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Tucked away in southeast Ohio you’ll find Hocking Hills, an area that boasts distinctive geological features, friendly people and a wide range of exciting adventures to experience. As a born-and-raised midwesterner, I was surprised to discover that I knew little to nothing about this portion of Ohio, and even more surprised to find out how beautiful it is. I had the opportunity to explore Hocking Hills recently to experience it for myself.
Hocking Hills is located about an hour southeast of Columbus. As you drive, you’ll see the landscape begin to change from mostly flat to wooded and hilly. Hocking Hills is the name for the region, the county and the state park. The city you’ll be looking for in this area is called Logan.
Discover the Unique Hiking Terrain in Hocking Hills
The Blackhand Sandstone causes the unique topography here, where you’ll find steep cliffs and deep gorges. Over time, erosion has created distinctive features in the sandstone, resulting in a variety of caves and waterfalls to explore and experience.
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Rock House Hiking Trail
What is it: Rock House is the only enclosed “true” cave in this area and is located within Hocking Hills State Park. The main hiking trail here is the Gorge Trail (0.6 miles). There is a second trail, the Rim Trail (0.2 miles), which offers an alternative path for the first quarter-mile and then joins the Gorge Trail for the remainder of the hike. Both are one-way trails.
How difficult is the trail: This trail is considered ‘moderate’ and involves steep inclines and declines (193-foot elevation change) over switchbacks. The terrain includes rocky areas and multiple sets of steps over uneven terrain. Some portions of the trail may be wet and slippery. I can easily walk 2 miles through my (somewhat hilly) neighborhood, but I struggled with some of the steeper areas here.
Best Experienced By: I would consider this hike best for fit adults or older children with no serious health issues. This hike is not accessible by wheelchairs or strollers.
Pros:
- Beautiful views of forested cliffs.
- The cave itself is gorgeous and definitely worth the hike.
Cons:
- Steep inclines and steps.
- Rocky areas can be slippery.
SheBuysTravel Tip: A hiking pole (or two) would be a great fit here to help keep yourself stable on areas of uneven or slippery terrain. Good quality hiking shoes or boots with traction are a must-have.
Old Man’s Cave Hiking Trail
What is it: This is a one-way trail with options for either a 1-mile or 2-mile hike. There are also links to other hiking trails. Old Man’s Cave is a recess (not enclosed) cave. There are several waterfalls, tunnels and bridges along the trail. You’ll also see cliffs and interesting rock formations. This hike is one of the most popular in the area and will be crowded during peak times such as weekends. The trail is open year-round, dawn to dusk. There is a Visitor Center with restrooms – the trail loop begins and ends here.
How difficult is the trail: This trail isn’t too steep, but there is uneven terrain, lots of stone steps (no handrails) and some areas of difficult footing. The rock areas can be wet and slippery.
Best Experienced By: Anyone who can walk without support and handle inclines and stairs with no handrails. We saw a lot of dogs on leashes and small children who were able to handle the terrain pretty easily. This particular trail is not wheelchair accessible but there is an accessible, half-mile-long trail also on-site.
Pros:
- Plenty to see along the whole trail, including multiple waterfalls and unique rock formations.
- Not too difficult to hike and everyone seemed to move fairly quickly along the trail, even when it was crowded.
Cons:
- Can get crowded at peak times.
- Some areas can be wet and slippery.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you go on a weekday in either early morning or late afternoon, you should avoid the heaviest crowds. If the parking lot is full, there is on-street parking across the street.
Other Hocking Hills Hike Options
- Ash Cave: You’ll access Ash Cave via a one-way, half-mile hike on a paved trail that’s mostly wheelchair-accessible (up until you get to a series of steep steps). The cave itself is a huge recess cave with amazing acoustics and a waterfall.
- Cantwell Cliffs: This trail is located in one of the most remote parts of Hocking Hills State Park and is one of the most difficult to hike. There are two one-way, one-mile loops – one at the top of the cliffs and one at the bottom of the valley.
- Rockbridge State Nature Preserve: Here you’ll find 2.8 miles of hiking trails leading to and from the natural stone bridge that’s over 100 feet long and 10-20 feet wide. This is Ohio’s largest natural bridge.
- Whispering Cave: This moderate hiking trail is a 5-mile, one-way loop. There’s a waterfall and a swinging bridge along the way. The hike begins on the Old Man’s Cave route and then splits off.
Explore the Riding Trails on Horseback with Blue Moon Acres
What is it: Blue Moon Acres is a small public stable that offers trail riding, only by appointment, from April through November. They are closed on Mondays and many Tuesdays. You can schedule rides for groups of one to four adults or older teens. Every person or group is accompanied by a guide, but you are in charge of your own horse.
