Very much enjoyed our visit here! The trails are family-friendly, with just enough challenge, and the surroundings, primarily large bluffs, cliffs, and rock-outcroppings, are breathtaking. Here are some tips : 1. Visit Old Man's Cave first and EARLY. This place is obscenely crowded from 9am on (at least in October). 2. We enjoyed hiking around sunset. The temps were cooler, and crowds were less. 3. The web doesn't have the greatest cache of info on the park, and suggestions on planning your travels. I had to collect the basic info from all over, vs. just one sight. Again, hit Old Man's first to talk with a park associate, and grab a very detailed map of all trail locations. 4. great for kids. If your family isn't to trail-savvy, there are simple hikes. For those who are looking for more of a challenge, you'll be satisfied as well. 5. Plan on traveling at least 20 minutes to hit up restaurants, if you're looking to go out. Our suggestion is Athens, which is a college town about 30 minutes away. Cool coffee shops, eateries, and pubs. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Amazing!!! The scenery is spectacular. The trails, so well maintained and marked. And they are improving their facilities as well, building a new Visitor Center at Old Man's Cave. Loved this park and SO dog friendly!!!! Doesnt get any better. Happy we decided to go here for a long weekend. Would recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen!!! read more

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If you love the outdoors and have never been here you are missing out! This is roughly about a 3 hour and 40 minutes drive from where I live in Indianapolis and it is worth the drive.The scenic views are absolutely breathtaking. I took my two younger siblings here on a random weekend trip. It was my very first time having to start a fire. I have always been on trips with friends and family that have done it so I never had to myself. It was quite a learning experience and also unforgettable night for the three of us. We also had such great camp neighbors that gave us wonderful tips on starting our fire. It was quite an enjoyable fun night. People come from all over so the camp grounds do book up fast. It is easy to book online through the Ohio State Parks website. I suggest always checking back often if they are booked because there are sometime cancellations. We camped using a tent because I enjoy camping the old fashion way but they do have an RV/trailer area as well. The camp grounds is quite clean compared to others that I have been to before. The showers and bathroom were well-maintained which is another reason why I love this place. My siblings and I headed to the trails bright and early. We wanted to beat the crowds and hit as many of the different sites as possible. We didn't make it to all of them but will be back soon for some more great adventure. read more

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Great trails, well marked, & wonderful views! If you are looking for a 5 mile loop, I would suggest parking at new visitors center and doing the trail to cedar falls and then take the gorge rim trail back to car. First half will be lower trail with multiple falls and second half is upper trail. Always recommend to go early! Crowds start getting there around 10 or 1030. Most visitors park and just go to falls and don't hike the entire trail in between old mans cave and cedar falls. read more

Hocking Hills State Park - Lower trail - Hiking Near Me - Logan, Ohio

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Hocking Hills exceeded my expectations, completely. My husband and I went camping here last weekend with our dog, and we fell in love with it. I've been camping in many different state parks around the US, and Hocking Hills has one of the nicest, most well-maintained camp grounds I've seen. We reserved our electric hook up campsite weeks in advance (about $30/night), and I'm glad we did because they book up fast. We camp with a tent, but the electric was super convenient because it helped us blow up our air mattress and run a fan when the heat got too unbearable. Most people in the campsites had an RV or trailer, but you can camp with a tent too. Bathrooms and showers have running water and flush toilets, which is a huge plus! The area is absolutely beautiful, and hiking was top notch (up there with some of the most enjoyable hiking I've done before). Many of the trails are pretty easy and well-taken care of, so you don't have to be a pro to get around here. We woke up early and got to Old Man's Cave at 7:30am, before the crowds, and if I can give you one piece of advice it is to do that! It's so much nicer hiking when you're the only ones on the trails, and your pictures will be 100x better in the early morning light. Ash Cave was nice, but Old Man's Cave is the prettiest hiking by far...Make sure you do Old Man's Cave plus the Lower Falls and Upper Falls trails. Can I just move to Hocking Hills? How much does it pay to be a park ranger? I'm thinking of a career change... read more

