I could give this park 5 stars, but it is unbelievably overtaken by tourists(yes, me being one of them). We didn’t make it to the park until noon on the first day and Old Man’s Cave was almost stressful and overwhelming with the amount of people around. This was our fault, so day 2, we decided to start our hike at 8am. Came to nearly an empty park and was MUCH more enjoyable than the first day. We hiked Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and ran into very few people. It was definitely a lot more peaceful. As for the hike, be prepared for a long hike with lots of stairs. The hike to Cedar Falls is 3 miles there and 3 miles back (6 miles total, give or take) from the end of Old Man’s Cave. The hike to Cedar Falls I would consider a pretty moderate hike. Pretty easy in some areas, difficult in others. My mom and I are far from seasoned hikers, but we accomplished it. Definitely sore, but well worth it. If you want to see cedar falls, but don’t want to hike to it. End your hike at Old Man’s, and drive to the parking lot closer to Cedar Falls.

Beautiful trails, with options to choose from long to short, strenuous to easy. Lots of waterfalls to see. Expect to climb and descend a few sets of stairs, but the reward is worth it! The visitor building is beautiful, with detailed information both regarding trail options in the area outside of the state park, as well as interactive educational postings and displays. A great spot to spend the day. Allow for a minimum of 2-3 hrs if you plan to hike to enjoy the full experience.

This place was a certainly a hidden gem in the area! Beautiful springs and caves and waterfalls - even in early spring (latter half of March). The trails that went to/through each attraction were perfect length (less than a mile, whichever route you chose) - not too lengthy or rugged, even for my 60y.o. mother-in-law. So beautiful! You could spend 2 minutes or 2 hours at each location; they really were that enjoyable!

Beautiful state park! It is hard not to take a good picture here. These shallow caves are a wonder. Most trails are one way and involve walking up and down hills. Definitely bring shoes that won’t be slippery on rock steps. Some trails are off the free map the visitors center gives you like Rock House for example. The visitor’s center is really informative especially the lower floor if you are interested in history and geology. Will be back for sure!

I have heard so many good things about this place and i was blown away when i finally get to visit Hocking hills with my family. We stayed in a very beautiful and cozy cabin. It was just perfect. The waterfalls were magnificent! The hike to every trail wasnt that bad! I just love how at every end of the trail, there is this magnificent waterfall that is waiting for you!! Even my little kids enjoyed our vacation!

This is a really amazing park. The scenic destinations are well developed and maintained for public access. Really breathtaking scenery for this part of the states. The state park itself has some great camping. We appreciated the care of the sites, the bath houses, dump stations, etc... The staff in the campground office were also super helpful and everyone just has great customer service skills. Top marks!

I love Hocking and go fairly frequently. Because of how dry this summer has been, none of the waterfalls were flowing yesterday. But the hikes are still beautiful. I got there at 7am on a Saturday for peace. By 10am the crowds began and by 1pm I left due to the mass of people. Please be mindful of other hikers - trail etiquette, manners and noise level awareness. The locations away from the Old Mans Cave tend to be a little less crowded. 10am-5pm you're going to be in a train line of people, which I don't consider fun.

Such a/an Awesome, Amazing, Beautiful, Cool, Clean, Excellent, Fantastic, Gorgeous, Nice and Wonderful State Park. I love it. My friends and I thought it might be though to hike because it’s our first time hiking but it’s actually not that bad.. We started hiking from - The upper falls - Devil’s Bathtub - Old Man’s Cave - the lower falls - finished just like in order. And we went to Cedar Falls. The next day Ash Cave and Rock House. We had Lunch and Dinner(make a reservation a head of time) at Inn and Spa. We love the park, and enjoyed every second of our time being there, hiking there. Recommend to anyone who likes to hike and enjoy the nature.

You simply have to go. Stop thinking about it and just go. As long as you can hike some medium difficulty trails for a mile or two, you can see some of the most amazing natural features you’ve ever seen. Waterfalls, caves, rivers, stone walls, etc are everywhere! The hikes are well marked, but not too touristy. Some are paved for handicap accessibility which is very nice, but most are for very able folks. Also, we had zero crowds, sometimes all by ourselves, by going before 9am on a weekday. Crowds seem to increase quickly after 10am.

