National park · United States
Hocking Hills State Park
Entry is free — pay only for parking at some lots and for camping. Do Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls on a weekday before 9:00; Ash Cave and Conkle's Hollow are the easy half-day alternatives.Entry is free — pay only for parking at some lots and for camping. Do Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls on a weekday before 9:00 AM; Ash Cave and Conkle's Hollow are the easy half-day alternatives.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
approximate
Established
1949
Best months
Apr–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
- State park acreage is often quoted around 2,356 acres (about 9.5 km²); figures vary by source and boundary revision (check).
- Established
- 1949
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Hocking Hills is a cluster of sandstone gorges, recess caves and waterfalls in southeast Ohio, about an hour from Columbus. Old Man's Cave holds the ranger station, visitor centre and main campground; Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow and Cantwell Cliffs sit along or near State Route 374 and 664. Trails are short but the rock is bare sandstone: fine when dry, slick when wet. The park is day-use only, so plan around daylight and a car — there is no public transport.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1949.
Size and age
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²) · national park since 1949
State park acreage is often quoted around 2,356 acres (about 9.5 km²); figures vary by source and boundary revision (check).
Why go
- Six separate gorge areas within a 20-minute drive of each other, so you can build a full day from short walks.
- Recess caves and waterfalls you can reach in under 30 minutes of walking from a car park.
- Fall colour and winter ice formations change the same trails completely.
- Free entry: the cost of the day is fuel, parking where charged, and food.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanIce on trails; ice formations at the falls
- FebCold; some paths icy
- MarWet; waterfalls at their strongest
- AprFull falls, fewer people than summer
- MayGreen gorges; falls start to slow late in the month
- JunHot and humid; some falls drop to a trickle
- JulBusiest and hottest; go before 9:00Busiest and hottest; go before 9:00 AM
- AugHumid; storm rain briefly refills the falls
- SepCooling; weekends still busy
- OctPeak leaf colour; parking fills by mid-morning
- NovBare trees, quiet trails
- DecShort daylight; ice risk on steps
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deerAll year · Common around the forest edges, often at dawn and dusk. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Hermit thrush and other woodland birdsApr–Jun, Sep–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Raccoons around campsitesMay–Sep · Store food in a car, not a tent. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Fall colour in the broadleaf canopyOct · Peak timing shifts by a week or two each year. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Columbus
US-33 south, then SR-664 south for Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave, or SR-374 south for Rock House, Conkle's Hollow and Cantwell Cliffs.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Athens, Ohio
US-33 north, then SR-664 south or SR-56 west to SR-374.
1–1.5 h
From Logan, Ohio
SR-664 south about 10 miles to the Old Man's Cave area.
20–25 min
From Southeast Ohio plan
Where the gorges fit with Athens, Logan and the rest of the region.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Old Man's Cave area | Gorge, falls, ranger station, visitor centre, camp store and the main campground. | Daylight only; free to walk in. |
| Cedar Falls and Ash Cave | Two waterfall gorges a short drive or a trail walk apart. | Daylight only; Ash Cave has a paved approach. |
| Conkle's Hollow | A narrow gorge with a paved floor route and a rim trail above the cliffs. | Daylight only; stay on the marked routes. |
| Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs | The northern sites: a true recess cave with windows, and a cliff-and-staircase loop. | Daylight only; rough footing. |
| Hocking State Forest | Adjacent forest land with climbing, bridle trails and back roads. | Open; some activities need a permit. |
Sketch map
- 1Old Man's Cave visitor centre · Headquarters≈39.434, -82.541Map ↗
- 2Old Man's Cave Campground · Sleep≈39.433, -82.538Map ↗
- 3Cedar Falls · Trail≈39.419, -82.525Map ↗
- 4Ash Cave · Trail≈39.400, -82.543Map ↗
- 5Conkle's Hollow · Trail≈39.457, -82.575Map ↗
- 6Rock House · Cave≈39.499, -82.614Map ↗
- 7Cantwell Cliffs · Viewpoint≈39.540, -82.576Map ↗
- 8Rose Lake · Beach≈39.428, -82.537Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for the main trailheads along SR-374 and SR-664, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entrance fee for the state park (check current Ohio DNR policy). |
| Parking at some trailheads | US$0–10 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; some lots are free, others have charged or timed parking in peak season (check). |
| Old Man's Cave Campground, no hookup | US$24 | night | 2026 estimate; weekends and holidays cost more. |
| Old Man's Cave Campground, electric hookup | US$30–40 | night | 2026 estimate; full-hookup sites at the top of the band. |
| Family hike-in campground | US$22 | night | 2026 estimate; cars stay in the lot. |
| State park cabin | US$140–260 | night | 2026 estimate; sleeps up to 6, rates move with season. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping and cabins permit or guide
Climbing and rappelling permit or guide
Commercial filming or events permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$24
- US$30–40
- US$22
- US$140–260
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Ohio DNR — Hocking Hills State Park before you go.
Park rules
- Daylight hours only
- The park closes at dark; no night hiking on gorge trails.
- Stay on marked trails
- Rangers issue citations in the busy gorges; off-trail walking damages plants and has caused serious falls.
- No swimming or wading
- Water in the gorges is shallow, cold and unsafe; do not jump from rocks.
- Pets
- Allowed on a leash in most areas but not on some trails and not in buildings; check signage at each trailhead.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from Ohio DNR (check).check
- Campground speed limit
- 10 mph inside Old Man's Cave Campground; children play in the road.
Where to stay
In the park
Old Man's Cave Campground
146 reservable sites, some with electric or full hookups; flush toilets and showers roughly April to October.
In the park
Family hike-in campground
28 quieter tent sites; cars stay in the lot, pit toilets, showers at the main campground.
In the park
State park cabins
Furnished cottages sleeping up to six, about a mile west of Old Man's Cave.
Near the park
Logan and the SR-664 corridor
Motels, lodges and short-term rentals 10–20 minutes from the trailheads.
Near the park
Commercial campgrounds near the park
Tent and RV sites at the park edge, some linked to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave by trail.
Safety
Falls from cliffs and wet sandstone high
Traffic in parking areas medium
Heat and humidity in summer medium
Ice in winter medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Ash Cave has a paved approach suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.
- Conkle's Hollow gorge floor is paved; the rim trail is not accessible.
- Old Man's Cave and Cantwell Cliffs involve long staircases and uneven rock.
- Accessible campsites and cabin options exist; confirm when booking.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on trails: the gorge floors are narrow and trampled edges do not recover quickly.
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins along the trails.
- Buy firewood locally or certified heat-treated wood rather than moving it between states.
- Visit the popular gorges on weekdays or early mornings to spread pressure away from Old Man's Cave.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Hocking Hills State Park?
Entry is free — there is no per-person entrance fee. You pay for camping or a cabin if you stay, and some parking areas charge a small fee in peak season (2026 estimate: up to about US$10 per vehicle; check before you go).
What are the best hikes in Hocking Hills State Park?
For a first visit, the Old Man's Cave gorge loop (1–1.5 h) plus Cedar Falls. Ash Cave is the easiest big payoff on a paved path. Conkle's Hollow adds a rim view, and Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs are the quieter northern options.
When is the best time to visit Hocking Hills State Park?
April, May and October. Spring gives the strongest waterfalls, October gives leaf colour. Summer is hot and crowded — start before 9:00. Winter is quiet but icy, with ice formations at the falls.
Do I need a reservation or permit?
No permit for day hiking. Camping and cabins should be reserved in advance, up to six months out; a few campsites are same-day and in person only. Climbing in the state forest needs a permit.
Can I get there without a car?
No. There is no public transport to the trailheads; you need a car to move between Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave and the northern sites.
Are dogs allowed?
Generally yes on a leash, but some trails and all buildings are off-limits. Check the sign at each trailhead before you start.
Is Hocking Hills the same as Wayne National Forest?
No. Hocking Hills is a state park and state forest in Hocking County; Wayne National Forest is separate federal land nearby in southeast Ohio.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go