15 Summer Destinations in the Hocking Hills

Hit the Trails
Hocking Hills State Park spans seven sites, with each stop offering a different perspective on the cliffs, caves and waterfalls that have long drawn travelers to the area. Some hikes are short and easy, while others are more difficult and rugged. Together, they showcase the range of treks available in this incredibly scenic part of the state.   

Ash Cave offers an easy to hike that delivers with a big payoff. A quarter-mile paved path leads to the largest recess cave in Ohio, where a seasonal waterfall spills over a broad sandstone overhang. The enormous size of the cave makes it memorable, and it’s one of the most accessible places in the park to take in such geology. 

Cedar Falls offers a short half-mile roundtrip that leads to one of the park’s most powerful waterfalls when water levels are high. A short drive from there, the well-known Old Man’s Cave tends to draw the largest crowds. The 1-mile loop (and additional half-mile trail to the Lower Falls) winds through the gorge along a route with stone steps, bridges and narrow passageways.

“If you can only do one short thing, and you want to see as much as possible, you do Old Man’s Cave,” says Courtney Silver-Peavey, naturalist supervisor at Hocking Hills State Park.

Whispering Cave, which includes the swinging Hemlock Bridge, offers a 4.5-mile trek that leads out to a 105-foot waterfall (when seasonal conditions are right) and back.

Rock House stands apart as Hocking Hills State Park’s only true cave and is reached by an uneven 0.6-mile trail. Inside, light filters through openings in the rock, and carvings left by visitors more than a century ago are still visible. 

For a more challenging hike, Cantwell Cliffs (2 miles roundtrip) features steep sections and uneven footing, but it rewards that effort with a quieter experience and incredible views for those willing to take it on.

Just outside the state park, Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve provides a breathtaking setting. The flat Gorge Trail (1-mile roundtrip) runs between cliff walls that rise up to 200 feet. As the gorge narrows, the trail becomes more enclosed, with ferns and wildflowers growing along the path.  Above it, the Rim Trail (2.5-mile loop) offers a different view, with overlooks that are especially popular in the fall.

Head Into Town
A short drive from the trails, downtown Logan offers a slice of small-town living with places to shop, eat and drink after a day of exploring. 58 West features a restaurant, brewery, winery and distillery under one roof, which was the aim of  Blaine Davidson, CEO of Hocking Hills winery, who created the downtown spot. 

“As far as we knew, nowhere else in the state had all three manufacturers in one location,” Davidson says.

The result is a space that works just as well for a meal after a day on the trails as it does for a night out. Housed in a renovated 1920s car dealership, the building still has its original brick walls and tin ceiling, giving it an elegant feel without losing its casual atmosphere.

The menu spans burgers, flatbreads and entrees like the Deconstructed Cordon Bleu, while the drink list rotates with house beers, local spirits and wines.

A short walk away, the Columbus Washboard Co. provides a glimpse into a piece of Ohio manufacturing history. Founded in 1895, the company is the last remaining washboard-maker in the United States. After nearly closing in 1999, the operation was purchased and moved to Logan, where production continues today, still using much of the company’s original machinery.

Workers shape the locally sourced poplar wood and roll and crimp the metal used in the washboards by hand. Guided tours walk visitors through each step of the process, moving from the downstairs workshop to the assembly area upstairs. While many washboards are bought for decoration or musical use, a large number still serve their original purpose.

“We still get a lot of orders for people who want to use washboards as a washboard,” says Jacqueline Barnett, co-owner of Columbus Washboard Co.

Those looking for casual and creative comfort food can check out Chef Moe’s on Main, while Brewery 33 Hocking Hills, a short drive from downtown, offers a rotating selection of house-made beers, food trucks and live music. It also has a spacious outdoor area that’s both family- and dog-friendly. Cap the day off with a round of mini golf at Adventure Golf at Rempel’s Grove, located just outside downtown Logan.

Have An Adventure
For those wanting to trade their hiking boots for a saddle, Rose Moon Ranch offers a way to explore the landscape on horseback. Owner Elizabeth Gray started the ranch as a rescue operation, rehabilitating and retraining many of the horses used for trail rides. She cut trails by hand through her property and began offering rides to the public in 2022. 

Rides are available for all experience levels, from beginner-friendly paths through the valley to advanced routes up steep hills with great views at the top. Along the way, riders pass creeks, rock walls and a waterfall, seeing parts of the region more removed from the busier trailheads. Each ride also includes a photoshoot, giving visitors something to take home to remember the experience by. 

“I always say [horses] are the original four-wheeler because they can get over anything,” Gray says. 

Hocking Hills Canopy Tours takes visitors up into the treetops and provides thrilling zips that provide overhead views of the terrain. Since opening in 2008, the operation has expanded to include a range of courses, from the classic Original Canopy Tour to the faster X-Tour, where lines stretch out over the forest and across the Hocking River. 

“You get a bird’s-eye view of what’s below you … and you can see views from the zip lines that you can’t see from the ground,” owner Julieann Burroughs says.

There are options for different comfort levels, whether it is your first time trying zip lining or you’re looking for something a little more intense. For those who prefer to stay on the ground, there are also guided hikes and off-road Segway tours.

Not far away, Hocking Hills Ecotours offers a more deliberate way to explore. Guided hikes move at a slower pace, with a focus on the smaller details, from plant life to rock formations. Private tours are also available, giving visitors a more flexible way to explore with a guide

When You Go
For more information about these and other destinations in the Hocking Hills, visit explorehockinghills.com.

58 West
58west.com

Adventure Golf at Rempel’s Grove
golfinthegrove.com

Brewery 33 Hocking Hills
brewery33.com

Chef Moe’s on Main
chefmoesonmain.com

Columbus Washboard Co.
columbuswashboard.com

Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve 
ohiodnr.gov

Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
hockinghillscanopytours.com

Hocking Hills Ecotours
hockinghillsecotours.com

Hocking Hills State Park 
ohiodnr.gov

Rose Moon Ranch
740/486-0031

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