This is a very busy state park. We stayed Sunday to Tuesday in June and the place was pretty booked up. A lot of sites are very close together. The loops tend to have better spots IMO. I felt that our loop was the best - we had site 168 and it was decently spaced from the other campsites. It had a very rustic restroom of pit toilets fully open to the elements. Not far away was a fully enclosed bathhouse that was clean and nice. The main trail featuring old man’s cave was pretty busy on a Monday. However if you kept going and branched off to whispering caves it was a lot quieter. The trail in the campground to and around the lake was also quiet during the week. We liked all the trails we did there. Overall a really nice state park, just a lot of campsites crammed in together.

Breathtaking park with beautiful,long trails. Plan to spend few hours exploring around. Make sure that you have hiking shoes and water for long walks. Dog friendly. Good to bring older kids, you will have to care little one at some point, it's long and challenging but exceptional trial. One whole day you can spend here and will not be enough. Was really busy, parking was packed and there was long line for toilets. So prepare well and enjoy .

Me & my teen went there for the 1st time ever yesterday (10-09-2021) & it was a lot of things but mostly amazing! Let me 1st say this....I am a 347 pound lady (currently losing weight) but I still managed to huff it through the Old Man Cave trail. By the way that's supposed to be the easiest trail. I'm surprised I made it back to the car in one piece. This trail has so many steps (the bane of my existence) that are uneven, with no rails to help you up or down and some were a little higher than others. Let's just say I had old people passing me up!! I have arthritis in the knee & did hurt myself on one of the steps BUT it was still an amazing adventure! One thing I would suggest is to bring a walking stick to help steady your steps and I would not go if you had to hold a baby. And that trail is not stroller friendly. When I lose a little more weight I'll be back! Oh and it was extremely packed that day! I see why they get over 2 million visitors a year. AND you will lose your internet signal!

Great surprise!! Just a quick stop for us on our way through but really enjoyed a half day hiking the main attractions. Pretty busy in some parts on a Sunday but worth it for sure. Good parking and facilities available. Need to do a little research before you go as to what you want to see because there are several different areas you will have to drive to rather then just parking in one spot and planning on walking- unless you plan on back country hiking.

Hocking Hills state park is one of the most beautiful state parks that we have ever visited! Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave two of the most famous touristic spots, and we highly recommend both to anyone who’s planning to visit Hocking Hills! Old Man’s Cave has some up and down, but it’s not a difficult trail in general. Ash Cave is pretty short and flat, so it should be very accessible for most families with kids. The parking space is pretty large in old man’s cave.

Wonderful park that has gorgeous scenery. Has excellent sights and the walking trails are amazing. This is the place to go hiking or just for a day off with the family. Has a very nice visitor center and everything. Be prepared for a lot of steep uphill and steep downhill walking when you get further into the park. The paths are well maintained and the markers that are present do a great job of keeping everyone safe. Definitely a place that will be remembered by the family.

This was my first trip ever to this park! I loved it! The visitor center was incredible and the park itself was lovely. Do plan on going up and down a lot on the trail! It's a lot of natural stone steps and inclines/declines. I recommend bringing some snacks, water, and probably a mini chair or a blanket for you to sit and rest. The trails can take 1-7 hours (or more), so do try to plan ahead. Overall it was an incredible park and I can't wait to go back!

It is a beautiful place who likes to hike and beauty of nature. I would suggest coming early. We started our path around 8:00 am till 11:30 am. There were up to 20 cars in the parking lot, when we finished the entire parking lot was packed with cars and so many people, I would say there was pretty crowded. Also, don't forget to take a lot of water if you're hiking with kids. Do not wear a sandals, or any open kind shoes. It also depends on how many mile you are planning to hike.

The most beautiful place in the Buckeye State! There are so many beautiful natural wonders to explore in Hocking Hills. It's definitely a favorite place to visit. The park is well kept and the state has updated the Lodge and visitor center. Highly recommend visiting!

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful place in Ohio, and I have lived in Ohio my whole life. A great place to make memories and have adventures! I especially love it in the winter when the waterfalls are frozen! Every year they host a 6 mile winter hike, and I love it so much that I hiked this year even though the official hike was cancelled due to Covid. All in all, this is a beautiful park that is well worth the drive!

I love visiting this trail. Just enough up and down to keep you on your feet, but also able to lightly jog due to mostly minimal elevation change. It's 2.5 miles to get to the back falls which is worth the trip, and a nice easy walk on the ridge back, complete with a beautiful hidden lake. The day I was there it looked like glass and is a nice place to rest. Paths are well marked and enough visitors to know where you are going.

