Best Time to Visit Hocking Hills, Season by Season

The best time to visit Hocking Hills is spring for waterfalls and late October for fall color. For quiet trails, come midweek in late August or September, or in January if you don't mind ice. Every season works, as long as you match the trip to what you want to see.

Here's how the year breaks down, using NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages for Athens, 23 miles from our cabin, plus what we see from hosting year round.

The best time to visit Hocking Hills at a glance

Temperatures are NOAA normals for Athens, Ohio. The gorges run cooler than the ridgetops, so pack a layer in any season.

Spring: the best time to go for waterfalls

Spring is when the waterfalls run hardest. Rain and snowmelt keep the streams full, and wildflowers come up on the gorge floors. Cedar Falls and Ash Cave are at their best.

Average highs climb from 52°F in March to 72°F in May, and nights stay cool. Trails can be muddy, so wear shoes with real grip. Our guide to waterfalls in Hocking Hills covers each fall.

Summer: shade and lakes

Summer highs average about 80°F, but the hemlock gorges stay cooler than the open ridges. It's a good season for long evenings, a Hocking Hills zip line tour, Hocking Hills kayaking at Lake Hope, Hocking Hills swimming at the lake beaches and pond days.

The trade-off is water. June and July are the wettest months on average, at about 4.3 to 4.5 inches of rain each.

Even so, the waterfalls often thin out between rains, and some run dry by late summer. Late August into September is our quietest stretch of the year. Mid-August also brings the free Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival in McArthur.

Fall: color and crowds

Fall color in southern Ohio usually peaks in late October, sometimes into early November, by Ohio DNR's forecasts. It's the most popular time of year, and at our cabin October weekends book first.

Highs drop from 76°F in September to 53°F in November, which makes for good hiking weather. Our guide to the Hocking Hills fall foliage covers peak timing and the best rims for color.

Winter: ice and quiet

Winter is the emptiest season. Average highs sit around 38 to 43°F, with about 6 inches of snow in each of January and February. In a cold snap, the water over the rim at Ash Cave freezes into ice.

Every January, the park hosts the Hocking Hills Winter Hike, a 6-mile walk from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave with bean soup at Cedar Falls. Bring ice cleats, which Ohio DNR recommends for the icy trails.

When to avoid the crowds

The calendar matters less than the day of the week. A few rules of thumb:

• Go midweek. Weekends in October are the busiest of the year.
• Start at opening. Trails open half an hour before sunrise.
• Begin somewhere other than Old Man's Cave, the most popular spot in the region.
• For the quietest weeks, try late August into September, or January on a weekday.

Our pick

If you can pick only one best time to visit Hocking Hills, make it a weekday in late April or early May. The falls are still running, the woods are green, and the fall crowds are months away.

For color, come the last week of October and book early. Our page on Hocking Hills cabin prices shows how rates change by season, and our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills covers what to do once you're here.

Best time to visit Hocking Hills FAQs

What is the best time to go to Hocking Hills?

The best time to go to Hocking Hills is spring for waterfalls and late October for fall color. Spring brings the fullest falls and wildflowers, while late October brings peak color and the biggest crowds. For quiet trails, try a weekday in late August, September or January.

What month is best for Hocking Hills waterfalls?

The best months for Hocking Hills waterfalls are in spring, roughly March through May, when rain and snowmelt keep the streams full. A heavy rain any time of year brings them back for a day or two. By late summer, many falls thin out, and some, like those at Cantwell Cliffs, can run dry.

When is Hocking Hills least crowded?

Hocking Hills is least crowded on weekdays outside of October. At our cabin, late August into September is the quietest stretch, and January is quiet apart from the Winter Hike. On any day, start when the trails open, half an hour before sunrise, for the calmest walk.

Is Hocking Hills worth visiting in summer?

Hocking Hills is worth visiting in summer if you want shade, lakes and long evenings. The hemlock gorges stay cooler than the ridges, and Lake Hope is good for paddling. Waterfalls thin out between storms, so do the falls early in the trip or the morning after rain.

How cold is Hocking Hills in winter?

Hocking Hills in winter averages highs of about 38 to 43°F and lows of 22 to 27°F, based on NOAA normals for nearby Athens. January and February each average about 6 inches of snow. The trails are often icy, so Ohio DNR recommends ice cleats and warm layers.