Hocking Hills State Park is a 2,356-acre park located about 2 hours from Cincinnati, Ohio (my hometown) or 1 hour from Columbus, Ohio (the capital). It is a hiking lover and outdoor enthusiasts paradise. There are 11 different designated hiking trails, and 2 trails specifically for mountain biking. No matter the trail you choose, you’ll have a good time. When hiking throughout Hocking Hills you’ll be sure to find massive cliffs, hidden caves, plunging waterfalls and beautiful gorges. The couple listed below are specifically good for children under the age of 10.
What Else Can You Do At Hocking Hills State Park?
Other than hiking, Hocking Hills also has an archery range that you can go to year round. There is also a 17-acre lake for fishing if you want to do that, though you will need an Ohio fishing license. You can also hunt in designated areas if you have an Ohio hunting license.
Arrival at Hocking Hills State Park
When you arrive at the state park, you will likely not have any cellphone service. So, if you are like me and use the map on your phone for most things, you need to have a backup plan. I would make sure to stop at the visitor’s center to pick up a map OR print one out from the website and bring it with you. Like most parks, Hocking Hills closes at dusk. Make sure to factor that in to your hikes. They do have rangers that come around to make sure you are heading out of the park once the sun goes down.
Old Man’s Cave
Most people go to Old Man’s Cave. It’s a great trail, but it’s more crowded and more trekked. The hiking trail follows a beautiful gorge surrounded by Blackhand sandstone. There are 5 sections to explore: Upper Falls, Middle Falls, Lower Falls, Upper Gorge & Lower Gorge. If you’ve never been to Hocking Hills then I would definitely recommend hiking Old Man’s Cave. But, if you are back for a second trip, or have the whole day to do multiple trails, then I would recommend one of the much lesser visited trails on the western side of the park – Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs. You will have to drive to get to each of them.
Rock House
Rock House is a half mile trail and will take you about 30-45 minutes depending on how long you stay in the ‘rock house’. You’re journey on this trail is a beautiful one. Huge walls of sandstone carved out by nature. The real treat is when you get to the Rock House. It’s a rock cave with different shelves to climb, and fun to be in. Keep an eye out for pigeons flying from shelf to shelf. At the end there is a ‘window’ that gives you a beautiful view of a waterfall.
I’d recommend this trail for those that have kids or those who aren’t seasoned hikers.
TIP: If hiking with kids, take a break after each hike to give them time to rest their feet, take a bathroom break, stock up on water, and have a little bit of off-trail fun. We bring our hammocks and love to spend a little bit of time relaxing under a tree. The kids like to swing back and forth in them.
Cantwell Cliffs
The Cantwell Cliffs trail is about a 10 minute drive from Rock House. Once you get there, you can choose to take the gorge or ridge path (or do both!). They are about a mile long. Each trail will take you about an hour, and doing both will take about 2 hours. This hike is all about the waterfalls. On your first decent into the gorge you come across your first waterfall, then as you follow the stream you come across more and more. In between you will come across some of the most luscious greens you’ve ever seen.
I would definitely do both trails.There are quite a lot of stairs on this hike, so beware. It can be a little strenuous (especially for kids). The gorge path is more flat, so if you are worried you can stick to just that trail.
TIP: If you really want to see the waterfalls in action, plan a trip after a big rain. While the trails might be a little muddy, the waterfalls will be really glowing. When we went, it had rained for 3 days prior. The waterfalls were amazing and the streams were flowing.
Camping in Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills State Park is a great place to pitch a tent. If you choose to camp, you can do it as primitively or modernly as you want. If you’re looking for ‘glamping’, they have over 100 electric hookup sites and just under 50 full hookup sites. Heated showers, laundry, pool, playground, and flush toilets are some of the other amenities that Hocking Hills offers.
Hocking Hills Cabin Rentals
You can also get out of the tents and rent a cabin, Hocking Hills State Park has about 40 cabins that fit 6 people. They’re really like tiny houses in the middle of the woods with heat and air conditioning, a living room, 2 bedrooms, bath/shower, fireplace, kitchen, dining room and screened in porch.
What to Bring
The following items are not exclusive to hiking Hocking Hills State Park. You could use all these items on any hike, no matter where you are!
Make sure to wear good shoes – I prefer specific hiking/trekking shoes. If you don’t have any, at least wear gym shoes. Also bring an extra pair of shoes and socks for after your hike. I didn’t think I would need them, but I was so glad my husband convinced me to bring them anyway. My feet did get wet, and my shoes were muddy. It was nice to be able to change into dry socks and clean shoes for the 2 hour drive home.
You will definitely need a full water bottle. You don’t want to get dehydrated when you’re out on the trails. You’re going to be working your body, so you also need to nourish it.
I’d also bring some snacks. (Or a lunch if you’re hiking for the day). You never know if you’ll stay out longer than you thought or if you’ll need a little energy boost.
I have also found that even on a sunny, warm day, under the shade of trees it can get chilly. So, bring a sweatshirt. It might also get a little bit chilly if you get wet, or after the sun goes down. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
And finally, don’t forget to bring your sunscreen and sun glasses. There is nothing worse than a painful sunburn when you are already tired from a long day. I like sun glasses so that I don’t have to squint on the trails.
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