Hocking Hills is a state park located in southeast Ohio. Hocking Hills is 1 hour from Columbus, 2 hours from Cincinnati, and 3 hours from Cleveland which makes it the perfect OH weekend escape!
Hocking Hills offers hiking, fishing, ziplining, water activities, and more. Many of the trails are paved for wheel chair or stroller access, so no matter your ability levels, there is something for everyone!
This guide offers ideas for hiking, lodging, restaurants, and more for your quick escape to Hocking Hills!
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Where to Stay in Hocking Hills
We stayed at this tiny home in McArthur OH which was about a 30 minute drive from Hocking Hills. We booked this tiny home due to the hot tub and affordable price point. The listing says it sleeps 4, but that would be very tight. This is a budget friendly option if you are fine with a small space!
There are many other cabin rental companies near the park, such as Hocking Hills Treehouse Cabins, Cabins by the Caves, or Getaway Cabins.
The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls is a popular resort in the area.
If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, check out MainStay Suites in Logan OH.
You can also camp in the park as well. A campsite option includes Hocking Hills State Park Campgrounds.
Getting to Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills is a few hour drive from major cities in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
- Columbus OH: 1 hour drive
- Cincinnati OH: 2 hour drive
- Cleveland OH: 3 hours
- Pittsburgh PA: 3 hours
- Toledo OH: 3 hours
- Lexington KY: 3 hours and 45 minutes
- Louisville KY: 4 hours
- Detroit MI: 4 hours
The closest airport is the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) which is about a 1 hour drive to Hocking Hills.
You will need a car to navigate around the park.
Hiking Trails in Hocking Hills
Note: Many of the trails are interconnected and can be combined together. We combined Whispering Cave, Old Man’s Cave, and Cedar Falls into one hike.
The trails are very well marked, so you can follow the signs for whatever land mark you are attempting to reach. You can find trail maps here.
Cantwell Cliffs Loop
- .09 mile loop
- 249 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 30 minutes to complete
Cantwell Cliffs Loop is one of the more difficult trails which contains multiple steps and some sharp climbs. This is one of the more difficult hikes, but it is well worth the effort! Cantwell Cliffs is about 20 minutes from Old Man’s Cave so it is much less crowded than other hikes. This trail is off on it’s own and cannot be combined with any others.
Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls
- 5.3 miles
- 305 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 2 hours to complete
Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls is a beautiful trail which includes many unique rock formations, bridges, steps, and rocky terrain.
Old Man’s Cave is the largest and busiest area for hiking in the park. I would recommend starting your day here to help avoid some crowds.
There are many other highlight features to be on the look out for while on this trail, such as the Devil’s Bathtub, Upper Falls, & Lower Falls.
If you begin by the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center, you will see Upper Falls first and then work your way down to Lower Falls. You could also begin at the opposite end of the trail near Cedar Falls as their is a large parking lot which is much less crowded.
Hemlock Bridge and Whispering Cave
- 1.9 miles
- 301 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 1 hour to complete
Hemlock Bridge and Whispering Cave trail is connected to Old Man’s Cave. We veered off the Old Man’s Cave trail and followed the signs to Whispering Cave. Once completed, we turned around to head back to the Old Man’ Cave trail. The trails are very clearly marked so it was very easy to follow.
The views of this cave are stunning and this was one of my favorite hikes!
Ash Cave
- 0.5 mile loop
- 111 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 15 minutes to complete
This hike is short and quickly leads to a beautiful cave with a thin waterfall. The hike is quick, but you can hang out at the waterfall as long as you would like!
Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail
- 1.2 miles
- 72 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.
- NO PETS ALLOWED
Conkle’s Hollow Gorge trail has a variety of interesting rock formations and a waterfall at the end of the trail. Majority of the trail is paved and is kid-friendly. However, pets are not allowed.
Rock House
- 0.8 miles
- 203 feet of elevation gain
- Takes approximately 30 minutes to complete
Rock House is actually the only true cave in Hocking Hills!
Other Activities in Hocking Hills
Rent a boat on Lake Logan
Rent a pontoon boat for a cruise & swim on Lake Logan! Lake Logan Marina offers pontoon rentals where you can rent a boat for a few hours.
You can also rent kayaks, stand up paddleboards, & pedal boats to take out on the lake.
Tube down the Hocking River
Book a tubing trip with Hocking Hills Adventure to relax and float down the Hocking River. The float is 5 miles and can take anywhere from 3-5 hours based on water levels.
Ziplining in Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours offers a large variety of ziplining trips from Canopy tours, The SuperZip, & Zip and Climb. Ziplining is the perfect adventure for thrill-seekers as you can zip through forests, over caves, and above the Hocking River.
