![MQTlogoa MQTlogoa](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pbirLUmGcDo/WG7uCwP-U0I/AAAAAAAAu28/7NXtyXagq5k/MQTlogoa_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Middle top of Google earth view: The most spectacular feature at Christmas Rocks is the scenic vista from the top of the formation known as Jacob’s Ladder.
![DSC_0050 DSC_0050](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D7mt6RLLZnk/WG7uEi1reUI/AAAAAAAAu3E/Nprk8XTOZ0U/DSC_0050_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
Orange: Jacobs Ladder Trail. The “r” in the word Ladder is about the top of the formation.
![DSC_0042 DSC_0042](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eyJQOFNP3E4/WG7uGMeiG3I/AAAAAAAAu3M/LcSstJbQy3I/DSC_0042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0044 DSC_0044](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zghdZtk0ABM/WG7uHlGi1uI/AAAAAAAAu3U/hzF2CtjcPco/DSC_0044_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0045 DSC_0045](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jk3NH1bnId0/WG7uJThH0ZI/AAAAAAAAu3c/wsHsjKnnfwg/DSC_0045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0055 DSC_0055](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sewck0C0ZK4/WG7uKv_cCgI/AAAAAAAAu3o/sG0cOYHphvU/DSC_0055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Start of the trail. The southerly loop has one climb called climbing Jacobs Ladder. It is not for the faint of heart but is worth the climb. The top holds a wonderful view of the entire valley. The entrance to Christmas Rocks is along a gravel access road.
![DSC_0056 DSC_0056](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wkf6no4adU4/WG7uMJOz3ZI/AAAAAAAAu3w/lXsimVPe4hU/DSC_0056_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0058 DSC_0058](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PXFKWFHzSxo/WG7uNkrdo9I/AAAAAAAAu34/WGG8GGHHzmU/DSC_0058_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0059 DSC_0059](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a5MJLnwqnFg/WG7uPJcpFLI/AAAAAAAAu4A/ODwLmioTABo/DSC_0059_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0060 DSC_0060](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dicuPSwh4Ao/WG7uQtFYrmI/AAAAAAAAu4I/YQSG4prB0mM/DSC_0060_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0062 DSC_0062](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-48yKrz2zscI/WG7uSP-9liI/AAAAAAAAu4Q/mWAG1DRm14U/DSC_0062_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0063 DSC_0063](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Av4ysgRsLaY/WG7uTVmelOI/AAAAAAAAu4Y/4BM1AY-uOo0/DSC_0063_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
At this point the trail veers right into the woods.
![DSC_0064 DSC_0064](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BwvMiHV8LL0/WG7uU9ZYdJI/AAAAAAAAu4g/LpvYe0iVB0Q/DSC_0064_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0065 DSC_0065](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fgS68e32-Kk/WG7uWSZm99I/AAAAAAAAu4o/oNJNeLVBEHI/DSC_0065_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0066 DSC_0066](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x6KMeHx98S0/WG7uX7TrKJI/AAAAAAAAu4w/aFNm-91flyo/DSC_0066_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0067 DSC_0067](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I_N4WRbDIaE/WG7uZT5PH_I/AAAAAAAAu44/edXAaDYp7Vk/DSC_0067_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0068 DSC_0068](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D-PRZZ_fhEc/WG7ua-N-Z4I/AAAAAAAAu5A/FiWl9cT5BYY/DSC_0068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0073 DSC_0073](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Co23Hj6dUl8/WG7uciSy5SI/AAAAAAAAu5I/axiEc21-szg/DSC_0073_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0069 DSC_0069](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zlmQ0vwgM8g/WG7uednpPTI/AAAAAAAAu5U/Bm0K65L-tpM/DSC_0069_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800)
Above photo: Arney Run is in the Streams category for Fairfield County in the state of Ohio. Arney Run is displayed on the Clearport USGS quad topo map. The approximate elevation is 820 feet (250 meters) above sea level.
![DSC_0074 DSC_0074](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wQous7XblTA/WG7ufiG0C2I/AAAAAAAAu5c/T5Ikj5g0OCA/DSC_0074_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0075 DSC_0075](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TObijsk8vSg/WG7ug7DjKPI/AAAAAAAAu5k/J3g896HsDqE/DSC_0075_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0080 DSC_0080](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bk2KFNHE_AQ/WG7uiD2W13I/AAAAAAAAu5s/189JuislFwo/DSC_0080_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0081 DSC_0081](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zBadd1GIXaQ/WG7uj4qquDI/AAAAAAAAu50/hW3UrmR5M5o/DSC_0081_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
Getting ready to start the Jacobs ladder loop trail.
![DSC_0090 DSC_0090](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PHrgH37faDY/WG7ulrd5b0I/AAAAAAAAu58/FCfNaWcXJwY/DSC_0090_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
The Jacobs Ladder rock formation sits about 200 feet above Arney Run. I would guess the rock formation itself is 60 to 70 feet tall.
![DSC_0091 DSC_0091](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z8airy8IWeA/WG7unOSdnRI/AAAAAAAAu6E/_f_PTa-H1N0/DSC_0091_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0093 DSC_0093](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JrlcVK6harc/WG7uoshe-cI/AAAAAAAAu6M/gGnfaJOkDME/DSC_0093_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0094 DSC_0094](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RaYDLygKYow/WG7uqFI_5oI/AAAAAAAAu6U/zhgvOR3dUUA/DSC_0094_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0095 DSC_0095](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AKUMGHPEw98/WG7usR_2_bI/AAAAAAAAu6c/P-qG0JJ1rJ0/DSC_0095_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
Steepest part of trail. Stopped and took a break on the way up.