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If you're an outdoorsy person, Hocking Hills State Park is a definite must-see when visiting the Hocking Hills area! It's very scenic with all of the rock formations, caves, streams, and beautiful waterfalls. My favorite part is Old Man's Cave. Some parts of the hiking trails can be a bit treacherous, especially when wet, so cuidado! Be sure to watch after your kids and pets when here. There's ample parking at the entrances, restrooms, maps, and even souvenir shops for the kiddos! Be one with the beauty that Ohio has to offer, and take a hike at this park! You'll dig it. read more

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Do you love the great outdoors? I do! And I love Hocking Hills. I have been two times hiking, in different regions of the park. Last fall, I hiked the trail that Old Man's Cave is on. WOW. So beautiful. Not to mention, the leaves had just started to change color. The 10 mile hike was full of beauty, serenity and places for my kids to climb and give me anxiety. There were two waterfalls on this hike and the Devil's Bathtub. End of Spring, we ventured out to the trail that leads to the Rock House. Folks had their dogs and kids - enjoying good ole fashion family time. The sights are amazing - it's free - plenty of exercise - beautiful picture opportunities....the list goes on and on. Trails are somewhat challenging - easy enough the kids can follow and hard enough to burn some calories. The bathrooms are clean. Plenty of places for picnics and leisure time between hikes. There are attractions that I have not had the opportunity to partake in yet - such as kayaking, ziplines and camping. Believe you me, just because I haven't doesn't mean I won't. I WILL go kayaking for sure, as a matter of fact I cannot wait to do it. Be sure to check out the Hocking Hills Flea Market when you are in the area too, if you like that sort of thing. It is full of Amish and local farm vendors. read more

Hocking Hills State Park - Rock House - Hiking Near Me - Logan, Ohio

The state park is beautiful with absolutely no entrance fee. I plan on coming back very soon

What a jewel in Ohio! I'm used to hiking mountains so moving to Dayton, Ohio has taken some getting used to in that regard, to say the least. That being said, this park is a great find for it's geological and textural interest. I recommend the section of hiking along the Buckeye trail (marked in blue) on the area's map starting from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave and back. All total it is 10 miles. We were going to do it in one day and it certainly is doable but we got so side-tracked with the sights, stopping quite often to take in the views (I suspect you will too for, afterall, that is the purpose of being here). So, we did the hike from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and back for a total of 5 miles and then hiked the 2nd half (again 5 miles) from Cedar Falls to Ash Cave and back the next day. Know that for each of these 3 sites, you can opt to drive and park at each one. The Ash Cave site even is paved and is wheelchair acessible. The trip from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls is the most scenic overall. We were presented with icesickles and frozen waterfalls on our winter visit. (TIP: It's lovely in winter but I highly recommed microspikes as an investment of about 50 bucks. We had ours and moved right along. Others were struggling for footing where the water had frozen across the path and on steps quite a bit of the way). The caves are what they call recess caves so it's not the dark ones you may be thinking of. Another tip: Once at Cedar Falls, it's unclear where to go to catch the buckeye trail (blue) to Ash Cave. If you're at the bottom at the actual falls, there are all kind of signs for everything except one for Ash Cave. Who knows why. Maybe somebody doesn't like somebody else in charge??? Anyway, go up to the top where the parking lot is and look towards a road blocked with a gate. You should see a trail marker for the blue trail and a sign at the gate for Ash Cave. From here, it's a lackluster walk for aways compared to what you just witnessed but do continue on. You'll first come to a firetower you can climb high up to 80 feet but you can't get to the actual inside of the tower; it's locked. Still a nice view. Keep going and you'll come to another gorge and there suddenly will be Ash Cave, a recess cave with a waterfall. A nice reward for your efforts. There are a couple stairs along the whole way -- most notably the one from Cedar Falls to the parking lot and then the one downwards to Ash Cave and then back up. Not hard by any means but one might get a little winded climbing the steps. Trust me when I say it's all worth it! read more

