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Fall color over the hills, one of the best reasons for things to do in Hocking Hills in October

Hocking Hills guide

Things to do in Hocking Hills, from a family that built a cabin here.

The best things to do in Hocking Hills are the recess caves, waterfalls and hemlock gorges of the state park, all 10 to 22 minutes from Serenity Lodge. Here's where to hike, paddle, eat and spend a rainy day, season by season.

Getting around

Hocking Hills attractions, 10 to 22 minutes away.

Most things to do in Hocking Hills, Ohio sit in a tight loop of state park land, state forest and small towns around Logan. The big ones are inside Hocking Hills State Park or right next to it. Ohio's state parks charge no entrance fee.

Trails open half an hour before sunrise and close half an hour after sunset. October weekends get busy, so start early and save the big-name trails for weekdays.

  1. Serenity Lodge
  2. 10Ash Cave10 min drive
  3. 14Cedar Falls14 min drive
  4. 18Old Man's Cave18 min drive
  5. 18Whispering Cave18 min drive
  6. 19Lake Hope State Park19 min drive
  7. 21Rose Lake21 min drive
  8. 22Conkle's Hollow22 min drive

Hiking

Caves, waterfalls and hemlock gorges.

Hiking is why most people come. The park's gorge trails run a quarter mile to about a mile each, so three or four fit in a day. The best Hocking Hills hikes range from the paved Ash Cave path to the 6-mile trail that links Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave.

Water is the other draw. The waterfalls in Hocking Hills run hardest in spring and after heavy rain, and every named fall can be seen from the trail. Swimming and wading aren't allowed anywhere in the park, so our guide to swimming in Hocking Hills points to the lake beaches instead.

The Hocking Hills caves aren't tunnels. They're recess caves, huge overhangs carved into the sandstone cliffs. Ash Cave, the largest in Ohio, is nearly 700 feet wide and 100 feet high.

Bringing the dog? Leashed dogs (6 feet or shorter) are welcome on the park trails, but not at Conkle's Hollow, a state nature preserve. Our page on Hocking Hills dog friendly cabins covers the cabin side, and Hocking Hills dog friendly trails covers the park.

  • Cave · 10 min from the cabin

    Leashed dogs OK

    Ash Cave

    A horseshoe-shaped recess cave nearly 700 feet wide and 100 feet high, with a seasonal waterfall spilling over the rim. The short gorge trail is flat and paved, so it works for nearly everyone.

    Our tip: Our closest big sight. Go early or late in the day for the quietest visit.

    Full guide: Hocking Hills caves

  • Waterfall · 14 min from the cabin

    Leashed dogs OK

    Cedar Falls

    The biggest waterfall in Hocking Hills by water volume, tucked at the bottom of a hemlock-shaded gorge.

    Our tip: Best after a good rain or in early spring, when the falls run hardest.

    Full guide: Hocking Hills waterfall

  • Gorge · 18 min from the cabin

    Leashed dogs OK

    Old Man's Cave

    The most famous hike in the park: a gorge trail past the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls, named for Richard Rowe, an 18th-century hermit who lived in the cave.

    Our tip: The state park lodge nearby has a restaurant, handy for lunch between hikes.

    Full guide: best Hocking Hills hikes

  • Cave · 18 min from the cabin

    Leashed dogs OK

    Whispering Cave

    A huge recess cave with a ribbon waterfall, opened to the public in 2017. It's said a whisper carries from one end to the other.

    Our tip: Reached by trail from the Old Man's Cave area. Pair the two for a full morning.

    Full guide: Whispering Cave, Hocking Hills

  • Lake · 19 min from the cabin

    Check pet rules

    Lake Hope State Park

    A wooded lake with trails, a beach and paddling. The lodge restaurant is a local favorite.

    Our tip: Sunday brunch at the Lake Hope lodge is worth planning around.

    Full guide: kayaking in Hocking Hills

  • Lake · 21 min from the cabin

    Check pet rules

    Rose Lake

    A quiet fishing lake in Hocking Hills State Park with rainbow trout, bass, bluegill and channel catfish.

    Full guide: Hocking Hills fishing

  • Gorge · 22 min from the cabin

    No pets

    Conkle's Hollow

    A deep, narrow gorge with two very different walks: a level trail along the bottom and a dramatic rim trail along the cliff tops.

    Our tip: Pets aren't allowed here. Leave the dogs at the cabin for this one.

    Full guide: Conkle's Hollow, Hocking Hills

When to go

Hocking Hills through the seasons.

There's no bad season, just different crowds. For color, the best time to visit Hocking Hills is late October. For empty trails and frozen falls, it's January. Late August into September is the quietest stretch of the year.

  • Fall color rolling across the hills of the 97-acre property

    Fall

    Hocking Hills color usually peaks in late October, and the whole property turns red and gold. Our busiest season, so book early.

    More: Hocking Hills fall colors

  • Serenity Lodge dusted in snow

    Winter

    Frozen waterfalls, empty trails and a fire going all day. The park's Winter Hike has been a January tradition since 1967.

    More: Hocking Hills winter

  • Wooden footbridge on a wooded trail

    Spring

    Waterfalls run hardest and wildflowers line the trails. Cedar Falls and Ash Cave are at their best.

    More: waterfalls in Hocking Hills

  • Private pond on the property in summer

    Summer

    Pond days, paddling at Lake Hope and long evenings on the porch. Late August into September is our quietest stretch.

    More: Hocking Hills tubing

On the river and in the trees

Paddling, zip lines and trail rides.

Hocking Hills kayaking happens on the Hocking River, which runs through Logan. Local liveries rent canoes, kayaks and tubes in the warm months, and it's an easy way to see the hills from the water.

