#5 – Cantwell Cliffs
Explore the Cantwell Cliffs area via the Cantwell Cliffs Rim Trail. This area is located 12 miles north of the Old Man’s Cave Visitor’s Center. Enjoy gorgeous views in solitude as this area receives a small fraction of Hocking Hills annual visitors due to its distance from Old Man’s Cave.
Location:
- Parking lot at trailhead: 39.540361, -82.575750
- Trailhead Location: 39.540361, -82.575750 (north end of the parking lot)
Hike Details
- Distance & Type: 1 mile loop trail
- Elevation change: 195 foot elevation gain
- Difficulty: Moderate due to steep steps and fast elevation gain.
Features Include:
- Two (2) Recessed Caves
- Bucks Run and Waterfall
- 150-foot tall Cantwell Cliffs
- ‘Fat Woman’s Squeeze’ Rock Formation
Our detailed trail guide for this hike can be found here.
#4 – Ash Cave
The Ash Cave Loop features its namesake Ash Cave, a 700 foot wide by 100 foot deep by 90 foot tall recessed cave and waterfall.
Locations (Parking and Trailhead)
- Parking Coordinates: 39.396071, -82.545738 (Coordinates lead to parking near trailhead. Additional parking can be found in the lot across the road.)
- Trailhead Coordinates: 39.396278, -82.545612 (The trailhead starts just north of the street parking spots)
Hike Details
- Distance and Type: 0.6 Mile Loop Trail
- Trail Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation Gain: +/- 70 Feet
- Trail Markers: Blue and Red blazes. The trail is well marked and easy to follow.
Hike Features
- Tall cliffs to the west along the trail leading to the cave.
- The massive Ash Cave
- The small waterfall flowing from above Ash Cave
Our detailed trail guide for the Ash Cave hike can be found here.
#3 – Rock House
Explore the beautiful and unique cave known as Rock House. The Rock House has a colorful history including stories of Native Americans making the cave a home in addition to Rock House being referred to as Robbers Roost as local folklore says robbers, murderers and bootleggers would use the cave as a hideout at times.
Trail Details
Location:
- Parking: 39.495191, -82.612853
- Trailhead: 39.495345, -82.613352
Hike Details
- Distance & Type: 1.2 mile lollipop loop
- Elevation change: 197 foot elevation gain
- Difficulty: Easy
Hike features:
- The 200-foot long and 30-foot tall Rock House Cave
- Moss Covered Cliffs
- A 100-foot tall ‘seasonal’ waterfall next to the Rock House cave.
Our detailed trail guide for the Rock House Gorge Trial hike can be found here.
#2 – Cedar Falls
This short hike features sandstone cliffs, the beautiful Cedar Falls crashing 50-feet into an emerald pool, a well maintained trail, and a picnic area complete with bathrooms. This hike has everything….except actual cedar trees. Oops.
Locations:
- Parking Coordinates: 39.418303, -82.526456 (Cedar Falls has an overflow parking lot near the main lot if spots are all taken.)
- Trailhead Coordinates: 39.418347, -82.526202 (The trailhead is located just off the main parking lot, across from the bathrooms. Look for a wooden sign near the trailhead.)
Hike Details
- Distance and Type: 0.6 Mile Loop
- Trail Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation Gain: +/- 65 feet
- Trail Markers: The trail is well marked with signs.
Our detailed trail guide for the Cedar Falls hike can be found here.
#1 – Old Man’s Cave
In the span of just two miles you will pass three waterfalls, hike through three sandstone tunnels, pass underneath the namesake Old Man’s Cave while being surrounded by cliffs towering upwards of 100 feet! There are steps that lead out of the gorge if you want to break this hike into sections.
Trail Details:
Locations:
- Parking: 39.436472, -82.539639 (Far end of the parking lot, furthest away from the visitors center)
- Trailhead: 39.436361, -82.539194 (Just off the northeast corner of the parking lot)
Hike Details
- Distance: 2.0-mile loop
- Elevation Change: +/- 95 Feet
- Difficulty: Moderate (stone steps could be difficult for some)
- Features: Upper Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, Blackhand Sandstone cliffs, Stone Bridges, Recessed Cave, sandstone tunnels, Lower Falls, Broken Rock Falls
Our detailed guide for hiking Old Man’s Cave can be found here.