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Ah, the Hocking Hills. One of those places I go so often I didn't even think to review it. Been going there since I was a kid- family trips, camping trips, car club meets, solitary escapes. One friend said it should be the embassy of Arizona to Ohio, he was so overwhelmed by the unexpected beauty. There are half a dozen parks, each with its own treasures. Winter spring summer or fall, it's worth a visit. My favorites are Cantwell Cliffs and Ash Cave. A bit less visited, but cooler looking, in my opinion. There's a visitor's center at Old Man's Cave which is nice, but that's where everybody goes. I would go back every month if I could. It's so beautiful and peaceful. Well, except Old Man's Cave during the summer... And the roads around them- curvy hilly fun. Enjoy responsibly. Take some time for side trips to Rock Bridge and Conkle's Hollow, which aren't part of the parks but are similar. read more

My boyfriend and I love adventure. So for our anniversary, we rented a cabin and set out for Hocking Hills! It was a little crowded for my taste but that was probably due to the time we went. This Ohio gem was absolutely beautiful. Between the fabulous ins and outs of Old mans cave and the fun acoustics of Ash cave, there was much to do. We spent a whole day just around that area. I'd say you need two or three days just to see everything thoroughly. It's definitely a must to walk the whole length of OMC since there are so many hidden crevasses to explore that may not be on the set path. Everything is perfectly serene (aside from the tourists). I suggest going during the school year early in the day if you want a more private experience. Great for family trips or for a romantic getaway! read more

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Visited Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House for am afternoon hike. The solitude of nature outweighed the weekend crowd. Some paths are not for the casual hiker but there are some sections for beginners. The trails are well marked and well maintained. There are trail maps through out so you dont get lost. One long day will be enough to cover all trails at Cantwell but a weekend will allpw you to see all the trails Hocking Hills has to offer read more

Hocking Hills State Park - Cliffs at Rock House - Hiking Near Me - Logan, Ohio

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Beautiful! There's something for pretty much anyone from flat trails to hiking! No matter where you go, the view is always worth it. The more "hiking" routes are definitely less crowded while places like Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave are going to be packed. Go early and bring food and water with you! And don't forget there's no signal, which is a huge bonus if you really want to disconnect. read more

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Hocking hills is so beautiful no matter what season you choose to visit. We went during early December and it was so misty and beautiful. We had quite an adventure on our visit. We checked the weather and looked good for a hike but.... toward the end of our hike it started to rain then downpour so a lot of the hiking path were flooded(our shoes were thoroughly soaked). The stream water was starting to move very very fast with the crazy amount of rain then the sun decided to set( we didn't know it would set so fast) so it was dark, cold and rainy. It was kinda scary, like a horror film because no one else was around it was just us walking/running back to our car in the miserable weather. It got even worse because it suddenly started to hail!! Those gigantic hail....oh my! Because it hurt so much and we weren't dressed for hail we found temporary shelter under a mini cave but the sky was getting darker but the minute so we had to get outta there. Finally! after enduring all that we made it back to the parking lot, soaked the car, went back to our cabin and had some hot chocolate. Fun times! read more

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I love this place! It's so different from the rest of Ohio and I haven't been to a State park in Ohio that's similar to Hocking at all. We on the Upper Rim trail first from Old man's cave and then went down into the ravine for Cedar Falls and hiked back to Old man's cave. The hike took about ~4 hours for the loop and we DEFINITELY appreciated the snacks we brought. It was beautiful and we had enough time to drive to Ash Cave. There was also the Rock house, but we didn't go to that because we were basically exhausted. TIPS: -Bring extra water and a light lunch. We each brought a refillable water bottle and we both finished the entire thing walking from old man's cave to cedar falls. There is a refill station at cedar falls and picnic tables but the water is brownish, though it tasted okay. -If it had just rained earlier in the week, cedar falls will look great! But the ravine will be very muddy for the hike so bring good hiking shoes. NO SANDLES! (Not kidding, we met a couple and the girl ruined her Converses). -The loop from Old Man's cave to Cedar Falls back to Old Man's cave took us ~4 hours and we're decently in shape (sorta lol), so if you want to hike all the way to Ash cave, it'll be longer. Ravine hiking is pretty hilly but upper rim was much easier and you get to see a lake! read more