Little to no water due to a dry summer but the trails and geology of the park was outstanding. I love hiking in areas that have grandiose features such as the whispering cave. Definitely a great set of Hikes to check off the bucket list.

This place was magical. We spent the afternoon at the Old Man's Cave. Great picnic spot. The entire area is beautiful. The trail (which is one way) from the upper falls to old Man's cave was incredible. Picturesque. Awe inspiring. So much larger than photos seem to suggest. Highly recommended. We are already making plans to return to see Ash Cave.

Hocking Hills was a pleasant surprise! I saw the pics beforehand but it was one of the easier hikes... I compare everything to sleeping bear dunes now 😩🤣 It is extremely family/kid friendly so be prepared to encounter families with anxious elementary school aged children trying to get around you and not respecting personal the space of others 😳 That was the only downside, people were not having their children adhere to social distancing. Yes we are outside, however there are some closed spaces that become uncomfortable with Amanda and Joey not listening to mom telling them to wait...

Incredible park, beautiful scenes. Nice clean visitors center and bathroom. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the signage. A lot of the trails are one way. They do have maps but we met several people on the trail that didn't know where the trailhead was. Maybe because of staffing or it was the few days we were there, they could have used a ranger in front of the visitor's center and one on the trails to help direct people to the right area. We will be going back as we didn't get to everything we wanted to do. I would highly recommend.

How did I NOT know about this place?! It is one of the most beautiful places to hike and explore. Very family friendly, too. There is so much to do, but the trails are like walking into a fairyland or Jerusuc Park. Absolutely stunning! My photos are unfiltered. It really is that beautiful!!!

Accessibility is an issue. If you come on a weekend, expect to park on the side of the road and then walk a good ten minutes to get to the visitors center. I would suggest bringing food and beverages with you (as the surrounding towns are sorely lacking in a good variety of those amenities.) The hike itself is only mildly challenging in most places. Be sure to get a map and plan your hike beforehand as there are multiple ways to go about it. The views, as you can see, are impressive.

It was so much fun and so beautiful!! Loved the hiking and all the different caves and waterfalls.. Beware, though... some of the hiking is not for small children or the elderly that have issues with balance or walking..

This state park is one of my favorite places to hike. It is kind of a long hike but it totally worth it. It is beautiful. Make sure you pack enough water and one more thing to mention, I didn’t really see any restrooms there so be prepared for that. It is more convenient to start early in the morning if you don’t wanna get too hot.

What a great place. Gorge trail and old man's cave were very cool. We didn't have any crowds but I can see it being a bit of a nightmare. Rock House was also excellent we hiked it early morning to avoid the crowds. Both are well worth it and there's like three more cool places in the park at least. Camping was good we had #85 which worked out great, it has a lot of space and no one across from you. There's at least 3 more good primitive sites and service sites also looked good. Restrooms with showers were fairly clean but only about 20% of sites were occupied. We'll be back, what a great area of Ohio.

Lots of trails! Way too much to fit into one day. But that leaves the possibility of a return trip! Visiting in winter was fun, there's a few hikes that are shorter if you're running low on time.

An intense enough hike (Old Man's to Cedar Falls and back) to feel accomplished for the day but not so intense that I was sore. I ended up doing 13 miles total because of the one way traffic flow and not knowing how to properly create my route, so I saw Lower Falls several times in one hike. I feel like there could be better information for those wanting to see all the "attractions" and get in a full OM to Ash Cave experience, but I still really enjoyed myself.

BEST State Park in Ohio!! 👍

Reputed to be Ohio's premiere state park, Hocking Hills truly lives up to the hype. From its recently built lodge/visitors center to its well designed grounds, this first stop is a great way to learn about the principle trails of the park. Maps and kiosk will help in deciding which way to go. The Gorge Trail is an easy hike past the Upper Falls descending to the Lower Falls with Devil's Bathtub & Old Man's Cave between. There are steps exiting the gorge at these two places. We continued on the trail heading for Whispering Cave, eventually looping back to the Lodge/VC. The rock formations & towering cliffs were awesome to behold. Not to mention the amazing work accomplished by the workers of the CCC. We also loved the shorter hikes to Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, and the unexpected & intriguing Rock House.

