Feb 11

Feb 11 A Weekend in the Hocking Hills Region

Post Summary: This post will cover when to visit and where to stay in the Hocking Hills Region. As well as the top activities you can fit into one weekend, including the caves, waterfalls, and more.

Located just over an hour southeast of Ohio’s capital, Columbus, Hocking Hills State Park, and the surrounding region, is the crown jewel of the state. Here you’ll find an abundance of waterfalls, towering caves, lakes, a massive forest, stunning trails, and cliff views.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

WHEN TO VISIT

As with most places, late spring, summer, and fall are the better seasons to visit unless you like hiking and exploring in the snow. The winter may be beautiful but due to the cliffs and narrow trails and other factors, this place can be dangerous unless properly prepared. Summer is the busiest time here, even during the week, so you’d best be prepared for crowds. I definitely recommend going in the mornings though or later in the evening to avoid crowds, preferably in the late spring when the waterfalls are flowing.

WHERE TO STAY

I recommend staying more than one day in the area so you can fully appreciate the beauty of the region.

Located about 20 minutes north of the park is the city of Logan where you’ll find hotels and other places to stay. Popular Places:
Hocking Hills State Park Campground - Located right next to the Old Man’s Cave area. There’s a campground store, heated showers, full hookup electric sites, as well as primitive campsites.
Explore Hocking Hills shares more campgrounds in the area on their website.
Hocking Hills is known for its stunning cabins and people all over come to stay in many of them. Also, check out Airbnb for even more places. Popular cabins:

GETTING HERE

Your best bet is to take 71 from Cleveland/Cincinnati or 33 from Columbus. The nearest main airport is John Glen International in Columbus.

WHERE TO EAT

Unless you want to venture outside of the region, you can stop by the Old Man’s Cave General Store for snacks, ice cream, and other supplies. I’d recommend just packing a lunch and snacks to eat at the picnic areas Interesting Facts About Hocking Hills

While you could manage to see the main sites in one day, I recommend an entire weekend to really explore and appreciate the park. An important thing to note is there is no cell service in and around the park; so you’ll either want to download an offline map or print directions. Many of the trails can be dangerous since they’re so close to cliffs to be extra careful when hiking. Also for the trails, Hocking Hills is especially adamant that you remain on the designated trails to avoid disrupting wildlife and ecosystems, not to mention it can be VERY dangerous to go off many of these trails (lots of high cliffs and caves).

>> Related: Must-Visit Hocking Hills Sites to Explore <<

Day One Itinerary in Hocking Hills

Start Your Day at the Visitor Center

It’s always a good idea to drop by visitor centers before visiting a park. Located at the Old Man’s Cave parking lot, here you can learn about the park, see what the trail conditions are, look at maps, and more. There’s also a gift shop in the visitor center. On the outside of the building, you’ll find restrooms, vending machines, a water fountain, and plenty of chairs to rest on.

Explore the Old Man’s Cave Area

The Old Man’s Cave area is the most popular location in the region. You park near the visitor center and head over to the trailhead and informational sign. The first major site you’ll come across is Upper Falls, which is iconic for its little tree stump right at the edge of the water. The entire trail consists of beautiful scenic sites, most notably Devil’s Bathtub, the A-Frame bridge from below, Old Man’s Cave, and Lower Falls. You can walk through Old Man’s Cave to go back to the parking lot, but I recommend sticking on the trail to see more sights. You have two options after visiting Lower Falls, head up the winding staircase and up a lot of steps to head back to the parking lot or continue on to Broken Rock Falls, Hemlock Bridge, and Whispering Cave. Once you’re done at Whispering Cave, you can turn around and head back the way you came.

Hike to Cedar Falls

This relatively short hike (about half a mile) will lead you to one of the prettiest waterfalls in the state, with a few scenic sites along the way. Cedar Falls is such an oasis with the trees surrounding it with that Hocking teal water.

There’s two other ways to get to Cedar Falls; take the trail near the Hemlock Bridge fork or from a small, roadside parking lot that is right above the falls and you simply walk down some stairs.

Check out Ash Cave

Probably the most photographed location in the entire region is Ash Cave, and rightly so. This spot is the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi and has a stunning seasonal waterfall. It’s also one of the few handicap-accessible trails. The paved trail from the parking lot is short, but it turns into sand once you actually reach the cave. You can either continue up the steps through the cave to continue on the trail (there’s nothing special to see) or to turn around and head back the way you came.

Day Two Itinerary in Hocking Hills

Start Your Day at This Stunning State Nature Preserve

Steep cliffs make for the more interesting trail for those adventurous souls seeing a thrill here in Conkles Hollow. While only 2 miles, the rim trail is narrow and steep and can get close to the edge in some areas, with a stunning overlook at the top. But no worries, the handicapped accessible gorge trail below is a short out and back trail where you’ll find the waterfalls and other natural features on the floor, including a small grotto.

Walk Through an Actual Cave

Rock House itself is astounding, you can walk around the inside and see the history and views of the cliffs. This is the only true cave within the region. The trail to it is about a mile long with amazing views the entire way. If you go after a heavy rain you might even come across a waterfall or two.

Test your Adventurous Spirit at Cantwell Cliffs

Similar to other areas, it has a rim and gorge trail, one being more difficult than the other. Here you’ll find small waterfalls and an abundance of Black Hand Sandstone cliffs that the trails will take you up and down. Cantwell Cliffs is known for its narrow passages, one most notably named “Fat Women’s Squeeze” and other unique geological features. Along the rim trail, you’ll even find a small shelter house for rest near the cliff overlook.