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Excellent scenery and easy hikes to walk through. I definitely recommend visiting Old Man's Cave because it is the closest thing to the Grand Canyon that I've ever seen. The water has completely carved out a pathway in the rocks and the parks service added some bridges and pathways to make slippery or impassable areas passable and more safe. Some people were swimming in the water even though there were signs asking people to not do that. Please do not disrespect these guidelines. I saw one man jumping off a seemingly slippery rock into seemingly shallow water and then encouraging his child to do the same. Let's use some COMMON SENSE and be GOOD ROLE MODELS. After seeing these people, we left because it would have been a real nightmare to witness an accident that could have been avoided so easily. I would also recommend Conkles Hollow which was a nice walk in the woods with a 3 mile loop and an alternative 1 mile paved walk (there and back) to a mini waterfall. The wildlife was beautiful and we saw a water snake and several fish in the water. They also have picnic tables and bathrooms with running water in the parking lot. Parking is free for all the Hocking Hills parks that I've visited. read more

Hocking Hills is one of my favorite spots in Ohio. What a place to relax and refresh! The hiking trails are beautiful and easily navagatable (color coded). They also have several different types of trails to suit a diverse set of needs. The sites are beautiful - Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, etc. And in the summer, the butterflies and catapillars are off the chain. This weekend, we camped at the HHSP campgrounds. The service was great at check-in and we got a great camp spot. Our location was right next to a 0.4 mi/trail to Old Man's cave. The best part about it? It's only a 60 minute drive from Columbus. read more

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Always beautiful and a great time! Great place for hiking with the family. Our favorite place to go. Been coming here for 26 years! All four seasons here are beautiful. You wont be disappointed. read more

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This place is simply stunning. My wife and I love nature and have seen many places similar to this but they all pale to the wonderment of this State Park. I believe we did the 2.4 mile loop and I must warn you that there are tons of rough hewn stairs but every step was completely worth the trip. This has been our second time here and it won't be the last. We saw so many waterfalls, rock formations and the like that it was head spinning. Around every bend was something more awe-inspiring. Let me address the 2.4 miles and the stairs. Every step is sturdy and the park takes every precaution to ensure your safety. I don't like heights and was never uncomfortable. Also, there were many people well past their 60's who were enjoying the trails. You can do half mike loops then quit or continue on for a longer stroll. Their were many maps keeping you on course clearly illustrating each loop and marking where you presently are. I guess I'm saying don't pass up this Ohio gem. We took our dog, an eleven pound Havanese, on the hike. He did the whole walk and, covered in dirt (it was wet on the trails,) had a ball. read more

I used to come to Hocking Hills growing up with my family. We would bring our horses and camp out. I always had a great time from what I remember. And going back as an adult was nothing different! We decided to celebrate the beautiful spring/summer weather by packing up the camping/hiking gear and head to this state park. As we pulled into the electric / camper area, we were a bit concerned as most of the spots were pretty uneven, not ideal for tent campers. Luckily, we called ahead and asked for the best tent spots, and their suggestion was amazing! We ended up hiking nearly 14 miles the second day. This was for a couple of reasons: 1- (pro) the sights and natural attractions are stunning. The caves, waterfalls, rock structures, and nature are all something everyone should witness; and 2- (con) everything is so spread out! We didn't want to drive to every attraction, so we visited three main areas on the first day. It was a lot of walking/hiking, but definitely worth it! The biggest downfalls: 1- the welcome/visitor center closes so early, so if you're looking to purchase firewood after you get back from hiking, it may be too late - so plan ahead! 2- the maps aren't the most comprehensive (the paper maps they give you; the ones posted throughout the trails are great!) 3- most of the camping spots are meant for RVs and trailers NOT tents, so be on the lookout for that! 4- everything is spread out, so you may need to drive to a few of the attractions, like we had to do on the way back home on the last day. Overall, an AMAZING state park that lies in the middle of southeast/Central Ohio. A must see! read more