![DSC_0100 DSC_0100](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oBTgRlvGmbc/WG7uuHSNdUI/AAAAAAAAu6k/b12wotMh0qE/DSC_0100_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800)
The top of that rock formation is where we are headed. this is a typical Hocking Hills Blackhand sandstone outcropping.
![DSC_0102 DSC_0102](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f4QoQjnOTUU/WG7uvoU2JCI/AAAAAAAAu6s/_gLjvrK9KTI/DSC_0102_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0113 DSC_0113](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nyrqTj1bwzU/WG7uxRF9a9I/AAAAAAAAu60/fjtgcohFc5g/DSC_0113_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0114 DSC_0114](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lDIbmCPRox0/WG7uy9-NanI/AAAAAAAAu68/z4yc6EH-t08/DSC_0114_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0115 DSC_0115](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UpLc4M9PGDA/WG7u0mxVBdI/AAAAAAAAu7I/3yRUiXJKQ2Y/DSC_0115_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0117 DSC_0117](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WYHKW6odVw8/WG7u13DaGvI/AAAAAAAAu7Q/1Y1wM449_f0/DSC_0117_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0120 DSC_0120](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ow-HsVvEe40/WG7u3WfeQnI/AAAAAAAAu7Y/4pzEXfoBCGA/DSC_0120_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
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Then the clouds came in to make for a little drama.
![DSC_0110 DSC_0110](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2idlLXCvEU/WG7u7KcMtPI/AAAAAAAAu7o/2du2zaVX1b0/DSC_0110_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0111 DSC_0111](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ArnNQ_43eFs/WG7u9pDz6eI/AAAAAAAAu7w/fr2pnq8BkDI/DSC_0111_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0123 DSC_0123](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d5aOhbeP-GE/WG7u-gPB6CI/AAAAAAAAu74/ye2XitvUrfE/DSC_0123_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
Read about Christmas Rocks at Moderately Active Ohio….. Time to head back down..
![DSC_0126 DSC_0126](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1Yi5ADN0o9o/WG7vDFt6JnI/AAAAAAAAu8A/G3luJgG9ZjY/DSC_0126_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0127 DSC_0127](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSJyiLC4vwM/WG7vEwmFtWI/AAAAAAAAu8I/uXqU1RkX1DY/DSC_0127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0128 DSC_0128](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nS0HLUCn31Q/WG7vGbRbQdI/AAAAAAAAu8Q/kohuNpd3Pdo/DSC_0128_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0130 DSC_0130](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mAq4vl1HH4c/WG7vIwpxmII/AAAAAAAAu8c/xawJW5l6JL0/DSC_0130_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0131 DSC_0131](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qAZplPFwE7M/WG7vKnRtrGI/AAAAAAAAu8k/XB_sZddHKmo/DSC_0131_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0140 DSC_0140](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FCJ8tfjeFZ8/WG7vMmLemHI/AAAAAAAAu8s/Cgjyij7qXaQ/DSC_0140_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
Some top hikes in Ohio:
1. The 2-mile loop at Mill Creek Park in Youngstown
2. Lamping Homestead Trail in Graysville
3. Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park
4. Gorge Trail Metropark in Cuyahoga Falls
5. Lake Trail at Clear Creek Metropark in Franklin County
6. Monroe Overlook Trail at Wayne National Forest
7. Quail Hollow State Park Trail in Hartville
8. Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve in Lancaster
![DSC_0146 DSC_0146](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jzhh56IENSk/WG7vObvANoI/AAAAAAAAu80/HY7_yaRcxlE/DSC_0146_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Coming down was a lot easier than going up.
![DSC_0141 DSC_0141](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f1aVgE_rWjE/WG7vRlCN7HI/AAAAAAAAu88/BWOeC0t3CRM/DSC_0141_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0142 DSC_0142](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EMoPxmgXVSA/WG7vSmt5seI/AAAAAAAAu9E/jyJ_TUQSYU8/DSC_0142_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0147 DSC_0147](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GeRnVP23Cpg/WG7vUJDOUeI/AAAAAAAAu9M/9hoY04k5gIw/DSC_0147_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0144 DSC_0144](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iKqLlmWDAeo/WG7vVc49ATI/AAAAAAAAu9U/9byWVulC4mY/DSC_0144_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0150 DSC_0150](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JQUZ5LM9uFo/WG7vXKaftBI/AAAAAAAAu9c/mmrr3KmxlSU/DSC_0150_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![DSC_0156 DSC_0156](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a1fLsTpHstA/WG7vYo5jsxI/AAAAAAAAu9k/1Fnl95x4MCo/DSC_0156_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Heading back to the truck and heading home. Was a great hike. The temp was mid 40’s and I didn’t meet another sole on the trail.
![DSC_0163 DSC_0163](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SSoOlhvC4Sc/WG7vaFJOQaI/AAAAAAAAu9s/Qx1s_iz0SKs/DSC_0163_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![jtf1 jtf1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LKKbnB5Nz1g/WG7vbORWkjI/AAAAAAAAu90/lM1f2lr_uw4/jtf1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve & the Jacobs Ladder Trail
3 comments:
At first I thought this would be a driving hike, which I would have liked. Nice view from up there and very good pictures.
It looks like a great hike -- I was wondering why it is called Christmas Rocks -- went to the link for Moderately Active Ohio (great blog title) but it was about something else.
Sallie sorry about the incorrect link. should have been:: http://moderatelyactiveohio.blogspot.com/2014/02/christmas-rocks-state-nature-preserve.html
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