Hocking Hills State Park

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…

Beautiful scenery, wonderful walking paths, clean are… truly amazing natural rock formatiom, stream, waterfalls… just a perfect way to spend a day outdoors

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.

Camped here for the first time this past weekend and had a wonderful time. We arrived around 8:30 on Friday evening so there wasn’t a whole lot of day light left but finding the site was super easy and we were able to get set up quickly with what daylight was still lingering. The bath house was very clean and a lot nicer than many other bath houses we have seen. The folks in the welcome center were friendly and helpful. Plus the hiking was great. We didn’t have to leave our site all weekend, it was great! Can’t wait to get back to the Hills some more this year! Great weather, great company, great scenery!

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!

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!

Hocking Hills is a sprawling humongous state park south of Columbus. There’s a ton of things to do if you’re a fitness buff: kayaking, hiking, camping; and all sorts of fun outdoorsy activities.
If you hate roughing it, there’s cabin lodges for rent, several in the area; with wifi, and all the modern amenities a glamper would love.
If you’re not into the fitness thing, this park is great for photography.
My only annoyance: get ready for massive traffic jams on the way here during peak days.

There’s so much walking but when you get to the waterfalls it is so worth it. They are so pretty. I didn’t get to see everything so I’m hoping to go back.

Amazing! Loved hiking here! (Early October)
The trails were great, some truly challenging! Take water and some snacks. We hiked 8 – 10 miles one day, and explored some caves. Fabulous place, well worth the four hour drive to get there.
We heard that March and April are better months to hike, as the waterfalls are more full and beautiful.

I had the pleasure of visiting Hocking Hills State Park twice this summer. I really enjoyed the beautiful trails and Old Man’s Cave. I stayed in a cabin for one of the trips and tent camped on the other. Both the campgrounds and the cabin were well kept.
This is a great getaway for couples, friends and family.
There was so much to see!

There’s not much else I can say here that hasn’t already been said. It’s a nice little retreat from the city with some excellent hiking. I went with a group of friends recently but have been here many, many times growing up from camping to cabin trips.
This last time we hiked Old Man’s Cave and Conkle’s Hollow. Old Man’s Cave is PACKED sometimes so beware. If you’re looking for a longer hike that is a little tougher, try the Conkle’s Hollow rim trail that goes all the way around the gorge. It’s beautiful and there are fewer people.
I’d like to go back in the winter to see the difference in landscape from the summer. Also, I have not been for the fall but hope to do that some time soon as well. I hear the leaves are spectacular.

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!

It’s about time I finally wrote a review for Hocking Hills! This is one of my favorite outdoor places in Ohio — it is especially beautiful in the fall when all the leaves are changing color, but I would visit Hocking Hills any time of the year. I love it when it has just rained, and the creeks and waterfalls are all flowing — sometimes during dry seasons, there waterfalls and such are not as impressive. Although I have not visited Hocking Hills in the winter, I heard that several of the falls freeze over into beautiful formations. I suppose I’ll have to visit Hocking Hills again to find out :)
There are 6 main parts of the park that have parking and places to start hiking. Each of entrances these main parts (i.e. Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls) are located less than 1 — maybe 2 miles away to their destination. However, several of these main parts connect to each other via 3 – 6 mile trails and it’s such a nice, relaxing way to spend your afternoon.
The trails are decently well-​marked; however, I would be sure to either have a map on you (you can easily get one at the Old Man’s Cave visitor center), or look at the posted maps if you are trying to hike to a farther away place in the park. There is very spotty internet service at the periphery of the park, and basically no service when you are in the forest, just FYI. The trails are also very well maintained and clean. There are quite a few families with kids and dog walkers, but it never feels crowded.

WE LOVED THIS PLACE!
My boyfriend, our dog and myself LOVE our hikes. You could say we’re almost professionals by this time… just kidding, but really.
We went down to Hocking Hills for a long weekend in the spring time for a little mini-​vacation. It was actually our first time doing the whole hocking hills thing. I went as a kid with my grandparents, but hardly remember. So when we went down this time, we made sure we would take full advantage of all of our time there. We obviously had heard great things about the hiking trails in the area and were really excited to see all of the sites we had heard about.
Now, these trails are LONG. I would suggest if you’re not a dedicated hiker or walker or anything like that, not to commit to the whole trail. It has a lot of nooks and hurdling over rocks, that sort-​of thing. Our dog, Riley, even had some trouble in some rock area where she had to jump off. But it was everything we were hoping for, and more. It definitely lived up to our expectations.
The sites on the trail are gorgeous. The waterfalls were necessary for cooling off for us during our 4 hour hike, that’s for sure, but they are also beautiful. Old Man’s cave is HUGE. The trail takes you either down into it, or up into it. The woods area in the middle of the hike, is pretty, especially in the spring. It had a lot of shade at this point so Riley appreciated that. And at the very end of the trail, is Cedar Falls, which is a huge waterfall. Very pretty and picture-​worthy.
If you’re like us and love the outdoors and enjoy the hikes and sites, this would be an ideal vacation for you. There are endless cabin rental options on the Hocking Hills site, and the owners of the cabins contact you directly and then meet up with you when you arrive and give you the key for however long you’re staying. They were more than accommodating for everything we needed.
Perfect place for a getaway with the family!

Absolutely LOVE this place! Was blown away, that this was in Ohio! One of my favorite quick trip spots! AWESOME hiking & beautiful campfire nights!!! Really nice, clean & affordable cabins also. You have to see to believe! :-))

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.

We had a fantastic time during our summer trip down to Hocking Hills. Even with numerous other people squeezing through the area around Old Man’s Cave and walking the paths (sometimes much too slowly for my patience, I’ll admit) this place is beautiful and worth the moments spent poking around. I do wish they were more firm regarding people actually remaining on designated paths and picking up after themselves as I hate seeing the damage that will have to be corrected for future generations of visitors.
Moving away from the crowds, we hiked to Rock House, Conkles Hollow (which is seriouy impressive but not for the faint of heart) and various other trails.
We went home on a hiker’s high and can not wait too head back.

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 olé 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.

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!

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!