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I LOVE this park! It is breathtakingly beautiful and there is so much to explore here. So many different trails and sites to see! My husband and I stayed at the state Campground in one of the newly remodeled cabins. They are set back in the park and although there are a lot of cabins, they are still secluded. We brought our dog so we stayed in a pet friendly cabin. I honestly could not tell any dog had been there before, aside from.soke scratches. It did not smell like dog and the cabin was very clean. It was also very spacious! Only downside was the beds are terribly hard so it wasn't the best night sleep. The park has so many trials and they were in the process of building a new welcome center when we were there. All the trails had signs along the way that showed where you were and how much further you have to the next point which I loved! It was very easy to navigate. I cannot wait to come back and explore more! read more

One of the most beautiful places ever went for mothers day and loved every minute of the hike so many sights to see . read more

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Beautiful park. Nice trails. Well marked. Very unusual topography and interesting history.

This is one of the best state parks I've been in and it's way better than the state parks in Michigan. The scenery around Hocking Hills is beautiful you need to see all the trails cliffs waterfalls everything you won't be disappointed read more

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Wonderful place. The trails are amazing and we had our dog here today and he loved it. We came across a pit bull that was nit friendly on the trails which was bothersome for many patrons trying to enjoy trails as he was growling. The owners were not holding him tight enough and people were scared with the growl. Other then that it was awesome. It's super intense and felt amazing! Thanks for keeping it so clean and marked so we knew where we are on the trails and needed to go! read more

I think I re-fell in love with the Hocking Hills area down towards Logan, Ohio. The hubby, the dog and I rented a cabin in the HH area a couple of weekends ago. We decided to venture out to one of the local area attractions - hopefully Old Man's Cave or Ash Cave. Old Man's Cave was completely packed with people and their dogs. We decided to go to Ash Cave and was in awe of how gorgeous this place is. Once in the cave, we came across a couple getting married. After we were there for a while and back at our car, another bride came from across the street to have her wedding there too. Beautiful, serene and peaceful area to go visit! Its a must!!! read more

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Hocking Hills is the best place in Ohio to go hiking, period. There are trails for everyone with all types of skills and ability: from those in a wheelchair to those looking to navigate steep stairs and challenging stairs. Note: many people have said it's worth a visit in the winter, the roads are well maintained and the trails are not too difficult to manage in the snow. In addition, when visiting in the fall or dry seasons, the water levels are low and the waterfalls can be non-existent. Don't set yourself up for disappointment. There isn't a ton of food out there so my advice is to pack a lunch and have a picnic somewhere along the way. I have a been a few times, but here are my thoughts on the individual hikes: Old Man's Cave: Definitely the most popular and for good reason, there are many waterfalls and cool natural wonders here. On the weekends this spot can be overloaded with families and dogs as well. During the 'dry' season the waterfalls are more of a trickle. Ash Cave: Very impressive large cabin with a handicap-accessible trail, also includes a more difficult rim trail. Cedar Falls: When I visited it was more of a stream, but a (slightly) more difficult hike than Ash Cave to view the waterfall. Great location for a picnic at the base of the falls as well. Whispering Cave: The most challenging of the main trails in Hocking Hills, this train just opened and is not as crowded as the other trails during prime time. When you get to the cave at the bottom of the trail, you are in a massive cavern that lives up to it's name for whispering potential. A must-do if you are able. Rock House: A shorter hike, this is a pretty cool spot to imagine the Native Americans utilizing these trails back in their time. Cantwell Cliffs: Just as challenging as Whispering Cave in parts. Tons of stairs and climbing, opportunities to go off-trail and mess around if desired. There's a large loop that is pretty, though nothing particularly unusual to see at the end. Conkle's Hollow: This is a nature preserve, so no dogs are allowed. This is the most unique of the trails. It starts handicap-accesible, but once you work your way back into the hollow, the ferns and nature around you suck you into a world that feels out of a fantasy novel. read more