For a view from the canopy, several outfitters run zip line courses in the hills around the park. A Hocking Hills zip line tour is a good half-day plan when the trails are crowded.

Hocking Hills horseback riding covers guided rides from local stables, plus 5 miles of bridle trail in the park and more than 30 miles in neighboring Hocking State Forest if you bring your own horse.

The park also has a free 18-hole disc golf course, and our guide to golf courses in Hocking Hills, Ohio covers the rest, from an 18-hole public course near Logan to mini golf for the kids.

Day trips

Trains, back roads and antiques.

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway runs a 12-mile line from Nelsonville toward Logan, and it's run by volunteers as a nonprofit. A Hocking Hills train ride is an easy outing with kids or grandparents.

State Route 374 is the Hocking Hills scenic byway, about 25 miles of winding two-lane road that serves the park's main areas. Drive it once for the views, then use it to hop between trailheads.

Hocking Hills shopping leans toward antique malls, a flea market, glass studios and gift shops in and around Logan, a good backup plan for a rainy afternoon.

Eat and drink

Local favorites near the cabin.

Restaurants in Hocking Hills are mostly casual and small, so plan ahead on fall weekends. These are the places Dana sends guests. For an afternoon tasting, there are wineries in Hocking Hills and a few breweries too.

  • Rock House Restaurant

    At the Lodge at Hocking Hills, near Old Man's Cave. Easy lunch between hikes.

    State park lodge

  • Hocking Hills Winery

    Wine and a relaxed patio after a day on the trails.

    Logan

  • Mama Renie's

    Pizza and breakfast, close to the cabin.

    McArthur

  • Lake Hope State Park Lodge

    Sunday brunch and dinner overlooking the woods.

    Lake Hope

Supplies

Before you settle in

  • McArthur

    Campbell's Market

    Firewood for the fireplace and fire pit (we don't supply it).

  • Logan

    Walmart

    Groceries, drinks and anything you forgot to pack.

  • 23 miles

    Athens

    Bigger groceries, shops and restaurants in the Ohio University town.

With kids

Short trails and rainy-day backups.

Ash Cave's quarter-mile gorge trail is flat and wheelchair accessible, which makes it the easiest start for small legs and strollers. Old Man's Cave adds stone stairs and bridges that kids love, so keep a hand on little ones near the edges.

Beyond the park, things to do in Hocking Hills with kids include mini golf, the scenic railway and gem mining in Hocking Hills, Ohio, where kids sift through buckets of rough for stones to keep.

Planning

Where to stay and what to know.

Hocking Hills places to stay range from the state park lodge and campground to private cabins and hotels in Logan. We run Serenity Lodge, a Hocking Hills cabin with hot tub on 97 private acres, so that's the one we'd pick.

For a first trip, our Hocking Hills weekend getaway plan covers two nights, hour by hour. Comparing listings? Our guide to booking a Hocking Hills Airbnb, a VRBO or direct explains the fees.

To time a trip around an event, the free Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival comes to McArthur each August. For a quieter trip with friends, plan a Hocking Hills yoga retreat of your own.

Cell signal can drop out in the gorges, so download the park map before you go, wear shoes with real grip, and plan to be off the trails by dark.

A perfect park day

Three caves and a waterfall, home by sunset.

If you only have one day, the classic list of Hocking Hills things to do fits between breakfast and dinner.

  1. MorningAsh Cave first, 10 minutes away, before the trail fills up.
  2. Late morningCedar Falls, then on to the Old Man's Cave gorge.
  3. LunchThe restaurant at the Old Man's Cave visitor center.
  4. AfternoonWalk out to Whispering Cave from the same trailhead.
  5. EveningBack to the cabin for the hot tub and the fire pit.

Good to know

Things to do in Hocking Hills: questions.

What is there to do at Hocking Hills?

The main things to do at Hocking Hills are hiking to the recess caves, waterfalls and gorges of Hocking Hills State Park: Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs. Beyond the park there's paddling on the Hocking River, zip lines, horseback riding, a scenic railway, wineries and small-town restaurants.

Does Hocking Hills State Park charge admission?

No, Hocking Hills State Park doesn't charge admission. Ohio's state parks have no entrance fees, so you can hike every trail in the park for free. Trails are open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and the visitor center at Old Man's Cave is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Can you swim at Hocking Hills?

No, you can't swim in Hocking Hills State Park. The park rules say no swimming or wading in any water, including the pools under the waterfalls, and visitors must stay on the marked trails. Every named waterfall can be seen from the trail. Lakes outside the park are a better bet for a summer swim.

What is there to do in Hocking Hills when it rains?

Rain is one of the best times to see the waterfalls, since Cedar Falls and Ash Cave run hardest after a storm. Wear boots with grip, because sandstone steps get slick. Indoors, there's the scenic railway in Nelsonville, local wineries and shops, and plenty of other stuff to do in Hocking Hills until the sun comes back.

Are there things to do in Hocking Hills for adults?

Yes. Things to do in Hocking Hills for adults include longer hikes like the 6-mile trail from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave, wineries and breweries, zip lines, horseback riding, and quiet nights by a fire pit. Most trails are open to all ages, but the longer ones suit adults and older kids best.

Where should we stay to be close to the park?

Stay within 20 minutes of the main trailheads so early starts are easy. Serenity Lodge is 10 minutes from Ash Cave and 18 from Old Man's Cave: a Hocking Hills cabin with hot tub, fire pit and game room on 97 private acres that sleeps 9. We run it, so we're biased, but the location is hard to beat.

Serenity Lodge dusted in snow

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