Hocking Hills Winter: Frozen Falls, Quiet Trails

A Hocking Hills winter means frozen waterfalls, quiet trails and the Winter Hike every January. It's the park's emptiest season and, in a cold snap, its most dramatic, which makes it a contender for the best time to visit Hocking Hills. Bring ice cleats: Ohio DNR says the trails are typically icy, and on the worst days the park can close.

At the cabin, winter is fireplace season. The great room has a wood-burning stone fireplace, so stop for firewood at Campbell's Market in McArthur on the way in, since we don't supply it.

The Hocking Hills Winter Hike

The Hocking Hills Winter Hike is a 6-mile walk from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave, held every January since 1967. Here's how the 60th hike ran in 2026, per Ohio DNR.

The 2027 date hadn't been announced as of late October 2026. Ohio DNR announced the 2026 hike on December 29, 2025, so watch its news page in late December.

Parking at the visitor center is limited on hike day. In 2026 the overflow lot was at Hocking Hills Elementary School, and Ohio DNR asked hikers to carpool.

The hike started with Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail alone. She began leading a January hike here in 1967, and by 2013 more than 4,000 people turned out.

Frozen waterfalls

In a cold snap, the waterfalls freeze. Ash Cave is the surest bet: Ohio DNR says the water spilling over its rim often freezes in winter into a natural ice sculpture. The paved quarter-mile trail makes it the easiest winter walk in the park, too.

The ice depends on a run of hard freezes, so it comes and goes. Our guide to waterfalls in Hocking Hills has the rest of the falls and when they run.

What a Hocking Hills, Ohio winter is like

Plan any winter Hocking Hills trip around the weather. Some winters bring snow and some don't, but you can count on ice: Ohio DNR says the trails are typically icy in winter and recommends warm layers and footwear with ice cleats.

When conditions get dangerous, the park closes. In February 2022, Ohio DNR closed Hocking Hills State Park until further notice for unsafe trail conditions and asked visitors not to enter for any reason.

Days are short, too. Trails close half an hour after sunset, so start early and be off the trail before dark.

Best hikes in Hocking Hills in winter

Hocking Hills in winter rewards short, well-built trails:

• Ash Cave: paved, flat and a quarter mile, with the best chance of an ice column.
• Old Man's Cave: a mile of stone stairs and bridges, so take the icy steps slowly.
• Cedar Falls: a mile through hemlocks, which stay green all winter.

Skip the cliff-edge walks when there's ice. That means the Conkle's Hollow rim and Cantwell Cliffs, both rated difficult. Our ranking of the best Hocking Hills hikes has the full list.

A Hocking Hills Christmas

For a Hocking Hills Christmas trip, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway runs Santa Trains from Nelsonville. In 2026 they run from November 28 to December 20, a roughly 2-hour round trip to East Logan in heated, decorated coaches, and the railway warns they often sell out.

The railway has also run a New Year's Eve train with fireworks, and our Hocking Hills train ride guide has the rest of its schedule. Book early either way.

Stargazing on long winter nights

Winter nights are long, and the Hocking Hills are dark. The John Glenn Astronomy Park, a dark-sky site run by the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, holds evening programs on clear nights. Check its schedule before you go, since some programs need a parking pass, and dress warmer than you think you need to.

Our pick for a winter weekend

For the best Hocking Hills winter weekend, come for the Winter Hike in January, or watch the forecast and come after a week of hard freezes for ice at Ash Cave. Walk in the morning, then spend the afternoon by the fire.

On a sleety day, the lower level of our cabin has a pool table and ping pong, which our page on Hocking Hills cabins with game room shows. For the rest of the year, see our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills.

Hocking Hills winter FAQs

When is the Hocking Hills Winter Hike?

The Hocking Hills Winter Hike is held each January. The 60th hike was Saturday, January 17, 2026, with a rolling start from 9 to 11 a.m. at Old Man's Cave and a 6-mile route to Ash Cave. The 2027 date hadn't been announced as of late October 2026, so check Ohio DNR's news page in late December.

Is Hocking Hills worth visiting in winter?

Hocking Hills is worth visiting in winter if you like quiet trails and don't mind the cold. It's the emptiest season, and in a cold snap the falls at Ash Cave freeze into ice. The tradeoff is icy footing, short days and the chance of a closure, so bring ice cleats and stay flexible.

Are the trails open in winter at Hocking Hills?

The trails at Hocking Hills are open in winter, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and admission is free. Ohio DNR can close the park when conditions are unsafe, as it did in February 2022. Check the park's page or social posts before you drive over on an icy morning.

What should I wear for Hocking Hills in the winter?

For Hocking Hills in the winter, wear warm layers and boots with real grip, and add ice cleats, which Ohio DNR recommends. The sandstone stairs and gorge floors ice over even when roads are clear. Bring a hat and gloves, plus a dry layer in the car for the drive back.

Can you see frozen waterfalls in Hocking Hills?

You can see frozen waterfalls in Hocking Hills after a stretch of hard freezes. Ash Cave is the best bet: Ohio DNR says the water over its rim often freezes into an ice sculpture. The ice comes and goes with the weather, so watch the forecast and go after several days below freezing.