In the Activity Spotlight we highlight some of the many great activities available within a short drive from Ravenwood Castle. This week’s Activity Spotlight is written by our former Assistant Innkeeper, Abby Kutscher.

Summer is a great time for water sports, and one of my personal favorites is canoeing! Luckily, Ravenwood Castle is located near the beautiful Hocking River, so guests don’t have to travel far to enjoy the water!

Our friends over at Hocking Hills Adventures provide some of the best ways to enjoy your time on the river. Catering to experienced and non-experienced adventurers alike, Hocking Hills Adventures provides a diversity of outdoor entertainment, and have been doing so for 40 years!

The Hocking River itself flows southeast from Lancaster, Ohio all the way to the Ohio River. The average depth is 3-4 feet, though some areas can reach as deep as 12 feet. The paths that Hocking Hills Adventures provide cover a 15 mile stretch of the river, passing Rockbridge as well as the remains of The Hocking Canal. Rockbridge is one of 12 natural rock arches or bridges in the state of Ohio and boasts itself as the largest of all. The Hocking Canal was a 56-mile canal that was destroyed by flooding in the late 1800s and never rebuilt.

Hocking Hills Adventures offers five different trails or trips from which to choose. Crocketts Run is the shortest and therefore one of the best choices for beginners and/or children. This trip is 5 miles and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. The next is the Natural Rockbridge trip, which covers 7 miles and again requires about 2-3 hours. To catch some of the best river sight-seeing, check out the Riverside Campground trip. This one covers 9 miles of river and takes roughly 3-4 hours to complete. For an all day outing, the 15 mile Sugar Grove is a good choice! This stretch will take roughly 5-6 hours to complete. Finally, the Rush Creek Trip is an overnight trip covering 21 miles, lasting approximately 6-8 hours the first day and 2-3 hours the second.

Along with a multitude of routes, you can also choose how you’d like to travel! Different modes of transportation have different advantages. A canoe is a bit harder to navigate but has more room. Most are 15-17 feet in length and can hold an average of 4 people. Kayaks are a good choice if you want to command your own ship without the help of someone else, since they hold only one person. They are also a bit easier to navigate than a large canoe. Rafts are a great option for large groups as they can hold up to 6 people. They are not as fast as a canoe or a kayak so they are also a great choice for a more leisurely experience. And finally, if paddling does not appeal to you, then you may enjoy tubing! Tubes hold one person a piece and allow you to float idly downstream!

Hocking Hills Adventures’ prices vary depending on the trip and mode of transportation you choose. Call 740-385-8685 or visit their website at www.hockinghillscanoeing.com for departure times or to make reservations!

Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.