Hocking Hills State Park

State: Ohio. Type: state park in Hocking County, near Logan. 2,356 acres (17 acres of water). Established in 1924. Six primary natural areas: Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs and Whispering Cave. Over 25 miles of hiking trails.

Hocking Hills State Park protects a cluster of sandstone gorges, waterfalls and recess caves in the hill country of southeastern Ohio, near the town of Logan. The state began acquiring land here in 1924 as part of a broader reforestation and state-forest program, and the Civilian Conservation Corps later built much of the trail and bridge infrastructure that still guides visitors through the park's six signature natural areas. Old Man's Cave is the park's most visited section, with a series of waterfalls and gorge overlooks along a paved and stepped trail, while Ash Cave's massive recess cave, roughly 700 feet end to end and 90 feet tall, and Cedar Falls, the park's largest waterfall by volume, round out the most popular stops. Rock House stands out as the park's only true cave rather than a recess formation, and Cantwell Cliffs offers steeper, more rugged terrain for visitors wanting a quieter, more strenuous hike; Whispering Cave, only opened to the public in 2017, is a newer addition. With over 2 million annual visitors as of 2017, the park has had to add shuttle services at peak times to manage parking demand.

The park is located at 19852 OH-664, Logan, Ohio 43138, in Hocking County in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. Its six main areas (Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs and Whispering Cave) are spread across the wider Hocking Hills region rather than a single contiguous site, connected by state routes near Logan.

Southeastern Ohio has a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold winters that bring occasional snow and icy trail conditions, which can make cave and gorge trails more hazardous. Rainfall is fairly well distributed through the year, and wet conditions can make the park's stone steps and boardwalks slippery at any season.

Spring and fall are widely favored for comfortable hiking temperatures and, in fall, foliage color across the gorges; summer brings the heaviest crowds along with heat and humidity, and winter can add scenic ice formations at waterfalls but also icy, slippery trail conditions. Because trails are open daily from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, early arrival on any season helps beat both crowds and peak-day parking congestion.

Ohio began acquiring the land that became Hocking Hills State Park in 1924, as part of a state effort to establish forests and reforestation areas in the region. During the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps companies built much of the infrastructure still used today, including trails, bridges and erosion-control features that let visitors reach features like Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave safely. Whispering Cave, one of the park's six primary areas, only opened to public access in 2017. Visitation has grown substantially over the decades, reaching more than 2 million visitors in 2017 alone, a volume that has pushed the park to introduce shuttle services to manage parking and congestion at its most popular trailheads.

Hiking is the central activity, with more than 25 miles of trails connecting waterfalls, gorges and cave formations across the park's six main areas. Ash Cave's large recess cave, Cedar Falls' waterfall, and Old Man's Cave's multi-level gorge and falls are the most heavily visited stops. Beyond hiking, the park and surrounding region support canoeing, rock climbing, fishing and horseback riding.

Old Man's Cave is the park's most popular section, with a series of waterfalls and a stepped gorge trail. Ash Cave's recess cave, about 700 feet end-to-end and 90 feet tall, is one of the largest such formations in Ohio. Cedar Falls is the park's largest waterfall by volume, Rock House is the only true (non-recess) cave in the park, Cantwell Cliffs offers more rugged terrain, and Whispering Cave, opened to the public in 2017, is the newest area added to the park's main sites.

The park is reached primarily by car via state routes near Logan, Ohio, with no direct commercial airport or rail service to the site itself; the nearest sizable regional airports are in Columbus, roughly an hour's drive to the north. Because the six main areas are spread across the wider Hocking Hills region, a car is effectively required to move between them, though a shuttle service has been introduced during peak periods to ease parking congestion at busy trailheads.

Trails and picnic areas are open daily from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, per Ohio's state park search results. The park's visitor center has been reported open daily from roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours can change seasonally; confirm current visitor center hours on ohiodnr.gov before visiting.

General trail and park access at Hocking Hills, as an Ohio state park, is free of charge; camping and any cabin/lodge stays within the park system carry their own nightly fees that vary by site and season. Confirm current camping rates on ohiodnr.gov or the Ohio State Parks reservation system before booking.

A single main area, such as Old Man's Cave or Ash Cave, can be seen in one to two hours, but visitors wanting to cover several of the six primary areas typically plan a full day or a multi-day stay given the driving distance between sites.

The town of Logan, adjacent to the park, and the surrounding Hocking Hills region have a large concentration of cabins, cottages and vacation rentals, reflecting the area's tourism-driven local economy. Camping is also available within the state park system for visitors who prefer to stay directly on-site.

Logan and the wider Hocking Hills area offer a mix of casual, family-style restaurants and cafes geared toward hikers and day-trippers, along with general stores near the main trailheads. Because the park's main areas are spread out, many visitors plan meals in Logan or pack food for a day of trail-hopping between sites.

The park's own six areas (Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs, Whispering Cave) form a natural touring circuit. The town of Logan serves as the regional hub for lodging and dining. Additional Hocking Hills-area attractions, such as zip-line courses and canoe liveries on the Hocking River, are common add-ons for a multi-day stay.

There is no direct airport or rail service to the park; the nearest larger regional airport is in Columbus, roughly an hour's drive north. A personal or rental vehicle is effectively necessary to reach and move between the park's six spread-out main areas, though a seasonal shuttle has been introduced to help with parking congestion at peak times.

Trail surfaces near waterfalls and caves can be slippery, especially after rain or in winter ice conditions, so sturdy footwear and caution near cliff edges and wet stone steps are essential. Stay on marked trails, since the sandstone formations can be unstable at the edges, and check current conditions before visiting in winter. For any emergency, dial 911.

Sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes with good grip, water, and a trail map are essential given the uneven stone steps and gorge terrain. A camera for the waterfalls and cave formations, plus layered clothing for changing conditions across the six spread-out sites, are also worth packing.

Because the park's six main areas are spread across the region rather than in one place, plan your route between them in advance and expect some driving time. Arriving early, especially on weekends and in fall foliage season, helps avoid both crowds and the parking congestion that has led the park to add shuttle services at peak times. Trails can be slippery near waterfalls, so appropriate footwear matters more here than at many parks.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The park's listed general contact number is (740) 385-6842, per Ohio Department of Natural Resources visitor information.

Hocking Hills State Park (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) - https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/hocking-hills-state-park

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.