Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park
4.5
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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- CrystalEatsSouth Bend, Indiana138 contributionsAMAZINGYou will not believe the views. Miles and miles of gorgeous hiking. Can be very rigorous, but they have some shorter/easier options too. Lodge, visitor center, good signage. Saw many people struggle due to wrong footwear (don’t wear sandals and if you have hiking shoes/boots use them). It’s a lot of elevation. Poles aren’t a bad idea.Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 17, 2023
- Joan J65 contributions10 out of 10 would recommendAwesome experience!! The staff in the camp store are really friendly and knowledgeable. The trails are very well marked and maintained. It is really a beautiful area to hike!! 10 out of 10 would recommend the old man's cave hike!!Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 17, 2023
- ScubaDave16Highland, Indiana1,000 contributionsgreat hiking trailsA very nice park. There are a number of hiking trails in and around the park. There are decent maps which help because several trails cross over and intersect with each other. we did the Old Man Cave and the trails around the visitor center. there was not much water in either the upper or lower falls, but the rock formations were very cool and the hiking was interesting. some of the trails are one way so you need to kind of plan your route accordingly. there was no fee to enter the park.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 18, 2023
- mickeyd29642Easley, South Carolina48 contributionsGood nature walkGreat place to visit, but try going during the week. Went on Labor Day weekend and it was packed. Lots of good nature sights to see and easy walking for seniorrs like myself.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten March 13, 2024
- Carol SBraselton, Georgia18 contributionsAmazing rock geography to hike in.We stayed at the cabins in the state park. There isn’t a bad one. All have a back porch that faces the woods. The cabins very near the lodge that also has rooms. But the geography of the park is amazing. Breathtaking rock formations and plenty of hiking trails from very easy 1/4 mile to miles of trail hikes. Definitely worth a visitVisited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 7, 2024
- Jill Bouley53 contributionsSo pretty and easy to hikeIt was so fun! We didn’t stay long, just went through Old Man’s and Ash Cave on our way home from West Virginia but very worth it! The visitor center was very clean and educational and the trails were easy to read and it was nice to see no litter on the trails and the preservation sections roped off. it was very well preserved :)Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 22, 2024
- Kristie PDetroit, Michigan30 contributionsMemorial Weekend GetawayExcellent experience for hiking. Our first visit was just the right amount of hiking. It was during Memorial Weekend so the park was busy. The trails were well marked and the paths were clear of debris. The cleanest parks I have ever visited. We didn't download any maps on our phones, and we didn't take the maps from the visitor center. We just followed the maps that were pisted at the start of the paths. The trees were stamped with the oath color you were on. Very pet and family friendly.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 30, 2024
- Bixie10Franklin, Indiana128 contributionsBeautiful!We loved our trip to Hocking Hills. The scenery is out of this world. We hiked Whispering Cave (lots of steps!!!), Conkle's Hollow and Ash Cave (both accessible paths, but they both also continue on non-accessible areas), and Old Man's Cave. We wish we can continued from Old Man's Cave onto the lower trail, but neither the map nor the trail signs clearly indicated how far it was and we didn't want to get "stuck" out on the trails for hours. Very glad we finally made it to this area after wanting to visit for several years.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 19, 2024
- Smita G14 contributionsHocking Hill State Park HikeIt was great. Do we drove to Old Man’s Cave and short trail there and then took a hike to Cedar Falls (3 miles one way). It was tiring! There are steps to go down to see the falls. Next day we drove to Rock House that is a short 1/4 trail but it has stone uneven narrow steps and labeled as moderate but it’s rugged. The cliffs are nice and you can climb the rocks to the opening. The second place was Cantwell and similar to Rock House but even more rugged and steeper with narrow areas. You will sweat, and remember what goes downhill you will go uphill😂. There are so many other trails, we are going back in early fall.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 8, 2024
