Hocking Hills

The summers at our Indiana abode aren’t bad! We have a backyard basin that we enjoy every moment possible in. But, even with poolside living, a wanderlust needs to explore.

We headed to Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio with our quarantine crew. Our social bubble has been limited to my in-laws and sister-in-law’s crew of four. Add in my 3T+D and you have a party of ten. We have enjoyed vacations together for the past 14 years (although 14 years ago there weren’t 10 of us, we have added a few kiddos).

Our cabin, Green Acres Lodge, had more than enough room for us all to spread out! The features were family friendly with an indoor pool, game table, pool table and personal swing set. Each family had a floor to themselves, which really allowed personal space in the midst of a family vaca. If there is one thing I can tell you about Hocking Hills in July – it’s hot! So, set out early, avoid the crowds and the heat. I am a huge fan of All Trails, but Hocking Hills has its own app that is also super helpful to plan your hikes. There is so much beauty in Hocking Hills, so allow yourself plenty of time to experience the area.

Hocking Hills State Park is a little different than a typical nature reserve. The views and hikes are spread out across the countryside rather than being contained in a single contiguous area. You will need to drive from site to site to see it all. Planning your day in advance is important to efficiently travel from one point to another.  

Day one, we headed out to Cedar Falls. While the falls are impressive, they are seasonal. You could experience a grand show or see a dried-up creek bed depending the weather. Either way, it’s an easy one mile out and back hike worth experiencing. We arrived first thing in the morning to avoid crowds, which paid off! We got great photos without any other people.

Ash Cave is close by, so it’s logical to hit on the same day as Cedar Falls. And trust me, you do not want to miss it! It is the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi with a notable horseshoe shaped rim. There are two trail options to view Ash Cave: a 0.25 mile out and back that takes you directly into the cave or a half mile loop around the rim. I would suggest doing them both to gain perspective of the size of the cave.

If you are looking for a unique rock formation, make your way to Balanced Rock. It is a little tricky to locate, but well worth finding. Follow SR374 to Conkle’s Hollow, turn on to Big Pine Road and park in the gravel lot on your left that is marked for the Rappelling Area. Then, cross the street and go over the foot bridge to cross the creek. You will then turn left and hike following the blue trail markers. After a few switchbacks you will come to rock formations and then a plateau before finding Balanced Rock.

GPS Coordinates: 39.459208N 82.55844W (Parking Area) 39.457784N 82.551938W (Pillar)

Balanced Rock is a 35-foot-tall pillar that formed due to erosion. Visually it looks like the top rock will fall off the bottom at any time. The lower rock will eventually weather away and the top rock will topple off. It is impressive to view and really makes you wonder how its physically possible to remain balancing.

Cantwell Cliffs was the highlight of day two. While my 3Ts enjoyed this hike, my sister-in-law who was wearing a baby while holding the hand of a 4-year-old turned back due to the steep stairs and general terrain. We did have our 8 week old pup, Luna, with us who hiked some herself, but we put her in a backpack for the stairs. We only used the backpack for this one trip before she out grew it but found it to be well worth getting. I would only recommend taking a dog who is an experienced hiker on this trail.

Cantwell Cliffs might be the most remote hike in Hocking Hills. It is also the most difficult hike we completed in the area. This also means we did not see anyone else on our adventure. There are sharp, steep climbs and I would caution others to stay on the trail due to the steep drops that can sneak up on you. Like I said, it was a highlight and we would do it again – just giving caution so you know what to expect.

On the flip side, the most popular area is where you can find Devil’s Bathtub. Situated by the visitor’s center, this area offers lots of hikes right in the same parking area, but be prepared for other people. Here we chose to hike Upper Falls to Lower Falls via the Buckeye Trail. This also takes you through Old Man Cave and allows you to continue to Broken Rock Falls if you choose. There are many different trails and one can easily continue on to another or take a path back to the parking area at many points. You could spend a whole day in this area if you chose, so plan plenty of time if you don’t mind others. Due to the popularity of the area, these hikes attracted inexperienced hikers who thought flip flops were proper foot attire. With the COVID pandemic, we were looking for less interaction with people (or less interaction with people who don’t understand etiquette).

A little farther north is Rock House, which is just that – a rock that was used for shelter for Native Americans and pioneers. Claimed to be a cave, this rock shelter has cut outs in the rocks that look like windows and offers beautiful light streams.

There are plenty of other hikes in the area, from Conkles Hollow, and Rockbridge (both not pet friendly) to Hemlock Bridge and Whispering Cave. Be sure to find what trails fit the difficulty and features your looking for.

Also, word to the wise. Verizon service is literally nonexistent in this area. Even with hotspots, we only had limited, one bar of service from about 3 am to 5am. Many of the cabins in the area don’t have WIFI, or have very limited service even with WIFI, so be prepared and expect to go without Verizon service while you’re in the area. This is particularly important for hiking, as the sites are not contained on a single road. Download or print your directions in advance so you can find your way back. We had to play it by ear the first day and were lucky to find the cabin!

If you have not yet hiked Hocking Hills, plan the trip! You will not be disappointed by the beauty of the cliffs, gorges, waterfalls and rock shelters that are hidden in the Allegheny Plateau of Ohio. If you have been, I would love to hear what you enjoyed most in the area.