Conkles Hollow Dark Sky Site

About Conkles Hollow

Conkles Hollow is a small, secluded, nature preserve area in the Hocking Hills State Park. It is a 1 to 1-1/2 drive from most parts of Columbus. Conkles Hollow is a true, dark-sky, observing site suitable for deep sky observing and astrophotography. You can set your telescope up on the large, grassy field area next to the parking area. This area is flat and mowed and makes an almost ideal viewing area.

Restrooms, picnic tables, and barbecue grills are on the premises. There is also a convenient country store about a mile away. If a park ranger drops by, be friendly and offer them a peek through your scope! Happy viewing!

Rules of Use

Due to the special needs of our club, the ODNR has granted the CAS a special-use permit for Conkles Hollow. The terms of this agreement require that we abide by the following rules;

• 1. Do Not Observe Without Calling In Your Permit.  If the park rangers have not been notified of your observing plans, you run the risk of being ejected from the park. You could also jeopardize the club's special arrangement. See below for instructions on how to contact the Hocking Hills park management.
• 2. CAS Members Only. Conkles Hollow closes after dark and is patrolled by rangers. Only CAS members who have called in their permit can stay after dark.
• 3. Use the Parking Lot and Grass Field Areas Only. The terrain beyond the mowed grass lot of the parking lot can be quite rugged. It is important to stay confined to the parking lot and grass field areas of Conkles Hollow. This is a very sensitive issue with the rangers and park personnel -- please abide by this rule and urge others to do likewise.
• 4. Leave By 1:00 AM. Our permit allows us use of the park until 1:00 AM. Please keep track of the time and plan your observing session accordingly. You can maximize your observing time by arriving and setting up your equipment in the daylight hours.

How to Reserve Conkles Hollow For Your Use

Our special permit with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Hocking Hills park management requires that we notify the park personnel in advance of our observing intentions. This is for our own safety and makes the ranger's job much easier. If you would like to observe at the Conkles Hollow site, contact the park office at (740)-385-6841, inform them that you are a CAS member and will be observing from Conkles Hollow that evening. They would also like to know the approximate number in your party. Alternately, you can fax them at (614)-385-8166. Either way, you must notify their office by 4:00 PM the same day. To prevent unauthorized use, the park office keeps an updated club roster on file.

Please do not use Conkles Hollow without proper authorization. Doing so will damage the club's relationship with the ODNR. You may also be ejected from the park.

How to Get There

Click the map to download. 

There are at least two ways to get to Conkles Hollow from Columbus. The Rt. 23 method is a little faster for those living on the west/northwest side of Columbus. Rt. 33 uses more major highways and might be a good choice for "first-timers".

Directions Via Route 23: Take Route 23 south to Circleville. Take Rt. 56 east through Circleville approximately 15 miles to Laurelville. Continue on 56 approximately 4 miles to the village of Haynes. As soon as you see the sign for Haynes, SLOW down, and look for Big Pine Road on the left. Turn left (there is no right turn) on to Big Pine Road and drive approximately 7 miles to Route 374 (there is a Stop sign). Stay on Big Pine Road and drive approximately another quarter mile to the entrance to Conkles Hollow on the left.

Directions Via Route 33: Take Rt. 33 south out of Columbus. Go about 15 miles past Lancaster to the Rt. 664. exit. Turn right and go about 10 miles where you will pass by the Hocking Hills State Park entrance. Continue on Rt. 664 past the park entrance for about 3 more miles and you will come to Rt. 374 which branches off to the right. Take Rt. 374 to the right and go down the steep hill for 1 mile. The first intersection is Big Pine Road. Turn right and go for 1/4 mile. The Conkles Hollow entrance will be on the left.