Hocking Hills doesn’t look like the rest of Ohio. You drive through ordinary farmland, park the car, walk a few minutes into the woods, and suddenly you’re standing under a sandstone overhang the size of a stadium, or watching a waterfall spill into a gorge lined with hemlock trees and ferns. It feels more like the mountains of North Carolina than the Midwest.
The best part is how easy it is. Most of the famous hikes are under a mile and a half, many are free of big climbs, and you can see four or five highlights in a single day. But they aren’t all the same. Some are paved and wheelchair friendly. Others are rocky, steep and full of stairs. And many are one-way only, which surprises a lot of first-time visitors.
This guide compares the best hikes in Hocking Hills State Park, plus nearby Conkle’s Hollow, so you can pick the right trails for your group. You’ll find distances, difficulty, what you’ll see on each trail, the best waterfalls, easy hikes, dog rules, the best time to visit, and simple one- and two-day plans.
Cover photo: Upper Falls and the stone bridge at Old Man’s Cave. Photo: Vanessa Wilhelm / Pexels
What Are the Best Hikes in Hocking Hills?
The best hikes in Hocking Hills State Park are Old Man’s Cave (the best overall), Ash Cave (the best easy hike), Cedar Falls (the best waterfall), Rock House (the only true cave), Cantwell Cliffs (the most rugged) and Whispering Cave (the best longer hike). Just outside the park, Conkle’s Hollow has the deepest gorge and the best cliff-top views in the area. The park is free, and most trails are open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
Hocking Hills Hikes at a Glance
| Hike | Distance | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Old Man’s Cave | About 1 mile | Moderate | First visit, waterfalls |
| 2. Ash Cave Gorge | 1/4 mile each way (paved) | Easy | Families, wheelchairs, strollers |
| 3. Cedar Falls | About 1 mile | Moderate | The biggest waterfall |
| 4. Rock House | About 1 mile | Moderate | A real cave with rock “windows” |
| 5. Cantwell Cliffs | About 2 miles | Difficult | Rugged trails, fewer crowds |
| 6. Whispering Cave | About 4.5 miles | Difficult | A longer hike, 105-foot seasonal waterfall |
| 7. Ash Cave Rim | About 1/4 mile (loop about 0.6 mile with the gorge) | Moderate | A view from above Ash Cave |
| 8. Grandma Gatewood Trail | About 6 miles one way | Difficult | Linking the big sights on foot |
| 9. Conkle’s Hollow Gorge* | About 1 mile round trip | Easy | A quiet walk between 200-foot cliffs |
| 10. Conkle’s Hollow Rim* | About 2.5-mile loop | Difficult | The best cliff-top views |
*Conkle’s Hollow is a State Nature Preserve right next to the park, run separately, with its own rules (no dogs). Distances for the park trails come from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Which hike is right for you?
| If you want… | Go to |
|---|---|
| The classic first visit | Old Man’s Cave |
| An easy, flat walk | Ash Cave Gorge |
| A big waterfall | Cedar Falls |
| A real cave | Rock House |
| A tough, rocky hike | Cantwell Cliffs |
| Half a day on the trail | Whispering Cave |
| Views from the top of the cliffs | Conkle’s Hollow Rim |
| A peaceful, wheelchair-friendly gorge | Conkle’s Hollow Gorge (first half) |
Before You Go: How Hocking Hills Works
Hocking Hills State Park isn’t one big park with one entrance. It’s six separate hiking areas spread over the hills of southeastern Ohio, each with its own parking lot: Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs and Conkle’s Hollow (the nature preserve). You’ll drive between most of them, usually 10 to 25 minutes apart on winding back roads.
- It’s free. There’s no entrance fee, and parking at all trailheads is free.
- Hours: trails are open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, all year.
- Many trails are one-way. Follow the arrows. Don’t walk against the flow or turn back on one-way sections, especially on narrow stairs.
- Stay on marked trails. The cliffs are high and the sandstone crumbles. People are hurt here every year after leaving the trail.
