Tag Archives: Ohio department of natural resources

Brief Sanctuary In Chapel Cave

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Churches are a common theme here on this blog but I have never shown you anything quite like this. Welcome to Chapel Cave, a recess cave with a chapel shape opening in Ohio’s Hocking State Forest. It’s one of the more off the beaten path destinations for hikers in that area and is located just off a bridle trail.

We hiked, of course. Part of the hike was beautiful. Most of it wasn’t much to talk about but we did have a pretty day to enjoy the hike last fall. 

Horse people call it Twenty One Horses Cave because it’s supposed to be large enough to hold that many horses. I don’t know if that’s true but there was a guided group that came through before us and they all got a kick out of riding inside.

Once they emptied out, we had about a minute before a noisy family clamored into the opening for a looksee. For one shining moment in that brief quiet I realized that it really does feel like a chapel. Sacred and solemnly grounded, this place provided a beautiful moment and a breathtaking view.

This is why we explore. These special places and moments are the very best reason to keep searching and to keep looking for more.

Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve

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Friday found me sitting on a boat under the hot late afternoon sun. I was with a pal, and some strangers as we set off on a tour of Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve.

It’s an island in Buckeye Lake State Park that can only be toured with a permit or via an Ohio Department of Natural Resources tour offered but one day a year.

This is a fragile environment that has shrunk to about nineteen acres over the years – it’s about half the size it was when ODNR dedicated the nature preserve in the early seventies.

Our tour guide pointed out a couple of carnivorous plants, an orchid, cranberry plants and a host of other interesting living things that I might have missed if left to my own devices. There’s something to be said for going with a naturalist.

There’s a boardwalk around a portion of the island and lots of poison sumac to encourage visitors to stay on that boardwalk. We saw a blue heron fly overhead and a chorus of songbirds provided the soundtrack for our stay.

There’s little shade and the sun was fierce but it was an interesting use of an hour. Although, I have to admit the short boat ride was almost as nice as the tour.

I mean, with a gentle breeze and a view like this- what’s not to like?

ODNR operates 140 nature preserves and natural areas. They tend to be more interesting and quieter than state park trails. Learn about this one here.