- kellercharErlanger, Kentucky83 contributionsHocking Hills State Resort Lodge was amazing!The Hocking Hills State Park Lodge was absolutely beautiful! The lodge had to be rebuilt after a fire. I have never been to the hold lodge but this now is absolutely beautiful. The glass windows surrounding the exterior gave the look of luxury! Our room was spacious and clean. The bed comfortable and the bathroom was spacious and clean. There was an outdoor and indoor pool as well as a hot tub by each pool. There were also crafts you could do in the morning in the lobby and the rocking chairs outside the entrance were comfortable and inviting. There was plenty of seating inside by the fireplaces and outside the lodge as well as off the side of the outdoor pool. There are plenty of hiking trails from easy to challenging and the weather was perfect for hiking. If you are visiting the Hocking Hills area, I highly recommend staying at the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge. You will be glad you did!Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,516 reviews
Excellent
1,215
Very good
227
Average
48
Poor
8
Terrible
18
Sara
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
I've always loved Hocking Hills. It's still a very beautiful place but I doubt I'll be returning anytime soon. There were so many people that they were backed up at a stand still. I followed a path between two rocks to a rock beside the path so I could sit and wait for all of the people to pass. *There was no sign within view stating that we were in a restricted area.* The next thing I know someone far below is yelling at my 16 year old daughter. I'd seen videos of people having altercations there recently, so I told her to stay with me and not to listen to anyone that wasn't wearing a uniform. The next thing we know a very irate woman in uniform popped up, I'm assuming she was a park ranger but the uniform was black so I was confused. She was shaky and very obviously full of adrenaline. I tried my best to calm her and explain that we didn't know she was a ranger or that we were in an area we weren't supposed to be in. The more I tried to calm her the more angry she became so I just stopped talking and let her have her power trip. Fortunately, we were let go with a warning because her walkie aparantly wasn't working but she stayed pretty close to us for the rest of our hike. I don't believe I was doing anything wrong. I'm respectful of nature, I grew up in the woods, I want being unsafe. Just standing away from the crowd, waiting for them to pass. I felt bullied and it ruined my experience.
Written August 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OnAir578970
Westfield, IN8 contributions
Oct 2020
The trail maps of the state park are NOT GOOD! And, there is no, and I mean NO internet anywhere in the park, so you can't refer to your phone. The app they offer has a nice description of the different trails, but no good directions about how to get there. There is lots of driving on curvy roads to get from sight to sight. We had a good time and the weather was perfect, but the State Park didn't do anything to help. No rangers, the Visitor Center was closed up tight and no maps were left out to grab and use (for what they were worth). Most of the hikes are "short" and good for families. If you are a more serious hiker, I'd recommend starting at Old Man's Cave and hike to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave (and back). It would be a big day, but better than driving and dealing with the start of all 3. We never could find Hemlock Bridge which was disappointing. We knew where it was but couldn't locate the trailhead. Sometimes the app said it was .75 miles and then the sign said it was 4 miles (Whispering Cave). Very confusing. The gorge trail extension at Cantwell Cliffs was not to be found. Be sure to be at the "big 3- Old Man's, Ash, Cedar" early in the morning to avoid crowds and then hit the less popular in trails in the afternoon (Cantwell Cliffs, Conkles Hollow, Rock House). Rock Bridge is nearer to Logan so that one you could hit on your way into town if you have time.
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisa renee
Grove City, OH101 contributions
Oct 2020
Old Man's Cave is awesome - I love hiking from Upper Falls to Rose Lake and on to Cedar Falls........I hiked a little around Rose Lake this time as well. I have lost track of how many times that I have been here. Rock House is one of my favorites! (Don't forget your flash light for Rock House). Cantwell Cliffs is neat too. I like Ash Cave and Conkle's Hollow also. After you work up an appetite hiking stop at Grandma Faye's for pizza and wine!