- No swimming or wading in the waterfalls, pools or creeks.
- No climbing or rappelling in the state park. It’s allowed only in designated areas of the neighboring Hocking State Forest.
Getting there: The park is about an hour southeast of Columbus via US-33, about 15 to 20 minutes from Logan, roughly 2.5 hours from Cincinnati and about 3 hours from Cleveland. The main visitor center is at the Old Man’s Cave parking lot on State Route 664, south of Logan.
1. Old Man’s Cave: Best Overall Hike
Distance: about 1 mile · Difficulty: moderate · Time: about 1 hour · Route: one-way loop · Dogs: allowed on a leash, but not recommended in the busy gorge
If you only do one hike in Hocking Hills, make it this one. In about a mile, you get two waterfalls, a stone tunnel, a natural swirling pool, a sphinx-shaped rock and a huge recess cave, all in a deep, shady gorge.
The one-way loop starts near the visitor center. You head down stone steps to Upper Falls, where water drops beneath a stone bridge into a dark pool. The trail then follows the creek through the gorge, past the Devil’s Bathtub, a round pocket in the rock where the water spins like a drain. Keep going under the cliffs to Old Man’s Cave itself, a giant overhang in the cliff wall. It’s named after Richard Rowe, a hermit who is said to have lived here with his dogs in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Look for the rock formation called the Sphinx Head along the way. Continue to Lower Falls if you have time, then climb the steps back up to the visitor center.
How hard is it? The gorge floor is easy, but there are lots of uneven stone steps going down and coming back up, and they’re often wet. Take it slow. A separate, accessible path leads from near the park office to an overlook above Upper Falls, so visitors who can’t manage stairs can still see the falls.
Tip: Old Man’s Cave is the busiest spot in the park. Arrive before 9 a.m. or come on a weekday. Late morning and afternoon on weekends, the trail can feel like a line at an amusement park.
2. Ash Cave Gorge: Best Easy Hike
Distance: 1/4 mile each way on the paved gorge trail · Difficulty: easy · Time: 30 to 45 minutes · Accessible: yes, wheelchairs and strollers
Ash Cave is the jaw-dropper of Hocking Hills, and it’s the easiest hike in the park. A flat, paved path follows a shady creek through hemlocks for about a quarter mile, then opens up into a gigantic horseshoe-shaped overhang. It’s about 700 feet wide and 90 feet tall, the largest recess cave in Ohio. When there’s been rain, a thin waterfall drops off the rim into a small pool at the front.
The name comes from huge piles of ash that early settlers found on the cave floor, believed to be left from centuries of campfires by Native Americans. The cave is so big and the sound so good that it’s sometimes used for weddings and events.
Because the paved trail goes all the way to the cave, this is the best choice for wheelchairs, strollers, young kids, older visitors and anyone short on time. The waterfall is best in winter, spring and after heavy rain. In a dry summer, it can slow to a drip, but the cave is still worth the walk.
3. Cedar Falls: Best Waterfall Hike
Distance: about 1 mile · Difficulty: moderate · Time: 45 to 75 minutes · Route: loop with stairs
Cedar Falls carries the most water of any waterfall in Hocking Hills, and after a good rain it’s loud and powerful. The water pours over a wide sandstone ledge into a rocky pool, framed by moss, boulders and tall hemlocks. Fun fact: early settlers named it Cedar Falls because they mistook the hemlock trees for cedars.
From the parking lot, you walk down a long set of stone and wooden stairs into the gorge along Queer Creek, past big boulders and moss-covered rock. The falls are at the bottom. You’ll have to climb back out, so save some energy. The climb is the hardest part.
Cedar Falls is also one end of the most popular stretch of the Grandma Gatewood Trail. Old Man’s Cave is about 3 miles away along the creek (see hike #8).
Photo tip: Go on a cloudy day or early morning to avoid harsh light and bright spots on the water. In winter, the falls can freeze into huge columns of ice. It’s beautiful, but the stairs get very icy, so wear traction cleats.
