In the Hocking Hills, rock formations tell several stories: of an ancient sea, of gorges cut through massive layers of sandstone, and of people whose names are still connected with the landscape. As you explore Hocking County, striking natural features meet cultural and historical themes that extend far beyond individual viewpoints.
Sandstone on a grand scale
The Blackhand Sandstone of the Hocking Hills formed from sand and gravel deposited more than 330 million years ago, when the region was covered by the Atlantic Ocean. Today, high cliffs and deep gorges define the scenery in Hocking Hills State Park. The rock formation is especially easy to see at Old Man’s Cave: the gorge cuts through the entire 150-foot-thick layer of Blackhand Sandstone.
Old Man’s Cave is more than a single rocky backdrop. The area includes Upper Falls, Upper Gorge, Middle Falls, Lower Falls, and Lower Gorge. Here, waterfalls and gorges combine to form the area's distinctive features. The name also refers to a person: Old Man’s Cave was named after the hermit Richard Rowe, who lived there in the 19th century.
Ash Cave offers a different perspective. The rock shelter cave is the largest east of the Mississippi; its horseshoe-shaped rim stretches for 700 feet. Of the six natural areas in Hocking Hills State Park, Ash Cave is the southernmost. In Hocking County, Cedar Falls drops 50 feet and has the greatest water volume of the county's waterfalls.
Panoramic views, a valley trail, and connected paths
Cantwell Cliffs offer two distinct perspectives: the high trails provide sweeping views, while the valley trail follows the base of the cliffs. At Conkles Hollow, Blackhand Sandstone cliffs rise almost 200 feet above the valley floor. Numerous waterfalls cascade over the sandstone cliffs in Conkles Hollow Nature Preserve. Views from above, a trail at the base of the cliffs, and water falling over rock faces make for clearly distinct landscape experiences.
The trails around Whispering Cave are also easy to identify: the Hemlock Bridge Trail passes by the cave and connects to Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls via the gorge trail. Rock House showcases a distinctive type of cave. It is the only true cave in Hocking Hills State Park; natural openings inside it look like windows. Instead of a large overhang or an open gorge, you’ll find a cave with striking window-like openings.
Hocking State Forest has a total of 59 miles of hiking trails across three routes. There is also an area for rock climbing and rappelling. Northern and southern plant species grow here alongside their associated wildlife. Rose Lake is accessible via State Route 374 and a 0.5-mile hiking trail; the lake is stocked with trout every spring.
History to discover in different ways
The history of the Hocking Hills also reaches back to the period before later settlement: Shawnee, Delaware, and Wyandot people hunted and lived there during the 17th and 18th centuries. Old Man’s Cave adds the story of Richard Rowe to this regional history. The Hocking County Historical Society & Museum complex features the presence of Indigenous communities in Hocking County and a furnished Victorian home from 1881, as well as the Lutz Steam Car, a military exhibit, antique farming equipment, and a railroad telegraph office.
For another glimpse into the past, the Hocking Hills Moonshine tour explores the history of Prohibition. On the free tour, visitors can watch moonshine being made; tastings of the selection are available for a small fee. John Glenn Astronomy Park, by contrast, turns your attention to the night sky: visitors can observe it there with a large telescope and with the naked eye. Natural history, regional culture, and the night sky give Hocking County a range of ways to explore, without every experience needing to be the same kind of outing.
Discover more destinations: Rockbridge, Ashtabula County, Washington, Wayne, Morgan County, Athens County, Defiance, Preble County
For the main travel overview: Ohio.
