5 Hikes You Shouldn’t Miss in Hocking Hills Ohio
Are you planning a trip to Hocking Hills Ohio and want to know the best hiking trails in the park? This guide covers 5 hiking trails with stunning waterfalls, peaceful forested areas, and dramatic rock formations, plus tons of plants and fungi to spot along the way. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Ohio, these hikes are worth adding to your list.
Prefer to see these trails in action? We explored the hiking trails throughout Hocking Hills State Park to find the best ones. Watch the video below to see the 5 best trails and plants we spotted along the way.
Parking and Trails in Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park does a fantastic job at providing ample parking options for almost all of the trailheads within the park. Parking is free and you can usually find a spot most times you visit, though they fill up quickly on the weekends during the summer. Most hiking trails in the park combine nature with art installations, like walkways and bridges, to get you to the most stunning views. Many trails are one way to help alleviate busy spots, so pay attention to signs when you begin your hike.
1. Rock House
Trail length: 1.3 mile loop
Elevation gain: 249 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Rock House is the only true cave in Hocking Hills State Park. The trail starts off in a forested area where you walk along the rim of the cave, before heading down a stone stairway to a tunnel-like corridor. This corridor is midway up a 150-foot cliff of Black Hand sandstone and provides plenty of opportunities to peer into the cave, where there are window-like holes in the rock. As you walk by the cave, you’ll be left in awe by the massive rock surrounding you before you cross a bridge to wind your way back up the trail to the parking area. While this is a shorter loop, there are plenty of wildflowers and fungi we stopped to look at along this trail. This was one of the coolest trails in the park to get up close to a cave.
Tips: There are several mammals and critters that may be in or around the cave, so be careful when exploring.
2. Cedar Falls
Trail length: 0.5 mile loop
Elevation gain: 95 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Cedar Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls you can find in Hocking Hills. With a short, relatively easy walk through a forest, you’ll find yourself at the falls with water plunging 50 feet down the rock. Although not a massive waterfall, the way the water flows down the rocks is definitely worth a visit. The waterfall is surrounded by a forest of hemlock trees, not cedar trees which early settlers believed them to be. There are quite a few stairs on this trail and some beautiful rocks that you walk along on the way back up to the parking lot. There are several trails that connect with Cedar Falls including Whispering Falls to Rose Lake Dam and Old Man’s Cave. We took the trail that went to Whispering Falls and Rose Lake Dam, but didn’t find it worth it. Cedar Falls was easily the most impressive part of this hike and Rose Lake Dam deserves its own hike.
Tips: There is tons of parking at this trailhead, along with a bathroom if you need one.
3. Rose Lake Loop
Trail length: 2.2 mile loop
Elevation gain: 177 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Rose Lake, also known as Hocking Hills Reservoir, is easily accessed from Old Man’s Cave Campground or the main highway, where there is a parking area. This lake does not allow swimming, but is very popular for fishing since it is stocked with trout every year. This trail follows the lake, giving easy access for gorgeous views and to see native plants up close. We were lucky enough to spot tons of wildflowers, chicken of the woods mushrooms, and a beaver swimming through the water during our hike. This area is relatively quiet and the trail is not as popular as others, though you may see several people fishing along the dock. Even if you don’t like fishing, this lake is worth a visit to see all of the plants and wildlife surrounding it.
Tips: The trail can get muddy and isn’t marked very well, so wear sturdy hiking shoes and keep a map on you for reference.
4. Upper Falls to Lower Falls via Buckeye Trail (Includes Old Man’s Cave and Naturalist Cabin)
Trail length: 1.1 miles loop
Elevation gain: 173 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
The upper falls to lower falls via buckeye trail is the perfect way to see the main highlights of Hocking Hills all in one spot. This trail passes Upper Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, Lower Falls, Lower Gorge, and Old Man’s Cave. The trail travels along a beautiful gorge cut through 150 ft thick Blackhand sandstone. There are several staircases and bridges that have been installed by artists along this trail, giving you a nice combination of natural beauty and art. The dramatic gorge and waterfalls on this trail feel like you’ve entered another world. There are even spots where you walk through the stone, either ducking through holes or heading up the staircase built into the rock. If you only have time for one trail while you’re visiting this park, this is the trail that’s worth it.
Tips: There are a lot of steps on this hike and the trail is very popular, so expect to wait at some areas to pass.
5. Ash Cave
Trail length: 0.5 mile loop
Elevation gain: 111 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Ash Cave is the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi and a must see for anyone visiting Hocking Hills Ohio. The cave itself has a horseshoe-shaped rim that spans 700 feet and includes a runoff waterfall. The trail to this cave includes a short, easy walk along a stream until you turn a corner and find yourself at the base of the cave. There is plenty of area to explore underneath the waterfall, which has different flow levels depending on how much rainfall there has been recently. There is a large staircase that takes you towards the top of the cave, where you can take the trail back to the parking area. You can also skip the steep staircase and head back the same way you came, on the level walking path to the parking area.
Tips: There is plenty of parking for this hike, but we recommend getting there early so you can have the cave to yourself for photos or to just enjoy the peaceful sounds of the waterfall.
Between the waterfalls, caves, and forests in Hocking Hills Ohio, you won’t have trouble finding a hike with a gorgeous view. These are our five favorite hikes in the park, but there are several more to try out if you have the time. Let us know in the comments what your favorite hike at Hocking Hills is!
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About the Authors
For us, travel isn't about checking destinations off a list. We love connecting with new places through its natural spaces, trails, wildlife, and native plants. Whether we're living on the road in our 21-foot travel trailer or traveling abroad, we hope our stories inspire you to slow down on your travels, spend more time outside, and discover the beauty all around the world.
These five hiking trails include stunning waterfalls, peaceful forested areas, and dramatic rock formations, with plenty of plants and fungi to spot along the way.