Old Man’s Cave is the most popular area in Hocking Hills State Park. There is so much to see along a short, easy hike that is unique and very beautiful.
The round-trip hike is about 1.6 miles along a one-way traffic trail. There are multiple exit points along the route for those not interested in hiking the entire way. But I highly recommend it.
For those looking for a longer hike, the trail Grandma Gatewood continues throughout the park covering 5.3 miles. Here is a bonus reason to visit. For those participating in the NCT HIke 100, this trail is also part of the North Country Trail.
Upper Falls
Right off the trailhead, hikers are greeted by Upper Falls. This waterfall trickles beneath a stone bridge and is an iconic landmark in the Hocking Hills State Park. It is probably the most photographed location.
Tip – If you want to see any of the waterfalls within the park, visit during the spring. We were here in July and all of the waterfalls were barely a trickle.
Devil’s Bathtub
The Devil’s Bathtub is one of the most unique features in Hocking Hills and is unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. This feature is actually a tiered waterfall. The tub-shaped bowl was formed from the creek eroding away the Blackhand Stonesand. The creek falls into the tub from the upper drop and creates a whirlpool before falling again into a larger pool below.
We could see the tub very easily but the whirlpool effect and waterfalls were lost with the lack of water. Again, it is better to visit in the spring.
Old Man’s Cave
Old Man’s Cave is a recess cave with a small, seasonal waterfall. It is an impressive area with interesting rock formations and rock walls that tower above. While the entire hike is neat, this area is certainly the star.
It is truly spectacular and photos simply can’t capture the size and beauty.
Lower Falls
Visitors have the option of leaving at Old Man’s Cave but I recommend taking the short hike further to Lower Falls.
Lower Falls has the potential to be a beautiful waterfall. I say potential because again, we visited in July and the waterfall was merely a trickle. The waterfall drops about 25 feet from a horseshoe-shaped cliff into a shallow pool of water. It is quite a scenic spot.
Sadly though, this area was showing signs of disrespectful tourism. There was trash in multiple places. Despite there being dozens of signs telling people that it is illegal (yes, illegal) to go off-trail and swim or wade in the water, people were doing so anyway. Kids of one family were even catching fish.
And that was only when there were a few small groups. I can’t image how terrible it is when the afternoon crowds show up.
For me, it is highly frustrating and appalling to see this kind of behavior. Those people should be ashamed of their actions.
The Gorge Itself
Beyond the features, the gorge itself is well worth visiting. The Blackhand Sandstone that it is made of was left behind more than 200 million years ago by Ohio’s ancient ocean when it drained from the land.
Water erosion has since (and continues today) to do the rest. Carving out pockets, smoothing out edges, and removing sections of sandstone entirely to form this beautiful place.
When you think about that, hiking through the park reminds you of how ancient our earth is and how change is constant. This area will ever be changing.
My Top Tip for Visiting
Hocking Hills is quite a tourist attraction. Crowds are inevitable.
My top tip for visiting is to get a head start on the hordes. Start your hike early in the morning. We were on the trail by 8:30 a.m. and while we didn’t have the trail to ourselves, we avoided the masses.
Get there at sun-up and you might have the place entirely to yourself. And that would be well-worth the experience.