Hocking Hills State Park is a true Ohio state treasure! There is plenty of parking space, so the park does accommodate for a TON of people. Some, not very considerate on the hike and take up too much space when there really isn't too much available when crossing or heading down a path. That aside, the park really is beautiful. There wasn't much of a hike. I noticed all types of people on the trails, and many will bring their dogs. There are plenty of stairs and bridges, so your shoes probably won't pick up any dirt as you walk. The waterfalls are a lot of fun to look at. Gorgeous scenery everywhere. The maps can honestly be confusing, so I would remember the letter where you started at as where you want to eventually end up! It was not too bad driving up and getting at the actual park. The real pain in the butt is getting off the mountain and heading back home. I would bring a separate GPS (not connected to your phone) just for this sole purpose. I did not have any service to get off the mountain, and I was a little annoyed and scared heading back! read more

Hocking Hills State Park - Hiking Near Me - Logan, Ohio

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I've been to Hocking Hills 6 years ago and enjoyed my hike and the surroundings. My boyfriend and I decided to stay the weekend and hike Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls! It was gorgeous then and even more better now. Very clean and beautiful landscapes. The trails are easy to follow but please wear proper shoes. Some spots are moderate and a couple gets difficult as you incline (rocky and some spots are muddy depending on the weather) Definitely a photographers dream and couldn't stop taking pictures. For state parks in Ohio, there is no general admission but they do take donations. Pets are also welcome. Plenty of Picnic areas to enjoy your lunch but however we had a hard time finding a recycling bin or trash can. At the old mans cave entrance, there are restrooms, Visitor center and a ice cream joint. This state park will always be my go to place as a quick weekend outdoor getaway. They recently open a new trail and plan to do that when we return! Love this place so much! read more

Hocking Hills State Park is a non-contiguous state park which is surround by state forest. This park is visited by millions each year according to the park visitor center. I have lived in Jackson Hole Wyoming, so I visited Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone frequently. This state park is a slice of those parks. Hiking down into the ravine between the cliffs remind me of those parks. I just love to sit down there and soak it in. Additionally there are many nature preserves close by: Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve, Rock Ridge nature preserve, Wahkeena State Nature Preserve (I encourage you to go to this small 68 acre park). Clear Creek Metro Park is not far from park. The metro park is the largest in the state of Ohio with 5,300 acres. If you go there it is bare bones amenities, no visitor center. The trails are unimproved. This is for the serious hiker. Hocking Hills State Park is definitely for the family. The region though belongs to the couples. There are hundreds of cabins throughout the area. Everything from quaint cabin modestly priced to luxury cabins over $500-$700 a night. read more

This park is unparalleled in amazing geological formations--waterfalls, forested gorges. It's like a wonderland. Everyone who comes here seems so happy and full of wonder. I stayed at the full hookup campground. Everything works, and a bath house with pool and laundry facilities aren't too far away. It rained most of the time I was there. A 30 minute gap between rain showers allowed me to find a beautiful little trail to Lake Rose. Hocking Hills State Park is a continual wonder. There are three tails leading from the campground to gorgeous places! This is a rarity with state parks. Many campgrounds are isolated from the rest of the park--see my review of Paint Creek State Park. No wonder Hocking Hills SP so sought by campers. That's the downside. The campground is really, really congested. Everyone is really cheek by jowl and multiple "units" and trucks crowd each campsite. It's not terribly quiet. I'm trying to decide whether to ask my neighbors to move their truck closer to their own trailer so it's not a mere five feet from my window. They literally startled me when they pulled in. But you never know what people will be like. And the campground host left yesterday for vacation. read more

Hocking Hills State Park - Beautiful Rose Lake, only 10 minutes from the campground on foot. - Hiking Near Me - Logan, Ohio

