Hiking in Hocking Hills is a fantastic way to spend a day in Ohio. This State Park offers natural beauty and seclusion plus some of the best hiking in the state. It’s a popular weekend or day trip from Columbus, so if you’re visiting the area, it shouldn’t be too hard to squeeze in.

What’s different in 2020? All areas of Hocking Hills State Park have been re-opened as of July 2, 2020. When you visit now, you’ll notice that all trails are one-way only.

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Hocking Hills State Park – Logan, Ohio

Location: 19852 State Route 664, Logan, Ohio 43138

Contact: 740-385-6841

Hocking Hills State Park is located in Logan, Ohio in the southeastern part of the state. It’s a beautiful wooded, rural area that’s within driving distance of many nearby cities.

Approximate driving times from nearby cities to Hocking Hills State Park:

• Columbus, Ohio – 1 hour
• Dayton, Ohio – 2 hours
• Cincinnati, Ohio – 2 hours 15 minutes
• Cleveland, Ohio – 3 hours
• Charleston, West Virginia – 2 hours
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania– 3 hours 15 minutes

Hiking in Hocking Hills

As with most of the park’s visitors, we were there to do some hiking. The park offers numerous trails with something for everyone — easy strolls, moderate, wooded paths, and vigorous hikes for those who are a bit more experienced.

Things to keep in mind when hiking in Hocking Hills State Park:

• There are 7 main areas for hiking
• Trails are open year-round from dawn to dusk
• All trails are now one-way only to allow for social distancing

Hocking Hills Hiking Trails

Once inside Hocking Hills State Park, you’ll find 7 main areas for hiking.

1. Ash Cave

Ash Cave is a large recess cave located at the southern end of Hocking Hills State Park. The rim of this U-shaped cave is over 700 ft wide and features a beautiful waterfall. There are 2 trails to choose from at this location.

• Ash Cave Gorge: This is an easy 1/4 mile path that leads into the cave and is handicapped accessible.
• Ash Cave Rim:  This is a slightly more difficult, but still very moderate, path that takes you around the upper rim of the cave. This trail is about 1/2 mile long.

2. Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls is a large 50 ft waterfall that has the largest volume of water of any of the falls in the park. You can take a 3-mile hike from Cedar Falls to Old Mans’ Cave or a 3-mile hike from Cedar Falls south to Ash Cave.

3. Old Man’s Cave

Old Man’s Cave one of the most popular Hocking Hills trails and therefore parking can be busy on popular weekends. Thankfully we visited on a weekday and had no problem. From here you can take the Grandma Gatewood Trail which connects to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave.

It’s a 6-mile trail end to end one way. The Old Man’s Cave trail is about 1 mile long. If you’re in this area, check out the Devil’s Bathtub to view a cool natural whirlpool!

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Pro Tip: If you will be bringing the kids to visit Hocking Hills State Park, bring their rain boots.  They’ll enjoy splashing in the puddles and creeks and you’ll enjoy not listening to them complain about wet shoes for the rest of the day!

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4. Conkle’s Hollow

Conkle’s Hollow has been a State Nature Preserve since 1977. It offers cliffs that rise about 200 feet above the ground. The gorge is as narrow as 100 feet in some places and is one of the deepest in Ohio.

This area is incredibly shady because of the abundance of trees, so it’s great if you want to stay out of the hot midday sun. There are 2 trails at the Conkle’s Hollow Nature Preserve:

• Conkle’s Hollow:  This is an easy paved 1/2 mile trail (1 mile total in and back) into the Conkle’s Hollow Gorge.  This trail is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers so it’s great for the whole family.
• Conkle’s Hollow Rim:  This is a difficult 2 1/2 mile trail around the rim of the gorge. This trail is not for anyone who has a fear of heights! It’s narrow and has steep drop-offs in some places. I wouldn’t recommend this for kids either. It was pretty muddy the day we did this trail which added an element of difficulty.

5. Rock House

Rock House is unique as it is the only true cave in Hocking Hills State Park. It has tunnel-like paths that were created by water leaking through cracks in the sandstone. The Rock House Trail is an easy 1/2 mile long. While you are there, look for small recesses in the back walls — these are believed to have been used as cooking ovens by the Native Americans.

6. Cantwell Cliffs

Cantwell Cliffs is one of the most remote areas of the park, located on the far north side. There is a 1-mile trail that is fairly difficult with many steep dropoffs and narrow passages. While you are there see if you can squeeze through the narrow stairway dubbed “Fat Woman’s Squeeze”!  There’s also a shorter, easier path through the valley of the cliffs.

7. Whispering Cave/Hemlock Bridge Trail

Hemlock Bridge Trail and Whispering Cave Trail are the newest hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park. Whispering Cave includes a 300-foot wide recess cave and a 100+ foot waterfall.

 

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Keep Exploring: Looking for more great hiking in Ohio? Check out Cuyahoga Valley National Park just outside of Cleveland.

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Other Activities in Hocking Hills State Park

In addition to hiking, you’ll find plenty of other fun outdoor activities at Hocking Hills State Park!

• Horseback riding
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Ziplines
• Rock climbing
• Rappelling
• Hunting
• Fishing

Accommodations Near Hocking Hills State Park

There are lots of accommodations in and near Hocking Hills. You’ll find everything from luxury cabins to camping.

 

Luxury Inns and Cabins:

• Cherry Ridge Retreat
• Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls

Hotels and Motels:

• Holiday Inn Express – Logan, Ohio
• Baymont by Wyndham – Logan, Ohio
• Sleep Inn – Logan, Ohio

Apartments, Cabins, and Private Homes:

• Hocking Hills Rusty Loft (apartment)
• Cozy Log Cabin (private cabin)
• Rock House (3 bedroom cabin, sleeps 8)
• White Tail Cabin (3 bedroom cabin, sleeps 8)
• Hocking Hills Vacation Home (6 bedroom home, sleeps 18)

Final Thoughts

Hiking in Hocking Hills is a must-do activity when visiting Ohio. It’s a beautiful area that offers fun and recreation for the whole family and is a Buckeye State favorite.

Happy trails!

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