4. Rock House: Best Cave
Distance: about 1 mile · Difficulty: moderate · Time: 45 to 60 minutes · Route: one-way loop with steep steps
Every other “cave” in Hocking Hills is really a giant overhang. Rock House is the only true cave in the park: a long tunnel-like room inside a sandstone cliff, roughly 200 feet long and 25 feet tall. Along one side, big Gothic-looking openings act like windows, letting in light and framing the forest outside.
Rock House has a colorful past. It was used as a shelter by Native Americans, and local legends say it later became a hideout for robbers, horse thieves and bootleggers. You can still see small carved holes in the rock that were once used as ovens or for storing water.
The trail drops down steep, rocky steps from the parking lot, passes along the cliff base into the cave, and climbs back out. Inside, the floor can be damp and uneven, so watch your step and don’t climb onto the window ledges. Rock House sits on its own, north of the other areas on State Route 374, so it’s usually a little quieter.
5. Cantwell Cliffs: Best Challenging Hike
Distance: about 2 miles · Difficulty: difficult · Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Cantwell Cliffs is the most remote and rugged area of the park, about 25 minutes north of Old Man’s Cave. That distance keeps the crowds away, and many hikers say it’s their favorite spot in Hocking Hills.
The trail drops into a deep valley surrounded by sandstone cliffs about 150 feet tall, with a big recess cave, a seasonal waterfall and huge slump blocks of rock that have broken off the cliffs. One section squeezes through a narrow gap between the rocks, known as Fat Woman’s Squeeze. Expect steep, narrow stone steps, roots, rocks and a real workout on the climb back out.
Skip it if you’re nervous on steep steps, have small children or are visiting in icy conditions. The stairs are among the most dangerous in the park when wet or frozen.
6. Whispering Cave and Hemlock Bridge: Best Longer Hike
Distance: about 4.5 miles · Difficulty: difficult · Time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours · Start: Old Man’s Cave visitor center area
If you have half a day and want more than a quick loop, this is the hike. The route leaves the Old Man’s Cave area and follows the forest and creek to Hemlock Bridge, a long wooden footbridge in a shady hemlock gorge. Then it climbs to Whispering Cave, a huge, curved recess cave named for the way sound carries inside it. In wet seasons, a waterfall about 105 feet tall drops from its rim. It’s one of the tallest in the park.
The trail has long stretches of stairs, rocky sections and some steep climbs, so it’s more tiring than the distance suggests. It’s also much quieter than Old Man’s Cave. Check the trail signs at the start, since parts of the route are one-way.
7. Ash Cave Rim Trail: Best Short Add-On
Distance: about 1/4 mile for the rim section; the full gorge-and-rim loop is about 0.6 mile · Difficulty: moderate · Time: about 40 minutes for the loop
Most people walk into Ash Cave and back out the same way. But at the cave, steep wooden steps lead up to the rim trail, which loops back to the parking lot through the woods along the top of the cliff. You get a completely different view of the gorge and a look down at the waterfall’s edge. It makes the visit feel like a real hike instead of a stroll.
The steps and rim path are not accessible, so wheelchair and stroller users should return on the paved gorge trail. At the top of the steps, turning left instead of right takes you onto the long trail toward Cedar Falls, about 2.3 miles away.
8. Grandma Gatewood Trail: Best Long Hike
Distance: about 6 miles one way, from Old Man’s Cave to Ash Cave · Difficulty: difficult · Time: 3 to 4 hours one way
This trail connects the three most famous areas, Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave, on foot. It’s part of both the Buckeye Trail, which loops around the whole state, and the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. It’s named after Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, a local who became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, in 1955, at age 67, wearing canvas sneakers.
- Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls: about 3 miles, mostly following the creek through the gorge. This is the most popular section and the prettiest.
- Cedar Falls to Ash Cave: about 2.5 to 3 miles, through quieter forest along the ridges.