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
theoljohnnyboy
New Florence, PA1,560 contributions
Apr 2021
This was our second visit. The first time that we came was in August during the dry season- lesson learned. We hiked the grandma gatewood trail through the gorge the whole way to broken rock falls. We then hiked the gorge exit trail and a small portion of the gorge overlook trail. This took us a little less than 2 hours, climbing about 35 flights of stairs according to my phone and going about 3 miles. The attraction is free. Th visitor center is closed due to covid. We arrived early, around 9:30 am and there were ample maps and only a few dozen cars. By 11 when we came up out of the gorge there were a couple hundred cars and no maps left to take. I would suggest coming early. It is nice and cool in the gorge, though it was warm up top we could see our breath in the gorge so consider taking a coat. The signage for other place in the area is so-so, it seems to be most helpful to go to the big visitors center at old mans cave and work your way out to other spots from there. In the evening we went to Ash Cave and had the place to ourselves, i would recommend that rather than going in the daytime hours.
Written April 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael D
Dublin, OH81 contributions
Oct 2022
This was the best experience touring during Peak leaf season this time on October 18 2022, The most interesting place is the inn at Cedar Falls located on SR 374 near Ash Cave. This feature dining and lodging simi9lar to many places located in the Hocking Hills Park region, This is among the most beautiful natural places created by longtime ago Glaciers in this region. It is well worth it for hiking, sightseeing particularly in October of each year plus many gift shops and campgrounds both Ohio state and KOA. The winter hike is six miles long and is held this year on Saturday January 21 2023 at 7:30 AM start time.
Written October 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
efustok
Houston, TX1,314 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Absolutely stunning, such a gorgeous place to visit. After living in alaska, I thought it would take a lot to impress me when it comes to natural beauty, but this was completely different. It was such an easy hike to get the the cave, and so beautiful. Not to mention all the water falls, tunnels, and the devils bathtub is so cool looking. The visitor center is really nice as well, and the rangers are so helpful. We took our 11,10, and 8 year olds, and they loved it. Short drive from Columbus, it’s an absolute must.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fishlips
Richmond, IN73 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Took the family over the weekend to Old Mans Cave and had a great time. Got there early about an hr after they opened and glad I did because it started to get packed about the time we got out of the car. The hike to the cave was just long enough my 3 , 10 and 12 yr old didnt get too tired. Very beautiful scenery and good paths. Recommend a walking stick the rocks can be a little slippery.
Written July 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NatParkLove
Peoria, IL1,901 contributions
Oct 2022
The only time we had to visit was a Saturday in October and it was packed here! So bring your patience. However, it was absolutely gorgeous and I'm so glad we got to spend most of a day here. This is the cutest area of rolling hills and bright fall leaves.
Be advised that the visitor center lot shares parking with Old Man's Cave, a popular hike, and it was so insanely busy the day we went that people were parking all the way down the highway. We were able to find a spot and visited the VC for the restroom and to talk to a ranger. There's also a small gift shop on the second floor. There is an elevator for those who need/want it.
We were short on time and decided to do Ash Cave and Conkles Hollow. Both were about ten minutes apart and beautiful. Both areas were pretty busy but we were able to mostly get pictures without people in them. If you are looking for easy, mainly flat hikes, these are two good ones!
For lunch, we stumbled upon the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls and I highly recommend them for a delicious lunch. Also enjoyed the Coffee Emporium for a treat in late afternoon.
Be advised that the visitor center lot shares parking with Old Man's Cave, a popular hike, and it was so insanely busy the day we went that people were parking all the way down the highway. We were able to find a spot and visited the VC for the restroom and to talk to a ranger. There's also a small gift shop on the second floor. There is an elevator for those who need/want it.
We were short on time and decided to do Ash Cave and Conkles Hollow. Both were about ten minutes apart and beautiful. Both areas were pretty busy but we were able to mostly get pictures without people in them. If you are looking for easy, mainly flat hikes, these are two good ones!
For lunch, we stumbled upon the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls and I highly recommend them for a delicious lunch. Also enjoyed the Coffee Emporium for a treat in late afternoon.
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve V
Dundee, MI50 contributions
Dec 2022
Beautiful area. Just read a 1 star review from someone who obviously did not realize that it would be packed here in July. Go during the winter months if you do not want to be around people. We went on December 8-10 and found very few people there. We took a wrong path and cut off a portion of one trail but went in reverse anyhow since there was no one around. Judge the difficulty ratings based on your abilities. The ones labeled difficult were just cause there were a lot of steps you had to take. We had no issues at all with the difficult ones.