Beautiful after a snow

Place is awesome,but would not recommend in the winter the walk way was extremely slippery n very icey in my opinion it should have been closed

Just stunning! The history and beauty of this place is breathtaking. We have gone multiple times now. It’s an easy enough hike for the kids; mine first went at age 5. There are plenty of campgrounds and other lodging options. You can easily spend a week here exploring all the different trails.

(Translated by Google) It is beautiful and where to walk a lot, everything is very cool (Original) Esta hermoso ay donde caminar muchoo todo muy genial

The trails are encrusted with ice and very uneven. Be careful. But the bad part is lots of people and NO MASKS.

Great hikes not far from Columbus

Amazing place to spend a day with family. Kids loved the hike as well as myself (except for the climb out maybe LOL).

This state park is among one of the best parks I've visited across the country. It has alot to do and it's definitely worth the drive. They have alot of scenic trails and lengthy walking paths. It's definitely a great place to go if you're into trails and walking. Has a great visitor center and plenty to do around the park. Worth the visit!

Very pretty in the winter!

A++

Beautiful albeit short sight to behold. Located not far off from the parking lot you will begin to notice very high cliff faces appear in the woodline and not to long after it will open up to the massive cave and waterfall. Nothing short of the perfect photo op but you will be taking turns with the density of tourists. Great parking and restroom amenities provided

We went on 2 trails during our family vacation in Hocking Hills and they were absolutely beautiful. The first one was Ash Cave (pics 1-8). It was beautiful. A plus is that one was almost 100% wheel chair/stroller accessible (until the end where you get close to the waterfall because of the sand) it's child friendly as well so for 3 kids and 7 adults that was nice. The second one was Old Man Cave Trail. We didn't go the full trail because our 7.5 month old son started getting a bit fussy, plus the terrain got harder after the deep pit of water. But what we did see was absolutely gorgeous (pics 9-31). This trail was my favorite.

So lucky to have this place close to home! My family loves hining Hocking Hills!

Heartsong.... One amazing site after another!

Absolutely beautiful. Much much much busier during this pandemic.

Way to icey to tackle the stairs. Wished a range could have put sand or salt down on the ice for hikers. Beautiful winter hiking. Bring your yak tracks.

Excellent experience. The cabin is delightful.

The hikes are one way which helps to regulate the traffic. Also the trails have waterfalls and caves which make them adventurous and pretty.

Love going to Hocking Hills SP. The gorge is amazing. Have hiked it several times. Always interesting. Great trails throught the park. Excellent visitor center will helpful and knowledgeable staff. Will go again

We have always loved visiting this place and there are so much to explore. One day is just not enough. Old Man's Cave, Upper Falls and Lower Falls is one day trip. There are other falls and other activities that you can do. Plus, you can stay and make memories. Particularly referring to this Visitor Center- it's a good helpful location, lots of option to load up on snacks and drinks. Purchase some souvenir or toys. Use restrooms and take some rest. Everything about this visitor Center is helpful and good for your trip. The parking is huge but still crowded. Walk to the Visitor Center is just about 2-5 minutes from parking. You can also learn about the history, process and timeline of the park, falls and cave. Plenty of things to do here.

My first time on the trail system and it was nice to be outside in the trees. Definitely people traffic, but not too bad. I did not like the one-way traffic directing signs, which was new to me, even telling me to turn around because I was going the wrong direction. I won't be back when its busier. Seeing the sandstone cliffs was great.

Such a cool place. I had forgotten how beautiful it is. So many places to hike. I will be going back again.

I visited several trails, including Old Man's Cave, the Hemlock Bridge, Lower Falls, and Cedar Falls. Loved every moment. The best trail, by far, was the Buckeye trail leading from Cedar Falls, back to Old Man's Cave. It is much more visually pleasing and beautiful but a very challenging and (at times) treacherous hike.

Honestly one of the most beautiful sets of parks in the nation. If you were making a top 5 places to go in Ohio this is on that list. What's more, they were able to keep trails open during covid (though only one-way) and a friend and I were able to take a day to get out of the house. Truly needed in the chaotic nature of 2020. There are a lot of private and company-owned lodging options from hotels to cabins to campgrounds, and there are plenty of local eateries around. Cell service is spotty in the park areas but in nearby Logan it is just fine.