It’s a one-way trail, not a loop, so plan your ride back before you start. Some groups leave a second car at the end. Bring water and snacks, since there are no stores along the way.
The famous Winter Hike: Every January, thousands of people join the park’s annual Winter Hike along part of this route, a tradition Grandma Gatewood started in 1967. It’s a fun, social way to see the frozen waterfalls. Check the park’s events calendar for the date.
9. Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail: Best Quiet Walk
Distance: about 1 mile round trip · Difficulty: easy · Time: 30 to 60 minutes · Accessible: the first half is paved · Dogs: not allowed
Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve sits just a few minutes from Old Man’s Cave, and it’s one of the deepest gorges in Ohio. Its cliffs rise about 200 feet straight up on both sides of a narrow valley. The gorge trail follows the valley floor, with the first part paved and wheelchair accessible. It’s cool, shady and green, with ferns, mosses and wildflowers in spring. At the end, a small seasonal waterfall trickles down the rock.
Because it’s a nature preserve, the rules are stricter: no pets at all, no picnicking on the trails, and stay on the path. It’s usually much quieter than the state park areas.
10. Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail: Best Views
Distance: about 2.5-mile loop · Difficulty: difficult · Time: 1.5 to 2 hours · Dogs: not allowed
Hocking Hills is mostly about gorges, not big views. The exception is the Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail. After a steep climb with lots of steps, the trail follows the very edge of the cliffs all the way around the gorge, with views down into the hollow and out over the forested hills. In mid to late October, when the leaves turn, it’s one of the most beautiful walks in Ohio.
Be careful: the trail runs right along unfenced cliff edges, some 200 feet high. Keep kids close, stay on the path, and skip it in ice, heavy rain or strong wind. It’s not a good choice if you’re afraid of heights.
Best Waterfalls in Hocking Hills
| Waterfall | Where | Why it’s special |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Falls | Cedar Falls area | The most water of any falls in the park |
| Upper Falls | Old Man’s Cave | The classic photo, with a stone bridge |
| Lower Falls | Old Man’s Cave | A wide pool below layered sandstone |
| Ash Cave Falls | Ash Cave | Drops 90 feet off the rim of a giant cave (seasonal) |
| Whispering Cave Falls | Whispering Cave | About 105 feet tall (seasonal) |
| Broken Rock Falls | Off the Old Man’s Cave area | A quieter fall on a side trail |
When are the waterfalls best? Late winter and spring, and a day or two after heavy rain. In a dry late summer, some falls, especially Ash Cave and Whispering Cave, can shrink to a trickle. In a cold winter, they freeze into huge ice sculptures.
Best Easy Hikes in Hocking Hills
| Easy option | Why choose it | Wheelchair/stroller? |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Cave Gorge | Flat, paved, short, and ends at the biggest cave in Ohio | Yes |
| Conkle’s Hollow Gorge | Quiet valley between towering cliffs | First half is paved |
| Upper Falls overlook (Old Man’s Cave) | A view of Upper Falls without the gorge stairs | Yes, via the accessible path |
Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Rock House are short, but they all have lots of steps, so they’re better described as moderate than easy. New to hiking? Our hiking for beginners guide covers what to wear and bring.
Can You Bring Dogs to Hocking Hills?
Yes, at the state park, but not at Conkle’s Hollow. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed on the state park trails, including Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs. Keep them on a short leash, since the stairs are narrow and crowded. Some trails, like the Old Man’s Cave gorge, are allowed but not recommended for dogs because of steep, slippery steps and heavy crowds. Pets are not allowed anywhere in Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve.
Best Time to Visit Hocking Hills
| Season | What it’s like | Our take |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March–May) | Strongest waterfalls, fresh green leaves, wildflowers. Trails can be muddy. | Best for waterfalls |
| Summer (June–August) | Lush and shady, cool in the gorges. Busy weekends; some falls get low. | Go early, on weekdays |
| Fall (September–November) | Peak color usually mid to late October. Very busy on weekends. | The most beautiful, and the most crowded |
| Winter (December–February) | Frozen waterfalls, ice-covered cliffs, few people. Icy stairs. | Magical, with traction cleats |
Crowds: Hocking Hills draws millions of visitors a year, and parking at Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave fills up on fall and summer weekends. Arrive at sunrise, visit on a weekday, or start with the quieter areas (Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House) and save Old Man’s Cave for late afternoon.
