The Hocking Hills

The Hocking Hills 30+ years exploring the Hocking Hills—from Ash Cave and Cedar Falls to the quiet trails of Hocking State Forest. Your local guide.

Plan your trip, find cabins, and discover local favorites at thehockinghills.org. Author of Hocking Hills Hiking Trails.

Turtle Rock sits along a muddy uphill climb on the bridle trail in Hocking State Forest. People often ask whether they’l...
07/23/2026

Turtle Rock sits along a muddy uphill climb on the bridle trail in Hocking State Forest. People often ask whether they’ll know it when they pass it.

Haha. You can’t miss it.

Still, when I included Turtle Rock and the route through the area in my new Hocking Hills Hiking Trail Guidebook, I added step-by-step directions. Just in case. But unlike the turtles crossing the roads this time of year after a rain, this one hasn’t moved in quite some time.

Tucked away in Ohio, a paved trail vanishes into a world of towering cliffs and hemlocks—then, just as you catch your br...
07/16/2026

Tucked away in Ohio, a paved trail vanishes into a world of towering cliffs and hemlocks—then, just as you catch your breath, it bursts open beneath the awe-inspiring, colossal recess of Ash Cave.

The cave’s name comes from the mysterious mountain of ashes discovered beneath the shelter by early settlers. Some believed the ashes, along with the nearby red rock cliffs, were evidence that the cave had once been used for smelting, inspiring generations of stories about gold and silver hidden somewhere within Ash Cave.

Headed to the Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival on Friday, August 14, or Saturday, August 15, 2026?
Don’t miss the chance to experience Ash Cave—just a short drive away and truly one of the most jaw-dropping natural wonders in the region. Let your festival weekend double as an epic adventure!
Oh and about the Bigfoot Fest~
This free, family-friendly festival transforms the Vinton County Fairgrounds into a lively celebration, packed with electrifying presentations, live music, art, mouthwatering food, hands-on activities, unique local vendors—and a whole lot of legendary Bigfoot fun! And I'll be there to lead you on a night hike at the famous Moonville Tunnel!

📍 Ash Cave
27291 State Route 56
South Bloomingville, Ohio

🌲 Ash Cave trail information:
https://thehockinghills.org/ash_cave.htm

👣 Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival information:
https://hockinghillsbigfoot.com/

06/07/2026

Cantwell Cliffs is farther out than the other sites, with more steps and a smaller parking lot. But it’s worth the trip—nowhere else in the area will you find the narrow, twisting passage known as Fat Woman’s Squeeze...

Take it from a local guide: If you ever get the chance, hike the Hocking Hills on a rainy day—trust me, the views are un...
05/25/2026

Take it from a local guide: If you ever get the chance, hike the Hocking Hills on a rainy day—trust me, the views are unreal. I started at Ash Cave, made my way to Cedar Falls, and followed the rough blue-blazed Gorge Trail to Old Man’s Cave.
On the way back, because of flooding, I took the higher ground along the Rim Trail (red blazes) past Rose Lake and Cedar Falls, looping back to Ash Cave.

With all the detours to chase waterfalls, it ended up being about 11 miles, and every step was worth it. But hiking that far isn’t for everybody. There are also shorter trails to Ash Cave, about a quarter mile. Cedar Falls is about a half mile. Both are loop trails. Old Man’s Cave Loop is 1-1.5 miles, depending on the spur trails you choose. Check out more info on the trails: thehockinghills.org

05/20/2026

I'm stuck on waterfalls this week, I suppose. But right before the rain this morning, I passed Big Springs Hollow and turned around to take the hike. Ended up running out to beat the storm. Something you may not have known: this waterfall is the tallest in the state. It's easy to get to by parking in the gravel rock climbing and rappelling lot just past the parking area for Conkle's Hollow on the left-hand side. Just hike across Big Pine Road and follow the trail across the sketchy metal bridge. Then make a right. Some really beautiful rock formations here. My Garmin mapped it at about 1.2 miles total out and back.

I know they say, "Don’t go chasing waterfalls," but I couldn’t help myself this weekend! Sometimes it’s more fun to expl...
05/12/2026

I know they say, "Don’t go chasing waterfalls," but I couldn’t help myself this weekend! Sometimes it’s more fun to explore new paths. 🌊💙

Hiked the incredible Hocking Hills and found more breathtaking waterfalls—each one more stunning than the last.

This is the one place people regret skipping.Rock House isn’t a true cave—it’s a walk-through carved right into the clif...
04/29/2026

This is the one place people regret skipping.

Rock House isn’t a true cave—it’s a walk-through carved right into the cliff, with natural openings along the rock walls that let the light pour in as you move through it.

Technically, a true cave extends beyond the zone of light and forms underground, usually in limestone. What you’ll find here—and throughout this region—are recess caves, formed in sandstone with wide, open fronts.

Still…this one is different.

Once you walk through it, you’ll understand why it belongs on every bucket list.

I’ve been guiding folks through this region for over 30 years, and this is still one I tell people not to miss.

👉 Full guide:
https://thehockinghills.org/Rockhouse.htm

Don’t skip this one. Trust me. 👉 “Be honest—have you actually been through Rock House, or did you skip it on your first trip?”

04/22/2026

With its cascading waterfall, Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park is one of the most visited trails in the region—and it’s easy to see why. A smooth, paved path makes the journey accessible to nearly everyone, guiding visitors through a scenic gorge to the stunning recess cave.

But beyond its natural beauty, Ash Cave holds a fascinating piece of history. In the early 1900s, it served as an open-air church. Just to the right, atop a small ridge, lies the flat stone known as Preacher’s Rock, where local ministers once delivered sermons. Nearby, choirs would gather, their voices amplified by the cave’s remarkable acoustics, filling the space with rich, echoing harmony. https://thehockinghills.org/ash_cave.htm

04/12/2026

There is a unique and captivating rock formation at Hocking Hills State Park in Old Man's Cave, known as Devil's Bathtub. This smooth, swirling basin carved into the sandstone by centuries of rushing water looks almost otherworldly, its surface glistening with constant motion.
As rocks and water tumble through the narrow chute and drop into the tub below, the resulting echoes and splashes seem to come alive. Early hikers, awed and unsettled by these strange, reverberating sounds, often described them as devilish whispers or distant, eerie laughter—almost as if the formation were a gateway to another realm. Stories spread of a mysterious portal lurking beneath the churning waters, fueling legends that the Devil himself might emerge when the conditions were just right.

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