How difficult is it: I hadn’t ridden in many years, but it all came back to me very quickly. I found Superman to be a gentle and easily-guided horse, although others in our group had more challenging mounts, and one person did fall off his horse. I felt very comfortable on the trails with a couple of exceptions when the horses sped up to make it up some inclines.
Best Experienced By: They do not offer rides for children or inexperienced riders under the age of 18. You need to be physically capable of controlling the horse (with instruction and guidance). There are weight limits in place, and you will be (discreetly) weighed before being allowed to ride. They do their best to match the horse with the rider based on experience and capability.
Pros:
- Your horse is not on a lead – you are led by a guide but controlling your own horse at all times. This is an amazing experience and unique from many other riding stables.
- The riding trails in Hocking Hills cover beautiful terrain.
Cons:
- Although every effort is made to keep the rides as safe as possible, it is never possible to completely guarantee what a horse will or won’t do.
- The trails can be narrow with steep or wet/slippery spots. The horses can navigate this, but less experienced riders may struggle. The guide is there to explain, warn and help as needed.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Closed-toe shoes and long pants are required. Jeans are best since they are rugged and can take the friction of rubbing against the saddle without as much wear as thinner pants. There is a saddlebag so you can bring water or other small items with you.
Paddle in Serenity with Touch the Earth Adventures
What is it: Touch the Earth is owned by Mimi Morrison, who invites you to experience nature and be in tune with the Earth. She offers hiking and cycling adventures, but we experienced her night kayaking tour. She provides the kayaks, paddles, life jackets and guidance. We even were served hot tea and ginger snaps at dusk in the middle of the lake, by flashlight glow! Mimi creates such a peaceful ambiance. She began the experience with a poetry verse and guided us around the lake. In more remote areas, you’re often watching for specific wildlife, but in our case (due to limited time) we were on the more populated Lake Logan. Mimi offers a variety of classes, excursions and retreats, both in SE Ohio and surrounding areas.
Best Experienced By: Touch the Earth can accommodate pretty much anyone, including kids and those who require extra assistance or wheelchair accessibility. She’s planned tours for school, youth, scouting and church groups as well as corporate events.
Pros:
- There are specific classes or excursions, but they are also able to customize an experience for you or your group.
- Mimi is warm and friendly, and her love for the outdoors and the Earth is infectious.
Cons:
- If you’re not ready or able to really be willing to experience nature, you’re not going to get nearly as much out of the time spent with Mimi or her team.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Mimi is only one person, so we stayed afterward to help her load the kayaks and equipment back on the trailer and in her vehicle. She greatly appreciated our assistance.
Learn about Stars and Planets at the John Glenn Astronomy Park
What is it: The John Glenn Astronomy Park (JGAP) is a dark sky park that offers educational programs along with the opportunity to relax and stargaze. The site is open to the public for stargazing at any time, but programs are usually only on Friday and Saturday nights in early March through Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Programs are free to attend, begin at 8:30pm and are listed by date on their website. We visited on a cloudy day but were still able to see the Big Dipper and some other stars and planets through the shifting cloud cover.
Best Experienced By: Anyone and everyone who is interested in the night sky! The only limitation is parking – passes are available on their website and must be presented when arriving for program nights, since they are so popular. The park area is paved and there is an additional grassy area for people to sit or lie down for stargazing. This is a ‘dark’ sky park, and there is extremely limited lighting, so anyone afraid of the dark may not want to visit. Most telescopes can be adjusted for height, but the large telescope in the observatory is only accessible by a short ladder. There are two outhouses on site but no running water.
Pros:
- This is one of few areas in Ohio with very little light pollution, so there’s an amazing opportunity to see the night sky.
- On program nights, they have telescopes available and are staffed by volunteers who are extremely knowledgeable about the night sky and happy to explain what you’re seeing.
Cons:
- Nobody can control the weather. On cloudy or rainy nights, visibility can be very limited. Check their website or Facebook page on the day of to see if the program you’re planning to attend has been cancelled due to weather conditions.
- As a dark sky park, they ask that no white light be used on-site, including phone flashlights. You can use a red-tinted flashlight to see where you’re going.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you have your own telescope, you are welcome to bring and use it. But even without a telescope, there is so much to see. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to get comfortable while viewing the sky. And don’t forget to bring snacks and something to drink!