After heavy rain: the waterfalls are amazing, but the stairs, rocks and bridges get very slippery, and the park sometimes closes gorge trails temporarily after floods. If big storms just passed, call the park office at (740) 385-6842 or check ODNR alerts before you go.
Hiking Hocking Hills in winter
Winter is the secret season here. The waterfalls freeze into giant icicles, snow outlines the cliffs, and you’ll often have trails nearly to yourself. But stone stairs and bridges become sheets of ice. Wear boots with good grip and slip-on traction cleats, take it slowly, and avoid the steepest trails, like Cantwell Cliffs and Conkle’s Hollow Rim, in icy weather.
Safety Tips
- Stay on the trail and away from cliff edges. The sandstone is soft and can crumble under your feet. Falls from the cliffs are the biggest danger in the park.
- Wear shoes with real grip. Wet sandstone and moss are slippery even in summer.
- Follow the one-way signs. They keep traffic moving safely on narrow stairs.
- Keep kids close, especially near the gorge rims and on Conkle’s Hollow Rim.
- Don’t climb on the waterfalls or wade into pools. It’s against the rules and very dangerous.
- Leave before dark. Trails close a half hour after sunset, and the gorges get dark early.
What to Bring
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Hiking shoes with good grip | Wet sandstone, roots and stone steps |
| Water and snacks | There are no stores at the trailheads |
| Light jacket | The gorges are cooler than the parking lots |
| Rain jacket | Spring and summer showers, waterfall spray |
| Traction cleats (winter) | For icy stairs and bridges |
| Offline map | Cell service is patchy in the gorges |
| Trekking poles | Help on long stairways and the Gatewood Trail |
| Small first-aid kit | For blisters and scrapes |
Our picks for the best budget trekking poles for beginners and best waterproof hiking jacket work well here, especially in spring and fall.
Best Photo Spots
- Upper Falls at Old Man’s Cave: shoot the waterfall framed by the stone bridge. It’s the most famous photo in the park.
- Ash Cave: stand far back and include people for scale. Use your phone’s wide-angle lens.
- Cedar Falls: get low near the pool, with mossy boulders in the foreground.
- Rock House: shoot through the “windows” toward the bright forest outside.
- Conkle’s Hollow Rim: the best spot in the area for fall color from above.
Cloudy days are best for waterfalls, since soft light keeps the water from looking washed out. Early morning beats the crowds, too.
Hocking Hills Hiking Itineraries
One day: the big three
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Old Man’s Cave before the crowds (Upper Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, Lower Falls) |
| 9:45 a.m. | Visitor center: exhibits, restrooms, trail maps |
| 10:30 a.m. | Drive to Cedar Falls (about 10 minutes) and hike down to the falls |
| 12:00 p.m. | Picnic lunch at a trailhead shelter, or lunch at the park lodge |
| 1:30 p.m. | Ash Cave: walk the gorge trail, return on the rim |
| 3:00 p.m. | Conkle’s Hollow Gorge, or Rock House if you still have energy |
Fit hikers: swap the driving for the Grandma Gatewood Trail. Walk from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls (about 3 miles), then on to Ash Cave, with a car waiting at the end.
Two days
- Day 1, waterfalls and caves: Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave, as above. Evening at your cabin, or stargazing at John Glenn Astronomy Park.
- Day 2, cliffs and caves: start early at Cantwell Cliffs, then Rock House, and finish with the Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail (or the easy Gorge Trail if your legs are tired).
Other Things to Do in Hocking Hills
- Visitor center: at the Old Man’s Cave parking lot, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (hours can change by season), with exhibits, live raptors, a gift shop and restrooms.
