Cedar Falls is one of Hocking Hill State Park’s greatest waterfall by volume. However, don’t get your hopes up of seeing this waterfall roaring with life if you visit any time in the summer. Like the other waterfalls in this area, Cedar Falls is likely to dry up during the warm seasons.
Still, the unique chasm carved out of Blackhand Sandstone is an interesting and beautiful sight to see.
The waterfall, when present, is 50 feet in height and is named after the mistakenly identified hemlock trees, which were thought to be cedar trees.
The Hike to Cedar Falls
The hike to Cedar Falls is about a half-mile round trip and consists of varying terrain, including stairs, rocks, and dirt surfaces. Labeled as “strenuous”, we found this hike to be more moderate in difficulty, with the hardest part being the stairs.
There are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the surrounding views, which I highly recommend.
The trail follows alongside Queer Creek as visitors make their way toward Cedar Falls. This trail, like most within the park, is one-way only, helping to improve congestion during busier times of the day. We were on the trail first thing in the morning and had the area almost entirely to ourselves.
My favorite part of the creek was seeing how it has eroded the rock walls around it. I could see the indicators in the rock that showed when the creek was at different levels throughout the years.
Along with views of the creek, towering rock walls with little cavernous niches also lined the trail. PLEASE do not venture off the trail to explore these very tempting caves.
Arriving at Cedar Falls is another unique experience, even though the waterfall was barely more than a trickle. A tower horseshoe-shaped cliff with a small plunge pool at the base of a trickling waterfall. It was incredibly peaceful and would only have been better if the waterfall was at full capacity.
Keep in mind, like the other areas in the park, wading and swimming are prohibited. PLEASE follow the rules of the park when visiting in order to help preserve the ecological systems.
My favorite part of this hike, however, was the portion of the trail heading back to the parking area. This is the most “strenuous” section of the trail and requires focus as visitors make their way through a rock-camouflaged trail in a cliff opening. Upon approaching, my first reaction was “okay, this will be interesting.” And I wasn’t wrong.
My Top Tips for Visiting
Get out on the trail early to avoid the crowds. While Cedar Falls may not be the most visited of the 7 trails in Hocking Hills State Park, it gets busy. By venturing out early in the day, you can experience this location to it’s fullest.
I’ve mentioned this already but please follow the rules of the park and stay off the rock cliffs and out of the water. It is extremely disappointing and frustrating to see guests in an area who can’t follow the simple rules of the park. They are there for a reason. No exceptions.
Finally, have fun! Remember this place was created over millions of years. Think about 200 million years ago, this valley looked completely different. It is pretty amazing what nature can do and how it is ever-changing.