Zip through the Trees with Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
What is it: They offer a variety of zip line experiences, as well as an off-road Segway tour and a combination zip line and rock climbing experience. The Original Canopy Tour is a 2-½ to 3-hour experience through the trees, over suspended skybridges, experiencing a network of zip lines. The X Tour maximizes the adventure with a combination of towers and 11 zip lines. The Super Zip is a quarter-mile zipline built for speed, where you’ll soar through the trees and over the Hocking River in a flying superhero position. They also have a kids-only zip line tour called the Dragonfly, designed for kids 5-12 years old who weigh between 35 and 140 pounds.
How difficult is it: I am a woman over 50 and am overweight. I had back surgery a few months before this experience. I was able to manage the ziplines fairly easily. You are taught how to use one of your (gloved) hands to brake as you near the end of the zipline, and there was definitely a learning curve there. The first couple of ziplines on the tour are short to ease you into it and the two guides were fun, extremely professional and very clear on the safety requirements.
With their system, you are never completely unhooked from any line. You do need a good deal of upper body strength – about halfway through the tour, I could tell that my arms were tiring. Our group had a short window for this experience so we had to leave early, which was actually perfect for me. But this was a bucket list item that I am so glad I got the opportunity to experience. We also did the Super Zip, which I was happy to discover can be done in a sitting position as well as the flat, flying one. That zip line did not require manual braking, but there was a jolt when you hit the braking mechanism. I was able to climb the tower to the zip line, but had to take several rest breaks on the way up.
Best Experienced By: You must be either an adult in ‘reasonably good’ health up to 250 pounds or a kid aged 10+ who weighs at least 70 pounds (you will be weighed discreetly). They state that the equipment is designed for people of ‘average mobility and strength’. Pregnant women are not permitted to participate, and they reserve the right to exclude anyone for medical or safety reasons. The tours do require climbing multiple sets of stairs and maneuvering on treetop platforms. You will be very high off the ground. If you are afraid of heights, you may struggle, although the guides are very helpful and reassuring.
Pros:
- Zipping through the canopy of trees and across the river was spectacularly beautiful.
- There is nothing like the feeling of flying while gliding down the zip lines. It’s awe-inspiring and a huge adrenaline rush.
Cons:
- I was not a fan of the manual braking on the Original Canopy Tour. I found I was so nervous about when and how to brake that I wasn’t as able to enjoy the actual zip line experiences as much. Others in our group did not have this issue, so your experience may vary.
- I honestly wouldn’t recommend this if you have a fear of heights. You are safely hooked in at all times, but standing on the treetop platforms and swinging bridges was somewhat disconcerting, even though I don’t normally have an issue being high up.
SheBuysTravel Tip: They require closed-toe shoes. You should wear comfortable clothes, but nothing too loose and no skirts or dangling jewelry. If you have long hair, it needs to be tied back. They have an area to leave small items, but you should plan to leave anything valuable, such as wallets or phones, in your car or at home. Don’t put anything in a pocket that’s not completely fastened shut, or you risk losing it forever.
Follow the Butterfly Trail
What is it: The Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail covers 35 miles (about 4 hours of driving time). Each of the 14 locations on the trail features a different pair of butterfly wings (perfect for photo souvenirs), as well as educational information about that location’s featured butterfly. You can download the Butterfly Trail Passport to get stamped at each different location. There is also a printable coloring book available on the website. Start at the Hocking Hills Welcome Center in Logan to see their extensive butterfly garden.
Best Experienced By: Anyone and everyone! As long as you have transportation to the various locations, you’re good to go. Visit any of the 14 spots, or all of them, over whatever period of time you prefer.
Pros:
- This is a great way to not only explore the Hocking Hills area, but also to learn about the different types of butterflies.
- It’s a fun scavenger hunt activity that people of all ages can enjoy together.
Cons:
- There may or may not be live butterflies to see while you’re at each stop along the way. Various species head through the area at different times of year and times of day.
- There is a significant time commitment if you’re looking to visit the entire trail.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Look for other fun things to do near each stop, so even if you don’t see butterflies, you can learn about the various species and you’ll have more fun things to do along the way.
While you’re at the Butterfly Garden at the Logan Visitor Center, don’t miss the Pencil Sharpener Museum. It’s a one-of-a-kind collection, from two private donors, of every sort of pencil sharpener you can imagine – and more!
Bonus Indoor Activity: Watch and Learn the Art of Glassblowing
What is it: Jack Pine Studio is a working glass blowing studio that also offers demonstrations, classes and a gallery where you can view and purchase their beautiful glass artwork. Classes are offered in both group and private settings by their expert glass artists. They also hold events such as an annual Glass Pumpkin Festival every September and a Holiday Open House in early December. I think the Glass Pumpkin Festival would be amazing to experience, especially during the autumn, when the area is full of fall colors too.