This place almost feels like it doesn’t belong in Ohio... ...And that’s not meant to be a knock on Ohio! The forest and hills are emerald green and the way the sun shines through the trees into the forest ravines and canyons below borders on feeling enchanted. There are plenty of beautiful, peaceful hikes of varying lengths and difficulties. Some very short and easy ones. Some longer, mildly strenuous ones. Plenty somewhere in between. Almost all go by little caves and waterfalls that add to the “enchanted” atmosphere. Many of the hiking trails are one way, which can make it easy to get a little lost. Make sure you consult a map so you know where a trail leads before you set out. Some trails lead to other parts of the park that may be far away from where you parked. If you took a one way trail, you may have no way to get back to your car. I don’t think you’d face much consequence (aside from a “please don’t do that) if you’re caught hiking the “wrong way,” but many of the trails are narrow enough that you’d at least aggravate all the oncoming traffic. Anyway, a couple spots worth visiting are Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. These hikes aren’t too difficult and the views are rewarding.

Unarguably the best place for hiking in Ohio. Several trails to choose from depending on your skill level. Couple of trails are paved so that they are accessible with wheel chairs. Can spend an entire day here hiking and exploring. Campgrounds are also available.

Avoid crowds by visiting in the morning on week days, and during inclement weather.

Most beautiful place to go to and I am happy that I got to go ther and will recommend it to anyone who has a good experience with the wild and with nature.

Highly recommend

BEAUTIFUL!

Absolutely gorgeous! A wonder around ever turn! Totally doable for all fitness levels. Can't wait to get back!

Love this park. Great trails to walk. Gets crowded in the warmer months though

This place is beautiful.

Beautiful scenery ! Must see !

Definitely one of my favorite places to visit with kid and wife. We go here multiple times through out the summer and enjoy it every time. There are many places to visit and stay at this park. I do remember seeing a lodge that you can stay at nearby. This park definitely needs a little prep before hand. Make sure to bring all of your water in your Yetis and make sure to have a child carrier If you are bringing younger children because you cannot go much places with a stroller. We walked through this place multiple times even while it was raining and managed to stay dry while walking through the woods. The sights here are pretty especially during summer spring and fall time. Never have I regretted driving here from west Chester. I can’t change much about the drive unless I am on a motorcycle or my private jet pack. Yes there are restrooms at this park that you can use but it’s always good to use the RR before you go. If you get caught out in the nature and more nature starts to call well at least you have a bunch of leaves 🍃 you can use for free with or without covid the leaves will always be there for you. There are waterfalls that you can have fun in and swim through. We asked this guy to take a picture of us and he did but he also left us a few selfies of himself.hopefully when he sees this post he can identify himself!

We love to hike the trails and see the wonderful sights.

It was a beautiful day for the state canceled hike. I would guess in excess of 2000 people braved the flu and made their own hike. From Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and back through the gorge. All were friendly, had a wonderful time.

Totally awesome place to visit,you will not be disappointed!!

Nice place

My favorite spot in Ohio so far. Beautiful and peaceful. It is definitely a gem, a must see if visiting Ohio!

Always such a fun and beautiful time to be here. I love Hocking Hills in the fall. The weather was lovely and wasn't too hot and the trails are always so well kept. Lots of exploring that can be done. One of the most beautiful places in Ohio!

Very nice

Have been attending the winter hike on and off for almost 25 years. Such a beautiful place. Everyone should experience it once in their life

What a wonderful state owned park system that has amazing geological features and a long history starting from native americans all the way to the present. Come visit here and take in the beauty of the natural resources around you and get away from the busy life for awhile. Who knows you may see a fox or an owl perched sleeping or maybe a cute little chipmunk scurrying about. If animals are not your thing...maybe you will see the ellusive fire pink flowers or a showy lady's slipper that are both not common followers. Or come to cedar falls and see the "cedar" trees...well not really cedar trees they are actually eastern hemlocks. Look on the back of the needles and you will see two light stripes and one green stripe one the underneath. These trees do not grow wild any where else in ohio to my knowledge. These were not planted here. With this being said ... PLEASE stay on the trails. This park is very strict about that due to safety reasons. Enjoy your hike... BUT STAY ON THE TRAIL. Maybe I'll see you there.

Never been. There

Well worth the drive. Old man's cave is a breath taking hike with many options of hike length. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and come visit.

Beautiful! The Rock House, Conkles Hollow, and Old Man's Cave are all great places to visit. Free parking, free admission. Great trails. Lots of wildlife with big trees and flowers. Plenty of historical and scientific information.

Definitely wear a good pair of walking shoes or hiking boots.

Amazing views. BEAUTIFUL!

Great area, very scenic!