Hocking Hills had been on my list of places to visit in the Midwest for a while, and I finally made my way down there recently. It's one of the more unique parks that I've visited, with interesting rock formations and several waterfalls. We walked around 8 miles, and the trails were well-kept and beautiful. Something I wish I had known before making the trip is that it's quite a tourist attraction. The part of the trail close to the Old Man's Cave information area was packed with people, even on a 90-degree day. It felt like an amusement park! I wasn't a fan of the crowd because I like going outdoors to escape all the people and enjoy nature! If you're looking for something a bit more peaceful, just keep going further down the trail. It gets less crowded. Also, be conscious about staying on the trail. We accidentally ventured off the trail a couple times, and a park ranger sternly told us that we could get a misdemeanor for doing so. Overall, visiting Hocking Hills was a nice way to spend the day. And for free too. I just wish it was a little less crowded! read more

The BEST part of Ohio!! These Columbus city slickers crave a little nature, and HH always provides! If you're agile and can stand a little ice and cold, the serenity of Hocking Hills in the winter is perfection! Not to mention, trails are much less crowded than in warmer months and you can actually hear the birds, waterfalls and soft raindrops from melting icicles in the gorge. Our favorites include the Conkle's Hollow rim trail (about 2 hours with some heart pumping, steep terrain in the beginning), Cedar Falls to Old Man's Cave (the 'post card' hike) and Rock House (not for the faint of heart... if you are adverse to heights without protective fences, I might skip this one.) HH is a slice of picture-perfect Appalachia. Get yourself a little a-frame cabin with a hot tub and no WiFi and kiss the rat race good-bye! (At least for the weekend.) read more

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Beautiful place must have taken 25 photos but be warned lots of walking and some dodgy trails mean you have to take that into serious consideration before going. Top tip:MUDDY! Lots of low spots with serious mud! It's was 97 and had not rained in a week and it was bad. One step had to be over two feet tall. Moderate trails leading to waterfalls are tough unless you got hiking boots and are in good condition. My wife is 64 and it was tough on her. I'm a former grunt and it was tough on me! If you have knee hip or foot problems Forget it. A few sites have 'difficult' trails only leading to them. Best of luck! But it's a beautiful place for sure. Just bring a mountain goat. read more

Went to Hocking Hills State Park a few months ago for a getaway weekend. We had such a wonderful time. We hiked on numerous trails and the scenery was beautiful. We were able to get a lot of wonderful pictures. We stayed at a lovely cabin in the woods, and were able to connect with nature all weekend long. We will definitely be back! read more

Amazing, amazing, amazing! You must go! I felt like I was in a tropical rainforest and not in Ohio when I was here. There were incredible sights around every corner but be sure to look up and down too. I went in late June when it was 78 degrees out and sunny but the weather was perfect because it's cooler down in the park (mostly shaded). We also went after a day of heavy rains in the area which made all of the falls even more rushing and grandiose than usual. My friend and I parked at one parking lot and hiked the majority of the park (FitBit said almost 10 miles) and then circled back to the car. It took us about 5 hours with stopping for photo opps and swimming in the falls. There is some incline involved and steps in areas but overall the hike was more of a walk and not too strenuous. For those that aren't looking for such a big workout, there are multiple parking lots you can park at and walk down to this more popular attractions separately. It was very highly trafficked, there weren't too many times when it was quiet and we felt alone...the farther away you get from the parking lots the better luck you have with this. It's damp and muddy - dress accordingly. I'd recommend hiking boots or good tennis shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. Also bring water shoes of some sorts for wading through the shallow strands and falls. Be prepared to carry out your own trash - there are virtually no trash bins in the park. I was super impressed though, I didn't see much trash on the ground at all. Either people are super respectful about not littering and/or someone maintains the park really well. Also, tons of people were walking their dogs and I didn't see any dog poop anywhere - good work people! You don't get any cell service whatsoever so download your maps beforehand and save you battery life for lots of photos! I think the park can be done all in one day depending where you're coming from. If you're making a weekend out of it be sure to check out Millstone BBQ (popular with long wait times) and Hocking Hills Winery. Whatever you do, just make sure you check out this beautiful park! read more

Love Hocking Hills. It's such a hidden gem not too far away from Columbus. I feel like I'm at a getaway vacation hours from home. I love Cedar Falls, Old Man's Cave upper and lower falls, Ash Cave, Conkles Hollow, and the others as well as a few hidden falls and trails I've discovered. Would highly recommend any trails during all four seasons. read more

