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Waterfalls and wooded trails make for the best summer hiking. No one wants to spend all day sweating in the heat of Summer, but if you head to Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio you will find such trails that will keep you cool on a hot day without sacrificing your precious time outdoors.
Hocking Hills can be found in Logan, Ohio and is a popular place for many Ohioans to visit year-round. With hiking trails, ziplining, camping, and cabins you can really see and do it all in this charming section of Ohio.
Next time you find yourself in Southern Ohio, make sure that you make the journey to Hocking Hills for a little nature and adventure. For some of the best things to see and do in the area, keep on reading.
Finding the Park
There are visitors’ centers for the park in multiple locations around the park since you can enter from the north or south. It is worth stopping for the nice restrooms and to talk to the people inside to learn more about the trails and to grab a map.
The park is basically a big loop that takes you through Hocking Hills and other state forests and nature preserves such as Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve. It is hard to get lost once inside. The road is marked with each trail, but you can park and start on some trails part of the way through. Just check out the maps that are posted throughout the trails to decide where you would like to begin your hike.
Hocking Hills Trails
Hocking Hills has several excellent trails as well as some biking paths. The main sights you will find include Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls. These places are all connected by trails of varying difficulty.
Old Man’s Cave is perhaps the most popular trail at Hocking Hills. On a nice day, they will have to block off the trail because the parking area will hit maximum capacity. It takes about an hour to reach Old Man’s Cave from the parking area. However, you can reach it from other trails if you wish to take a longer route.
Cedar Falls is easily reached from a couple of different parking areas. There is a small pull-off where you can park and head right down to the falls, or you can go to the official parking area to start. Cedar Falls is a great place to take your kids and let them wade through the water under the falls. It is a beautiful place to cool off at the end of a hike or perhaps at the beginning if that is your thing.
From there, you can continue driving to Ash Cave. This is more of a large overhang than a cave, but it is an incredible structure all the same. Water falls from the top of the overhang making the water echo throughout the cave as it hits the ground. You can cool off in the water that mists off the falls. The contrast of the dirt inside the cave and the greenery around the trees just outside makes for a calming place to relax and rest your feet.
Further, from these areas, you will find Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs. You can also visit Conkle’s Hollow and Rock Bridge, which are Nature Preserves in the area. Each area provides its own unique experience, which is what I love about Hocking Hills.
Who Would Enjoy Hocking Hills?
Anyone who loves to be outside surrounded by nature would love Hocking Hills. The shady and cool trails make for an excellent summer activity. You can find easy trails or more difficult for those who just want to get outside and those who hike regularly.
The landscape in Ohio is generally pretty flat, but as you approach Hocking Hills you will notice a slight change in elevation. Escaping those flat cornfields is a goal of mine as a person who was raised in hilly Tennessee.
If you are seeking a little more adventure, Hocking Hills provides more exciting activities as well. From ziplining to canoeing to festivals, Hocking Hills always has something to do.
For those of you who enjoy a nice drink, head on over to Hocking Hills Winery to taste some locally made wines. Then make sure that you take the time to eat at my favorite restaurant in Logan, Millstone BBQ. The food is amazing, and they have several Ohio beers on tap. Heaven.
When to Go
Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Hocking Hills. Spring and Fall are going to bring milder weather, but as I said, the trails are so shaded that the heat is not unbearable in the Summer. You can find cheaper prices on cabins in the Winter and the park will be less crowded during that time.
I have never been in the Winter, but I have friends who go every year, so it must not be that bad even with a little snow.
The park is open each day until dark. You can stay in the area at a lodge, cabin, or camping site. Hocking Hills also makes for an excellent day trip from Columbus or Cincinnati.
Enjoy Nature at Its Finest!
I hope that you have the most adventurous and magical experience at Hocking Hills. It is a little piece of magic right in Ohio.
If you have any questions about Hocking Hills or the surrounding area feel free to reach out. I would be happy to help!
For more information you can visit the Hocking Hills website.
Are you ready to head to Ohio and go hiking?
