Ohio Attractions - Exploring the Seven Caves Natural Landmark

Seven Caves is what they called it way back in 1928.in wildlife and legends. It became the dwelling place of
Now it is called Cave Canyon offering fantastic viewsNative Americans.
of caves, cliff tops and valleys. It lies at the heart ofSeven Caves now called Cave Canyon has been a
Highlands Nature Sanctuary. The stunning preserve isnatural landmark just 70 miles from Cincinnati. It also
a one great trip for most nature lovers andoffers educational activities, self-guided tours on
adventurers. The history and its attractions made theweekends, hiking and aboveground picnic sites.
place truly a remarkable nature preserve with overCampgrounds are located at Rocky Fork and Paint
400 million years in the making.Creek State Parks.
Early European settlers at Seven Caves wereIt is open to the public from April to October. Visitors
attracted to the cavern-rich region of Rocky Forkcan enjoy a one general entrance fee of three trails,
Canyon. During 1800's local families access the gorgeAppalachian Nature Book Store, Cliff Deck access,
to explore caves. It was first named as HighlandRocky Fork Gorge overlooking and audiovisual trail
Caves. Tourist was charged 10 cents as they travelorientation about Eastern forest. Cave explorations
by horseback.are not included in the package.
Clyde Chaney from Indiana made some changes inThere are three self-guided trails. First is Valley of the
1928 upon seeing expansive possibilities to theAncients. The place has trail curves of rocks lined
Highland Caves. He persuaded five investors todown to the Rocky Fork Creek. It views
purchase the caves. Clyde and his family developed itbreathtaking panoramas of a 25 mile loop. Second is
into a first class tourist destination and named it 7Etawah Woods Loop Trail. It offers treks along the
Caves. They improved the trails and caves torim of Rocky Fork Canyon. There are giant hemlocks
preserve its beauty. The entrance price was raisedand a long flight of stairs down into the gorge. And
to 25 cents. Robert Judkins was the next ownerthird is the Big Beech Loop Trail. There are massive
who continued to promote the caves and passed itbeech trees and tulip poplars of an intact ecosystem
on to the Miller family who handled it for 25 years.and forest community.
The site itself offers sparkling waterfalls, hemlock,The place also offers eco-theatrical hikes. It is
morning mist, cold springs and white cedar that haveoffered during Saturday and Sundays from Memorial
dazzled visitors. It has three hiking trails where youto Labor Day on autumn days. Families can explore
can stroll to chasms, grottos, waterfalls, lime depositstogether with naturalist, William Sullivant as he
and rock formations. It is also a botanical hotspot ofrecords the natural history of Cave Canyon. Hikers
over 300 varieties of rare plants, wildflowers andcan walk the dark entrances of the caves and learn
trees. You can go fishing and bird watching inside theabout bat populations. Guide hikes takes about an
caves.hour for ¼ mile.
Wildflowers remain the best attraction in April. TheThere are now current renovations of the site still
Pyramid of Trilliums is the most impressive floralongoing to transform it as the world's first museum
display tumble out on the valley sides. During spring,to interpret the Eastern America's temperate forest.
the snow trilliums are clinging to the bare gray rocks.The fantastic opportunities of humans interacting
Seven Caves has an Appalachian Forest Museum thatwith nature made Cave Canyon a must-see site. It
features cultural history of Eastern forests. It ishas long been admired by visitors because of the
situated at Rocky Road Canyon. Hence, variousperfect time-off nature experience from the
caverns like Devil's Icebox and Dancing Cave are richcommotion of our everyday life.