Our only note of concern were around the bathrooms at a few of the trails.....One had a toilet seat on a large pipe with a door that only came up about 4.5 ft. You will know if someone is using it just by walking up and making eye contact as they wipe.
Our only note of concern were around the bathrooms at a few of the trails.....One had a toilet seat on a large pipe with a door that only came up about 4.5 ft. You will know if someone is using it just by walking up and making eye contact as they wipe.
Written December 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
j b
Kalamazoo County, MI315 contributions
May 2021
This was our second time at Hocking Hills and we have not tired of it. We stayed in one of the park's cabins. They are clean and spacious and reasonably well appointed (fully furnished, but a little spotty in kitchen ware). This time we took in Cedar Falls (highly recommend), Rock House (ok), and Rose Lake (beavers and tadpoles). Our stay coincided with the new moon so we walked over to the John Glenn Astronomy Park after dark one evening. Local aficionados with telescopes were set up, but we enjoyed the sky with just our naked eye. Put Grandma Fayes nearby on your agenda for ice cream after a hike.
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We will be visiting the area in November fo Thanksgiving. Can you stil hike at this time?
Written August 27, 2024
As long as the weather is decent and the park is not closed because of the weather, yes you can.
Written August 28, 2024
Yes, dogs are allowed on the trail. Saw several dogs on the trails and splashing in the streams.
Written August 28, 2024
Are the trails as strenuous as the descriptions claim? I was double thinking going there if we cant hike! Ages 70 and 63 and in good health (one knee replacement successful)
Written July 17, 2022
I think you can make it. There are no cliffs climbing per say.
Written July 18, 2022
I’d like to try hocking hills with family… we’re outdoorsy and we like to hike. I’ve heard hocking hills is great… but it’s so popular, that I wonder if it’s crowded? When are the busiest times of year? Is Labor Day a mad house? Are waterfalls still impressive in the hot of summer or do they dry up?
Written June 10, 2022
My family and I are camping at the park June 2-6. For another adjoining trip, I need to get a rt-PCR COVID test during that camping stay and upload the results. So I have 2 questions:
1. Where can I get this test nearby? (Looks like a CVS in Athens might be our best bet)
2. Where I can I get nearby access to free WiFi to upload my results?
Thanks!
Written May 28, 2021
Sorry, have no answers for these questions. We didn't need testing. As for WIFI, it is really spotty. Just enjoy the fact that you can unplug and enjoy yourself. You may check in town for WIFI/results.
Written June 24, 2021
We would like to camp in the Walk-in Campground. Can you reserve sites? How much do they charge to stay there? Thanks!
Written April 24, 2021
Hi...We would like to camp in the Walk-in Campground. Can you reserve sites? How much do they charge to stay there? Thanks!
Written April 24, 2021
Not sure cost or reservation requirements. Check the state park website for accurate information. We rented a cabin outside the state park.
Written April 26, 2021
There are two trails listed on the website where pets are allowed but it’s not recommend that they go on Old Man’s Cave or Whispering Cave. How narrow do paths get on these two trails that are cliff side?
Has anyone taken their pets on these trails? I’m just trying to gauge what challenges there are specifically for pets on these two trails.
Written March 30, 2021
I haven’t taken pets on the trails, but I can tell you Old Man’s Cave does have some very narrow spots. It’s also one of the more popular trails in the park. I’m guessing pets aren’t recommended because you may find yourself in tight quarters with other visitors. Even if you have a very well-behaved pet who would be a little angel in that situation, it COULD still make someone else feel uncomfortable, especially if they have allergies.
I’m just throwing theories out there based on what I’ve seen. There are also some parts of the trail that get a little steep or have drop-offs that could be dangerous, but I don’t think it’s anything too crazy most dogs couldn’t handle.
Written April 1, 2021
Is there any entry or parking fee (not planning on camping, etc.)? I believe the site said all trails were free but just making sure...
Written January 11, 2021
No entry fee. All state parks in Ohio are free.
Written January 16, 2021
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