Rim Rock National Recreation Trail Hike

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail has cliffs, views, and canyons to explore. It is near the Garden of the Gods and is worth exploring.

*Map of Rim Rock National Recreation Trail*. The section shown connecting the top trail to the bottom trail is currently closed.

Overview

Purchased for the Shawnee National Forest in 1936. Designated a national recreation trail in 1980 because of its exceptional scenic beauty and historic values.

To early settlers, this unique formation was known as “the Pounds,” an old English term meaning “some sort of enclosure.” This is how the valley lying to the east got its name: Pounds Hollow.

We visited this park as part of a family road trip to see the Garden of the Gods.

*The information board provides a history of the area.*

Rim Rock Upper Trail

This is a .6-mile out-and-back trail that goes along the top of the rock escarpment of Rim Rock. In the early 1980’s YACC (Young Adult Conservation Corps) crews replaced the original gravel path with a flagstone walkway. (This trail used to be part of a loop but now is an out-and-back since the stairs leading down to the Lower Trail are closed.)

Start of Trail

As you walk up you pass by the remains of a stonewall. Late Woodland culture built the wall about 1500 years ago.

*Going up some stairs next to the stone wall remains.*

This stonewall is almost 150 feet long and was strategically located to block the only accessible route to the top of the bluff. Historical accounts report that the wall may have been 6 feet tall.

At the Top

Next, we walked along the top of the area.

There is a CCC observation platform where you can take in the views. Then we turned around to head back.

View at the start of the walk along the sandstone barrens. — *View at the start of the walk* along the sandstone barrens.

Lower Trail

This is about a one-mile loop trail that goes below the rock escarpment. We walked to the left going towards the Ox-Lot Cave.

It first leads to the sandstone barrens.

We came across a prickly pear cactus. Camouflaged to fit in with the many lichens is a grasshopper. You can also see fence lizards and skinks here.

This area shimmered with water flowing across the rocky surface today.

Then we come to the main attraction of this trail.

Ox-Lot Cave

This is a massive rock overhang where 19th-century loggers kept oxen and horses penned up using part of the rock walls for the enclosure. A boxed-in spring at the back of the shelter provided a watering hole for the animals.

*You can learn the history of the Oxlet Cave.*

As the trees were harvested in the area the oxen dragged the logs of this steep valley where they were loaded onto wagons. Logging operations were here at the start of the 20th Century.

*The lower area has passages, me and my son Drew.*

Take a moment to explore the area before heading along the trail.

Passing the Cave

Now we walked through the narrow valley with a creek that flowed through the area. On the right were cliffs and boulders.

Then we came to an intersection. Ponds Hollow Lake Trail goes off the Lower Trail to Ponds Hollow Lake. During the summer you can swim in the lake. This is a .6-mile or 1.2-mile hike both ways.

Bridge crossing a small stream. — *Bridge crossing a small stream*.

Going Around the Bottom

We walked across bridges going over small brooks.

Then the trail goes closer to Rim Rock with small caves.

Next, we came to a small ridge near a rock overhang.

Since it has been rainy small waterfalls flowed down the rock face.

You can walk under the rock face in places and be dripped on by the water. It had a rainforest feel today.

In the distance, I spied a small clear stream flowing down to the valley.

My son also found another boulder to climb around.

Making the Turn

Then we came to the last bridge turned away from the bluff and headed back to the parking area.

Lunch Time

David brought peanut butter and jelly and chips for lunch today. Picnic tables were in the evergreen forest by the parking area. This was a well-shaded space to enjoy the meal. A restroom was also nearby.

*Water pitter-pattering down the rock face by the trail.*

Final Thoughts

Rim Rock is a worthy trail to explore if you are also going to Garden of the Gods. It is different since it includes going into canyons and being below cliffs. Doing these two areas together made for a wonderful day of exploring nature.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Admission: Free

Address: Eagle Creek, RR 1 Box 198B, Findlay, IL 625