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Made a reservation for a campsite and when I showed up found that what they considered a campsite was not only not the photo on their reservation site, but a small patch of grass on a 30 degree slant. The only flat site for a tent had their fire pit in the middle of it. When I went to get another site was told that there were none. This left me and my family with nowhere to stay for the night in an area with no cell service to locate accommodations. Drive all the way to Columbus to stay at a holiday in. My family camps constantly and the crappy site aside. Campground looked pretty cramped. Sites are tiny and packed up against each other. Ohio dnr really did their best to pack in as many sites without any care for quality. Literally every other state park or national park I have visited is better. Might as well camp in a parking lot. read more

If you want a quads/gluts workout, this is the park for you! This was my second visit to Hocking Hills, the first being last year for the same Meet Up group's hike. This year, we trekked from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls, then back to OMC. Of course, the waterfalls are gorgeous. The forest scenery is always wonderful. Driving thru the park to get to our designated drop-off point, we saw 4 different deer. Beautiful. A much darker toned fur, as compared to Columbus. My guess: In columbus, they must blend into the corn fields more so than the dense dark forests of southeast Ohio. Corn stalks = "lighter", "oranger" coats. Forest = Dark bark, shaded areas with no light. Just my two sense, anyhow. This years route was much more popular, as opposed to last year's hike from Ash Cave to Cedar Falls. And, no matter where you go in this park, you can expect stairs - lots of stairs - and inclines. Sure, this isn't the Rocky Mountains, but it's got Ohio written all over it! read more

Know before you go: AT&T has _NO_ service in the park so prepare to not use your phone for maps, calls, texts, etc. Have paper copies of both maps and direction sets to save yourself stress. This park is great! Even those who've come from far sexier wilderness landscapes will likely forget they're in the midwest. Waterfalls abound, gravity-defying rock formations are the norm, and it's hard to take a bad picture or not be completely in awe every where you look. You will need to plan on driving to certain of the sights (I took to calling them "wonders" Karl Pilkington-style) because the park is very large. Hocking Hills State Park is nestled into a state forest, multiple nature preserves, and managed land. The park stops and restates too...not just one block of land. The HHSP campground is REALLY nice. Bathrooms looked good, were well stocked with toilet paper, and had roomy shower stalls and changing areas for the ladies. Most of the sites are electric so feel free to bring an extension cord for your electric kettle, toaster oven, lamp, etc. There is no shame in a luxurious tent camping experience! Each camp site is equipped with a concrete parking pad, electric plug-in, fire ring, and picnic table. At night, don't turn your back on your food for a second. We were literally 10 yards from the table when a pack of raccoons made off with our entire bag of marshmallows! We could hear the plastic rattling and them snarling over the sweets in the woods for 45 minutes. I went in after them then decided marshmallows "less than" getting rabies. Camp store at the entrance is nice, selling things that are essential to your survival (lighters, wood, anti-itch cream) as well as some very decent souvenirs and books. PLEASE BUY YOUR WOOD LOCALLY (local to the park)! Help stop the spread of Emerald Ash Borer into this beautiful place. The lodge has some very dated decor but the food in the restaurant is tasty and our server was very nice. Much less hassle to simply have the breakfast or dinner buffet rather than dealing with a fire, dirty dishes, and hunger...especially if you're leaving that day. Most items on the breakfast buffet could've been hotter, but everything looked and tasted very good. The restaurant selections in the area are limited, and the HHSP lodge seems to be as good as or better than your other choices. Lastly, if just staying in a park, hiking to the wonders, and taking photos isn't enough for you, there are many other activities in the area to enjoy such as: Spotted Horse Ranch trail rides Hocking Hills Canopy Tours zip line Golf (like $15 for 18 holes) Putt-putt ($6.50 for 18 holes) Feeding deer & goats Canoeing or kayaking Shop for crafts or antiques Pencil Sharpener Museum (yes.) Swim in HHSP pools Such a fun weekend away from Indianapolis! We are excited to go back sometime soon. read more