I attended a group class where we made glass pumpkins. Our instructor, Adam, was extremely patient and very good at explaining and demonstrating every step of the process. We were able to complete most of the process ourselves, with his supervision. He was also very good at fixing any mistakes we made and making sure the final product looked exactly like it should. I love being able to look at my pumpkin and remember the enjoyment of making it (mostly) myself!
Best Experienced By: Anyone is able to watch the demonstrations and look through the gallery, but keep in mind that small kids and glass objects may not be the best combination. It is also quite hot in the studio. Classes are limited to participants who are at least 16 years old.
Pros:
- One-of-a-kind experience to participate in blowing glass through private or group classes.
- The glass artists are incredibly talented and the process is mesmerizing to watch.
- The gallery items range from very intricate and expensive items to small, simple ones that are extremely affordable. I purchased two tiny glass animals that are adorable and cost less than $10 each.
Cons:
- Not a family-friendly activity if you have young kids.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The studio is very hot, so dress accordingly. Closed-toe shoes are required for classes.
More Fun Outdoor Activities to Check Out
- High Rock Adventures: Try out rappelling and/or rock climbing, with expert instruction and all equipment provided. Different types of tours are available, including night rappelling or a combination of ziplining and rappelling. They also have an escape room adventure. For people aged 6+ who weigh less than 250 pounds, are in reasonably good health and can walk up and down steep inclines.
- Hocking Hills Orchard: Learn about different varieties of apples from Derek Mills, who grows 1600+ varieties, including some rare ones. I’m told that his talks are a lot of fun and he’s a great time. You-pick is generally available from July through October.
- Butterfly Ridge: This is a butterfly conservation center owned by a husband and wife team. They offer a butterfly garden, a mile-long hiking trail, a treehouse, and a nature center. Hands-on experiences include a Night Mothing Safari after dark.
Where to Eat in Hocking Hills
- Glenlaurel: This is a Scottish Inn that also offers formal breakfast and dinner experiences to the public, provided space is available. The menu for the six or seven-course dinner is set daily by the chef, based on available ingredients. We had the option to choose our protein (most chose beef, I was the only one who opted for salmon) and then the rest of the courses were on the set menu.
Dinner begins with a poetry reading. This is fine dining with real china and glassware, and multiple forks. Every course was small, but just enough to fill you up before the next. The meal is leisurely, so plan at least a couple of hours. I tasted dishes here that I’d never tried before (some I’d never heard of), and every one was delicious. Wine was served and paired with the various courses throughout the meal.
- Hocking Hills Diner: This is a family-owned restaurant serving American comfort food. We had breakfast here and were told we had to try the legendary banana bread French toast. It was really good, but such a huge portion that I wasn’t able to finish it all.
- The Ridge Inn Restaurant: They are located in Laurelville and are well known for their in-house-made donuts. We had to call and order them early in the morning because they run out quickly. We had lunch here, and it was a casual, comfortable spot. I had a chicken ranch wrap that was soo good, and I couldn’t stop eating the fries that came with it. And then, of course, the donuts! These are huge, glazed deliciousness. Donuts are only available Thurs-Sat.
- 58 West: This family-owned restaurant is located in former car dealership and is run by Hocking Hills Winery, in partnership with Motherwell Distilling and Hocking Hills Brewing Company, to offer a wide variety of wines, craft beers and cocktails. I had a daily special – the beef stroganoff. The beef was really good but there wasn’t a ton of it compared to the rice it was served on. Their limoncello cake for dessert was divine and the whole group enjoyed their soft pretzel shareable.
- Weaver’s Market and Deli: If I lived in this area, I would shop here all the time. This Amish market also sells deli meats and sandwiches. We stocked up on dessert options like homemade cookies, candy and hand pies and took our sandwiches to go (there is no seating). My turkey sandwich was one of the best I’d had recently and I so wish there were one of these near me. I also loved seeing a small display of thread and zippers, handy for the Amish who sew their own clothes.
- Chef Moe’s on Main: This is really a must-do if you’re in Logan or the Hocking Hills area. Located in the basement of the PNC on Main Street, Chef Moe’s is one-of-a-kind, southern hospitality combined with a tasty fusion of northern and southern Ohio flavors. Chef Moe is a force of nature who insisted on serving our group extra entrees to make sure we all had plenty and had the chance to try a variety of menu items, like her delicious BBQ ribs. We also sampled the amazing pies that are served here – my favorites were the Chocolate Volcano Cake and the Peanut Butter Buckeye Pie.
We also had the opportunity to check out their full breakfast buffet, and it did not disappoint either. Come hungry because you will absolutely not leave that way!
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