare you can order off the menu, from shareable plates to bowls, flatbreads, sandwiches, tacos, and more, The Pour House burgers are a real standout.
Using locally-raised Ohio beef, you can taste the freshness in every delectable bite. The most popular choice is the Bourbon Burger made with a bourbon-glazed burger patty, beer cheese, cheddar, crispy onion, and bacon, served with a side of fries. You can up the ante by adding additional toppings like beer bacon jam or avocado if you'd like as well.
To view the menu and special events calendar, head to The Pour House website and like their Facebook page for updates.
Taking a hike through the stunning scenery you’ll see along the Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail near Rockbridge followed by juicy, artisan burgers and other delicious fare at The Pour House in Chillicothe make the perfect road trip pair. Click on this Google maps link so you can add your address to start this trip. And don’t forget to follow the Only in Ohio Facebook page and sign up for the Only in Ohio newsletter for information on additional epic adventures that await around the Buckeye State.
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