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Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

The Preserve protects close to 1,000 acres along the Licking River as it winds through the four mile long gorge. The ancient, yellow sandstone cliffs have seen many generations of people pass through from Native American canoes, to canal boats on the Ohio-Erie Canal, to the trains of the Central Ohio Railroad and the Ohio Electric Interurban. Now the traffic through the gorge is back to people on foot, on bikes or in canoes. There are several hiking trails that leave the level path and climb into the surrounding woods. Parts of the Ohio-Erie Canal, locks and tow path are still visible though the ancient Native American rock art which gave the gorge its name is long gone. I have visited the gorge in summers since I was a kid, and I have loved it every time. A nice treat afterwards is grabbing an ice cream from the store in the tiny, nearby town of Toboso.

Directions: Go 8 miles east of Newark on State Route 16, exit southeast on State Route 146 and proceed ¼ mile to County Road 273. The entrance and parking lot are 1 ½ mile south on County Road 273.

Address: Eight miles east of Newark on State Route 16.