One Of The Most Popular State Parks In Ohio Has Suddenly Been Closed To The Public

Hocking Hills State Park is the crown jewel of Ohio's parks, offering epic recreation, scenic getaways, and bucket-list-worthy experiences. However, if you've been wanting to pay a visit to this Ohio state park, you're going to have to put those plans on hold. Hocking Hills State Park is closed until further notice, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said in a press announcement on Feb. 13. Here's everything you need to know about the sudden closure of Hocking Hill State Park:

Hocking Hills State Park is of the most popular and beloved places in Ohio, attracting more than 2 million visitors each year.

The 2,356-acre park is known for its amazing trails, which traverse lush forests, epic caves, and wondrous waterfalls.

A favorite destination all year round, Hocking Hills is especially lovely in the winter, when its trails are frosted in snow -- and its waterfalls freeze!

But winter can be a treacherous time to visit, too, with the ice and snow causing a slew of problems. In fact, due to a number of extenuating circumstances, Hocking Hills State Park is closed until further notice.

The Ohio DNR announced the closure on Feb. 13, citing unsafe trail conditions. Visitors are asked to not enter the park for any reason.

No one is to enter the park for any reason until further notice, the DNR said.

On the announcement via the Ohio State Parks Facebook page, park officials said they'd be reaching out to folks with state park camping or cabin reservations to make other arrangements.

Hocking Hills is an immensely wonderful place to explore -- but safety should always be the top priority. We'll keep close tabs with the Ohio DNR for further announcements, and look forward to being able to explore this Buckeye State treasure safety when it reopens!

Hocking Hills State Park truly is one of a kind; a place of immense splendor, epic adventure, and sublime Buckeye State beauty. We'll stand by for further word from the Ohio DNR, and can't wait for this popular state park to safely reopen.

In the meantime, here are some under-the-radar state parks in Ohio that are all well-worth checking out.