For the extra adventurous, the SuperZip reaches speeds of up to 50 mph! The DragonFly tour is also designed for kids, so there is a tour for everyone!
Horseback Riding in Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills Horse Rides offers rides on Thursdays – Sundays. They have a 1 hour ride beginning at 11:30AM or a 2 hour ride beginning at 1:30PM. You can also call to reserve longer rides if interested! You do need to book in advance, so call ahead or book online.
Rock Climbing in Hocking Hills
High Rock Adventures offers guided rock climbing adventures for all different experience levels. Their basic tour includes 2.5-3 hours of climbing. They also offer full day tours for more experienced climbers.
Golf in Hocking Hills
The Hocking Hills Golf Club is an 18-hole course which is lined with beautiful wooded views. You can call to reserve a tee time or reserve your time online.
ATV Tours in Hocking Hills
BigFoot ATV Adventures provides guided ATV tours throughout Hocking Hills. You can book a half day (3 hour) or full day (6 hour) tour. You can also book a single or double rider ATV. The driver does need to be 21 or older and have a valid driver’s license.
Where to Drink in Hocking Hills
Brewery 33 Hocking Hills
Head to Brewery 33 for craft beer, food trucks, and live music. This brewery is very close to the park. They have a lively atmosphere and there is also a large outdoor patio which is dog-friendly.
Hocking Hills Brewing Company
Hocking Hills Brewing Company is located in Downtown Logan and they offer a variety of craft beer. The brewery opened in 2022 so it is still fairly new! They serve beer flights, but do not serve food.
Hocking Hills Winery
Hocking Hills Winery serves wine flights, wine slushies, and charcuterie boards. They have a beautiful wooded patio which is dog-friendly. It does get busy so you may have to wait for a table. We waited approximately 20 minutes. They also have live music on some weekends!
Hocking Hills Moonshine
Hocking Hills Moonshine offers tours & tastings. We opted out of the tour and just did the tasting. They have a variety of flavored moonshines to sample, like Granny Apple, Peach Tea, and Blackberry. They also have stronger moonshine to sample like their 151 proof Buckeye Thunder Moonshine!
Where to Eat in Hocking Hills
Millstone Southern Smoked BBQ
Millstone BBQ is a large casual restaurant which serves bbq and southern fare. Their menu has a variety of options and they have a large outdoor patio as well. This restaurant gets busy so be prepared for a wait!
Maya Burrito Co
Maya Burrito Co is located in Downtown Logan and is a fast casual Mexican restaurant. This is similar to a Chipotle style restaurant where you can create your own bowl, burritos, tacos and more.
58 West
58 West is an upscale American restaurant in downtown Logan. Their menu features ribs, steaks, pastas, and multiple vegetarian options. They do take reservations online.
The Feed
The Feed is a casual restaurant serving American food including burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, and mac and cheese. They are also located in downtown Logan.
The Olde Dutch Restaurant
Olde Dutch serves an array of traditional comfort foods. They are known for their all-you-can-eat buffet offering multiple different meats, salads, soups, pie, and hand-dipped ice cream.
La Cascada Mexican
La Cascada is a traditional Mexican restaurant serving class dishes like fajitas, burritos, tacos, and more. The servers were friendly and the margaritas were delicious!
Oasis Coffee Shop 2.0
Oasis Coffee Shop 2.0 is a quaint coffee shop serving specialty coffee drinks, smoothies, and pastries for a light breakfast. The coffee is served out of a stationery RV so the seating is all outdoors. The ambiance is reminiscent of a camp site!
Best Time to Visit Hocking Hills
The Winter offers a less crowded park if you are looking for cheaper accommodations and to avoid crowds. However, many of these activities may be closed due to cold weather. You may also encounter icy or snowy conditions.
The Spring is ideal for full flowing waterfalls and milder temperatures.
The Summer would be the ideal time to enjoy water activities like renting a boat or kayaking. However, the heat is strong in the summer and the park is more crowded.
The Fall provides cooler temperatures and potentially some beautiful colors. The park can also be crowded during peak fall foliage.
Overall, their advantages and disadvantages for any time of the year. Spring and Fall would be my choice of when to visit, but you cannot go wrong with Summer or Winter!
Final Thoughts
Hocking Hills is an ideal getaway for nature lovers. The State Park can easily be explored in 1 or 2 days, making it a great destination for a weekend trip. You can have a relaxing trip enjoying a boat ride and game of golf. If you are a thrill-seeker, you can drive an ATV, zip-line, and rock climb!
Hocking Hills is one of the most beautiful parks in Ohio and is a wonderful place for a quick vacation!
If you are interested in my other travel guides, check out these guides below: