Of all the beautiful places and natural wonders in Ohio, Hocking Hills reigns supreme. This region is teeming with caverns and waterfalls, many of which can be easily accessed on one of the many trails in and around Hocking Hills State Park. Hocking Hills is so beautiful and highly regarded that's, ironically, easy to overlook and/or take for granted. On a recent winter weekend I was reacquainted with this pristine place when my husband and I booked a night in a nearby Getaway House (book your own stay at Getaway Hocking Hills here!) and set out to tackle the Old Man's Cave Trail, one of the most iconic hikes in Ohio.
This is Upper Old Man's Cave Falls at Hocking Hills State Park. It's a commanding, 20-foot cascade that plunges into an impossibly blue pool below, and it's arguably the most iconic fall in this entire Ohio State Park.
Located in the southeastern corner of Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park's 2,356-acre expanse offers some of the most sublime scenery and bucket-list-worthy outdoor recreation in the state -- and entire Midwest.
Without a doubt, Hocking Hills is a place of such sublime beauty that you really need to experience in person. Luckily, there are so many ways to do this; Old Man's Cave Loop is perhaps the most spectacular and superlative way to immerse yourself in this Tolkien fantasy.
The Old Man’s Cave Hike is a mile(ish)-long loop that begins with a delightful preview of what's to come: the trickling waters of Upper Falls.
This waterfall gathers steam as it rushes toward its epic, 20-foot plunge, and a photo opp in front of Upper Old Man's Falls is certainly something you must do!
There's so much more to explore along this rugged, yet accessible, trail, however. You’ll encounter Upper Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, and Lower Falls en route to the headlining Old Man’s Cave.
The honeycomb caves and small caverns are everywhere; their nooks and crannies providing so much visual interest and intrigue along the trail.
You will go down (and up) lots of steps to access these caves; be extra careful on the rock steps, as they are slippery! Take your time and enjoy the experience; hiking *through* a bored-out cave to get to Old Man's Cave was one of my favorite parts of the trail.
Because of the steps and slim caverns, while this trek is accessible in terms of mileage, it's not ADA-friendly. The Ash Cave Hiking Trail, however, is -- this is another iconic hike in Ohio that's flat, ADA-friendly, and great for families.
These peaceful caves and their glorious umbrage provided a home for Richard Rowe, a hermit who found himself so taken by Hocking Hills when visiting in the early 1800s that he decided to make it his home. After hiking to Old Man’s Cave, I completely understand.
Experiencing this glorious trail and wandering in the footsteps of one Mr. Rowe was extra enchanting on a cold winter day. After hiking to Old Man’s Cave, I completely understand by he chose to make this place his home -- and how lucky we are here in Ohio that Hocking Hills is part of our home, too!
Sometimes, the most amazing adventures are, in fact, the ones everyone seems to know about. This iconic hiking trail in Ohio is absolutely deserving of the praise and acclaim it receives, and truly, the entire Hocking Hills State Park really is one of our state's crown jewels.
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