Ohio State Parks for Fall Hikes

Hocking Hills State Park
There’s a lot of wisdom in the sentiment that the journey matters as much as the destination. That’s especially the case in the 2,356-acre Hocking Hills State Park, where forests full of oaks, maples and hemlocks give way to stunning natural rock formations. Fall offers a perfect time to tackle the 5.5-mile Grandma Gatewood Trail that stretches from Ash Cave to Cedar Falls to Whispering Cave and then Old Man’s Cave.

“It makes it more of a comfortable hike, unlike in June, July [and] August when temperatures can get sweltering,” says Jeff Large, naturalist supervisor at the park.

Although he advises travelers to be aware that the region’s waterfalls are dependent on recent rainfall, one thing you can count on as autumn descends is a forest full of brilliant fall colors dotted with splashes of evergreen hemlocks. A great place to see this variety is the Rock House Trail, where a 1-mile loop starts atop a ridge before descending into a gorge and through a tunnel-like sandstone corridor set into the cliffside.

“You’ll hear things come alive — squirrels and other animals are out there gathering things up for the winter,” Large says. “Birds are migrating south. It’s just a really cool transition period.” Old Man’s Cave area:19852 St. Rte. 664, Logan 43138, 740/385-6842

Shawnee State Park
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Scioto County’s Shawnee State Park lets you follow in the footsteps of the Native Americans who once hunted here. There are 10 trails in the 1,095-acre park, which is within the 60,000-acre Shawnee State Forest. Popular hikes include the 5-mile Park Loop Trail, which offers views of the 43-acre Turkey Creek Lake. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the 1.5-mile Lookout Trail is the oldest in the park. It heads uphill through a hemlock forest before entering a mixed mesophytic area with varied tree species. 4404 St. Rte. 125, West Portsmouth 45663, 740/858-6652

Mohican State Park: photo by Jess Wilscheck

Mohican State Park
Keep an eye on the weather if you want to get the most out of Mohican State Park’s Lyons Falls Trail. The 2-mile hike at this 1,110-acre park in Ashland County passes Big Lyons Falls and Little Lyons Falls. If you visit after a moderate rain shower, you’ll be able to see cascading water on its way to the Clear Fork of the Mohican River. The trail has a covered bridge at one end and Pleasant Hill Dam at the other. The park’s newest trail, Gorge Overlook Trail, offers a 1.4-mile loop with steep hills, a ladder to climb and a suspension bridge. 3116 St. Rte. 3, Loudonville 44842, 419/994-5125

Caesar Creek State Park
Located close to earthworks built by early Indigenous cultures along the Little Miami River and a trail that was part of the Underground Railroad, Caesar Creek State Park sits at the intersection of history. The 3,741-acre park has more than 40 miles of trails, including the moderate-to-difficult, 13-mile Perimeter Trail, which loops the park’s southeast portion and takes hikers past Horseshoe Falls, which feeds into Caesar Creek Reservoir. The park also encompasses several miles of the statewide Buckeye Trail. Along the northern reaches of the park, hikers can check out Seymour the Sycamore, a giant tree that measures 20 feet in diameter. 8570 E. St. Rte. 73, Waynesville 45068, 513/897-3055 

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