Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

Are you ever amazed by how many wonderful places there are to visit not far from your home?  I have been lately!  One of the good things that happened because of Covid is that it forced me to do more exploring close to home. And one of the places that I’ve been to several times now is Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve. Keep reading to find out about all you can do and see at Blackhand Gorge and some places to stop nearby.

Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

Blackhand Gorge State Nature Reserve is located only about an hour away from Columbus. Though this area was once used for transportation (hosting canal boats and steam railroad engines) Blackhand Gorge became a State Nature Preserve in 1975.

You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the cute log cabin located just outside of the entrance to the trails. There are actually two parking lots for this state nature preserve, one of either side of the main trail.

Blackhand Gorge is a great place for hiking, but my favorite thing to do there is go for a bike ride.

Biking at Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

Blackhand Gorge has an asphalt trail that is 4.26 miles long. It isn’t a loop, but it is fairly straight without much incline. This trail is the only bike path in any Ohio nature preserve, so I really recommend you take the opportunity. There is fantastic scenery along the way, and several hiking trails are accessible off the main path, most of which have places to park your bike if you decide stop during your ride.

Thanks to the shade from the trees, we stayed fairly cool, despite the fact that it was over 90 degrees during my first visit there with my friend Erin. The trail follows along the Licking River, and several people were kayaking or paddle-boarding. This would be a great spot for water adventures- the river looks so calm and serene.

History of Blackhand Gorge

Because farmers were having difficulty selling their goods, a canal was created in 1825. The canal helped connect farmers to Lake Erie and the Ohio River. This was when some of the gorge was blasted away to make room for a towpath. The use of canals peaked in the 1850s but started to decline in the early 20th century. A flood in 1913 damaged the canal so much that it was no longer usable.

Part of the former canal is visible from one of the hiking trails.

Part of the trail is sandwiched between two huge, looming pieces of rock. These rocks were blasted apart to make room for the tracks when it was a railroad corridor. The name Blackhand derives from a petroglyph that was found on the stones with a picture of- you guessed it- a black hand. The petroglpyh was made by the tribe that lived in this area, though, unfortunately, it no longer exists (lost because of the rock blasting).

Central Ohio railroad first laid the rails here in 1850, taking a year to carve through the sandstone. However, the tracks were no longer used after the construction of the Dillon Dam in 1958. Fun fact I learned- there was an Ohio Electric Interurban line that ran parallel to the train tracks, connecting Newark to Granville, from 1890 to 1903. After automobiles because the main mode of transportation, the line became obsolete. Do you ever stand in a spot and wish you could travel back in time just to see what it was like back then, or am I the only one?

We rode our bikes up and down this part of the trail a few times because we loved it so. Pictures do not do it justice, you need to see it in person

Biking further down the path there is a train bridge that you pass under.

Nature at Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

We stopped biking several times along the trail in order to explore. Besides the view of the Licking River, there is so much nature to admire. Just look at these trees trying to growing along the cliffs.

Or look at these trees, trying to grow on the cliffs, with their roots spilling down the crevasses.

If you’re not into biking and just want to hike, there are three trails that start off the main path. We found an area that wasn’t a hiking trail, just a little opening where there are stones perfect for climbing. I loved the colors, it was a very green day, and there was a trickling waterfall.

Quarry Rim Trail

After biking the 8 miles round-trip we ditched the bikes so that we could hike on the Quarry Rim Trail. This trail is about a mile long in total, starting and ending on different parts of the main bike trail.

The trail was beautiful, but it was also muddy and buggy, make sure you bring some bug spray with you!

We had to navigate around mud puddles, using rocks and branches, and at one point we also had to climb over a fallen tree.

I loved the rock formations we saw during our short hike.

But the best part of the hike was definitely when we got the the quarry. It is beautiful!

If you’ve read any of my other recent posts, you also know that Erin and I love a staircase or bridge photo and this hike didn’t disappoint.

There were two sets of wooden stairs on his hike. Aside from this and the mud, it was not a difficult hike. However, there are no railings near the quarry gorge, which could pose a problem for small children. Additionally, the hiking trails do not allow pets. I went a bit off-trail to reach the railroad tracks.

This old photograph is on a sign at the end of the trail, showing how the quarry was used.

Blackhand Tunnel

The tunnel was used for an interurban railway line from the time it was blasted in 1890 until 1929. After that it was a road. There was no one on the trail when I visited, so my friend and I had the whole thing to ourselves, I loved it! Make sure you look for it when you visit Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve.

Sand Hollow Winery

I love finding breweries or wineries close to our outdoor expeditions, and Sand Hollow Winery is about 20 minutes away. Check out the website, the vintner, Jim Young, has some very interesting posts, and his personality really shines through.

This winery had an abundance of places for visitors to relax outside and take in the breath-taking scenery. Visitors can sit at picnic tables near Reflection Lake, at the gazebo or under the covered patio.

For $5 you can do a tasting of 10 different wines. Jim handcrafts 12 different varieties, reds, whites and fruit wines. My tastes tend to be towards reds and more dry wines. Erin prefers sweet and fruit wines, but we both loved all the wines, there really is something for everyone. There are two wines that are on tap if you want to fill up a carafe, or you can buy a glass or bottles to enjoy during your stay.

If you’re hungry, you can buy cheeses by the block (all locally made) or try one of the pizzas that are offered. We selected a horseradish cheese and enjoyed our cherry fruit wine on the patio.

Jim, the owner, explained the wines to us during our tasting, and later joined us on the patio for a chat. He really is delightful, a mix of quirkiness and sarcasm, he made the trip even more enjoyable. Make sure to chat him up when you visit, and tell him I said hello!

Hiking at Sand Hollow Winery

While visiting the winery you may want to take a walk around his property. There are three trails on the 83 wooded acres. The winery hosts an annual 5k run, which tops off with a grape stomping at the end of the run. White Cloud Trail is a mile long, and Rustic Red Trail is two miles long, crossing a pre-historic flint working site, wooden bridges, and a 1900s cabin. If you do the long trail ask Jim for one of the pamphlets about all the eerie things you will run across on the longer trail.

We chose to hike the third (shorter) trail option- sweetheart trail. This hike is about 10 minutes long and brought us out on the opposite side of the Reflection Lake.

The sweetheart trail is a lovely shaded path, with a wooden bridge (you know how we love those). The trail circles around the lake, and when you exit you will really appreciate why Reflection Lake bears that name.

Before we left we said goodbye to the owner Jim, he was a wonderful host. We also had to take a picture in the claw-foot tub in the bathroom, in which many a visitor has posed. Jim has a collection of these photos featured inside the winery.

Old Fool Brewery

If wine isn’t your thing, instead consider visiting Old Fool Brewery Just 15 minutes from Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve, its beautiful countryside scenery makes it a great stop.

Old Fool Brewery offers 12 beers on tap, as well as wood-fired pizza. I did a flight with several different varieties of beers, and I enjoyed them all.

I hope you enjoyed reading about a day-trip adventure to Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve with stops to Sand Hollow Winery and Old Fool Brewery.. I’ve been very surprised by the bounty of beautiful places not far from Columbus. If you’re interested in other day trips, check out my blogs posts about Cesar Creek State Park or Schnormeier Gardens. I would love to hear your comments, and please share if you have any suggestions for day trips from Columbus, Ohio.