- John Glenn Astronomy Park: a free dark-sky park inside the state park, with public programs on clear Friday and Saturday nights from spring to late fall. It’s the only part of the park open at night.
- Rose Lake: a small, quiet lake for fishing and paddling, reached by a half-mile trail.
- Hocking State Forest: next door, with rock climbing and rappelling areas, bridle trails and quieter hikes.
- Ziplines, canoeing and kayaking on the Hocking River: run by private outfitters around Logan.
- Scenic drives: the roads between the hiking areas, especially State Routes 374, 664 and 56, are gorgeous in October.
Where to Stay Near Hocking Hills State Park
- Hocking Hills State Park Lodge: a new lodge inside the park, opened in 2022 after the original burned down. It has 81 rooms, a restaurant, and indoor and outdoor pools, just minutes from Old Man’s Cave. The park also has rental cabins. Book through the park’s lodge website.
- Private cabins: the area is famous for them, from tiny cabins in the woods to big lodges with hot tubs and fire pits. Book early for October and holiday weekends.
- State park campground: full-hookup, electric and non-electric sites, camping cabins and hike-in tent sites. Reservations are required (up to 6 months ahead) through ReserveOhio.
- Logan: the nearest town, about 15 to 20 minutes away, with hotels, restaurants, groceries and gas.
How Hocking Hills Was Formed
About 350 million years ago, this area was the edge of a shallow sea, where rivers dumped thick layers of sand that hardened into what’s now called Black Hand Sandstone. The rock has three layers: hard on top and bottom, and much softer in the middle. Over thousands of years, water and frost wore away the soft middle layer faster than the rest. That’s what created the huge overhangs at Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave and Whispering Cave, with hard rock “roofs” over hollowed-out caves.
The deep, cool gorges also let plants survive here that normally grow much farther north, like eastern hemlock, Canada yew and birch, leftovers from the last Ice Age. That’s why the park feels so different from the farmland around it.
Hocking Hills Hiking FAQs
What is the best hike in Hocking Hills State Park?
Old Man’s Cave is the best overall, with two waterfalls, a tunnel, the Devil’s Bathtub and a huge recess cave in about a mile.
What is the easiest hike in Hocking Hills?
The Ash Cave Gorge Trail. It’s a flat, paved quarter mile to a giant cave, and it’s wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Which Hocking Hills trail has the best waterfall?
Cedar Falls carries the most water. Upper Falls at Old Man’s Cave is the most photographed.
Is Hocking Hills State Park free?
Yes. There’s no entrance fee, and parking at all the trailheads is free.
How many days do you need in Hocking Hills?
One full day covers Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave. Two days lets you add Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs and Conkle’s Hollow without rushing.
Are Hocking Hills trails one-way?
Many are, including Old Man’s Cave and Rock House. Follow the posted arrows and don’t walk against the flow.
Can you hike from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls?
Yes. The Grandma Gatewood Trail links them in about 3 miles one way, and continues about 2.5 to 3 more miles to Ash Cave.
Are dogs allowed at Hocking Hills?
Leashed dogs are allowed on the state park trails, but not at Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve.
Can you swim at Hocking Hills waterfalls?
No. Swimming and wading are not allowed in any of the waterfalls, pools or creeks.
When are the Hocking Hills trails open?
Every day of the year, from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.
What is the best month to visit Hocking Hills?
April and May for waterfalls, October for fall color, and January or February for frozen waterfalls and fewer people.
Final Thoughts
Hocking Hills proves you don’t need mountains for an unforgettable hike. In a day or two, you can walk into Ohio’s biggest cave, stand next to a roaring waterfall, crawl through a sandstone tunnel and look down from a 200-foot cliff.
Start with Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. Come back for Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs and Conkle’s Hollow. Arrive early, wear shoes with grip, follow the one-way arrows, and give yourself time to slow down. The best moments here are often the quiet ones between the famous spots.