This Natural Wonders Road Trip Will Show You Ohio Like You’ve Never Seen It Before
Ohio is home to some pretty impressive geological wonders, both manmade and natural. Many of the Buckeye State’s natural wonders are actually unique to the rest of the world – meaning you won’t find anything else like them on Earth. We’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the most impressive and mapped them out in a road trip loop for you.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Grab a friend or two, start at the natural wonder nearest you and work your way to the others. To view the Google Map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.
Although you'll have to take a ferry to this first natural wonder, it's absolutely worth it. Few people are aware that Kelleys Island is home to the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world. The Glacial Grooves Memorial measures 400 feet long and 35 feet wide.
Located in Bellevue, Ohio is another geographical wonder that was first discovered in 1872. When you venture to these caverns you will travel through "The Earth Crack" and view the Ole' Mist'ry River.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in northeast Ohio is home to a breathtaking 65-foot waterfall that flows from Brandywine Creek. Known as Brandywine Falls, these easily accessible, beautiful falls are a popular highlight within the park. Wooden pathways and stairs lead the way to Brandywine Falls - which you can hear before you see. Softer layers of rock below the falls include Bedford and Cleveland shales, which were formed from mud found on the sea floor that covered the area 350-400 million years ago.
April Dray/Only In Your State
The Rockbridge State Nature Preserve in the small town of Rockbridge features a natural bridge that stretches more than 100 ft. long – and it’s truly incredible. (After steady rainfall, the water trickling down into the ravine increases and forms what locals call “Rockbridge Falls” beneath the bridge.)
Hocking Hills State Park is arguably Ohio's most beloved state park, where waterfalls, caves, unique rock formations and hiking trails abound. Old Man's Cave has an interesting history and origin to its name. Legend has it, a 19th-century hermit who once lived in the cave, (named Richard Rowe,) is buried under a cave ledge in the area.
Within the Hocking Hills State Park area in Logan is the beloved Rock House, where visitors can freely explore this unique cave with a 25 ft. high ceiling and window-like openings. Evidence shows that the homey Rock House was often used for shelter by past visitors, Native Americans and even bootleggers, robbers and horse thieves.
Within the town of Yellow Springs, you'll find the official “Yellow Spring” (which actually looks more orange than yellow) at the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The nature preserve covers 1,000 acres and features a 25-mile network of footpaths that allows visitors to observe 400-year-old trees, limestone cliffs with waterfalls and overhangs and the official yellow spring.
Within the Ohio Caverns is one of the world's largest and most perfectly formed stalactites. Crystal King is nearly five feet long, weighing an estimated 400 pounds, and is estimated to be more than 200,000 years old.
Close to Toledo you'll find what's considered to be Ohio's rarest ecosystem (and one of the world's rarest ecosystems) where rare plants and animals, oak forests, sand dunes, savannas, tall-grass prairies and swamp forests all thrive in harmony.
What do you think? Are you up for this road trip? For even more places to explore in Ohio, check out our previous article; Everyone Should Explore These 13 Incredible Places In Ohio At Least Once.
