Hocking Hills Area 2002

Revised 02/27/08

Spring Foray 2002

Are you looking for a new adventure? Then come to the 2002 Michigan Botanical Club Spring Foray on Memorial Day weekend. This year we are heading south to the Hocking Hills of Ohio instead of north. Not only does this area differ seasonally, but it has a different geological history. We will see what southeastern Ohio has to offer botanically. We will be staying in housekeeping cabins at Lake Hope State Park near Athens, Ohio, which is south and east of Logan within the Zaleski State Forest. This is about 258 miles from Ann Arbor, much closer than most northern Michigan locations.

This area has been called a natural paradise. It is a hilly region is traversed by steep gorges. Many of the field trips will be in another park, Hocking Hills State Park, west of Lake Hope State Park. It harbors impressive rock shelters hanging perilously from hillsides and a variety of stunning waterfalls. The Hocking Hills region boasts Ohio’s greatest geologic marvels including OLD MANS CAVE, ASH CAVE, ROCK HOUSE, CEDAR FALLS, and CANTWELL CLIFFS. Most picturesque is Cedar Falls, a 50-foot horseshoe-shaped cascade over the sculpted sandstone. Old Mans Cave gorge has 4 distinct waterfalls along a half-mile stretch of scenic Old Mans Creek. These geological features have been carved out of Black Hand sandstone. The sandstone "caves" in Ohio State Parks are not considered true caves or caverns, but are classified as recess caves and rock shelters, because they were formed by ground surface erosion. Ash Cave is Ohio's largest and most impressive recess cave

Although the glaciers never reached the Hocking Hills area, they left behind the glacial relict vegetation that still grows in the deep, cool gorges of Hocking County. Nonetheless, many southern species also occur in the area. At Hocking Hills State Park, we will also find an abundance of ferns, bryophytes and lichens. Lake Hope State Park is also a nature lovers dream. The land has a mature second growth forest. Hemlocks, yellow birch, oaks, pines and hickory are the dominant trees. The woodland floor harbors a fascinating assemblage of wildflowers in the spring. Many birds and mammals frequent all the State Parks in the area. We only have 3-4 days to cover a lot of beautiful, unique, and interesting botanical areas. With well-qualified local botanists to lead field trips and evening programs, we can look forward to an enjoyable and educational 2002 Spring Foray.

If you have extra time, there are several prehistoric sites (Serpent Mound, Flint Ridge and Hopewell Culture Natl. Hist. Park) with interpretive centers in the vicinity.
We will be staying at Lake Hope State Park, McArthur, Ohio.

Lake Hope State Park -a typical cabin
These are two-bed cabins with a double bed in one and a bunk and a twin bed in the other.
Shared facilities include a living room, kitchen (with a refrigerator, stove, coffee pot, etc.),
and a washroom with a shower. Pets and smoking are not permitted. Blankets, linens
and towels will be provided.Alternatively, other lodging can be
found at: http://www.hockinghills.com/stayat.htm

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