Hocking Hills State Park operates seven distinct major hiking areas across 2,356 acres of Black Hand sandstone gorges, recess caves, and waterfalls. Every area runs on a permanent one-way trail system. Every area has its own character, difficulty, and standout features. This is the complete reference — everything you need to pick the right trails for your group and plan the day correctly.
📋 One-Way System — Read This First
All seven major hiking areas operate on permanent one-way trail systems — not temporary COVID measures, but a permanent safety and conservation policy. Trail markers show direction. You cannot turn around on the main loop. The only exception is Conkle's Hollow Gorge Trail, which is two-way out-and-back. Wheelchair users at Ash Cave and Conkle's Hollow may turn around where the accessible surface ends.
The 7 Trails at a Glance
Distance: 1.0–1.5 mi
Elevation: 65–173 ft gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
GPS: 39.4372, −82.5397
The park's flagship trail and most-visited trailhead. Two exit options: Exit 1 (~1.0 mi, 60 min) ends at the Naturalist Cabin; Exit 2 (~1.5 mi, 90 min) continues past the cave to Lower Falls and the Visitor Center. A 0.25-mile two-way spur leads to Broken Rock Falls. Partial ADA: a 0.5-mile paved path from the Park Office reaches an Upper Falls observation deck with ramp. Key features: Upper Falls (~20 ft), Devil's Bathtub, Middle Falls, Sphinx Head, the recess cave named for hermit Richard Rowe who lived here from ~1796, and Lower Falls (~25 ft). Parking fills by 9–10 AM weekends; 8 AM during fall foliage.
ADA PartialWaterfallRecess CaveFills Early
Distance: 0.25 mi one-way (1 mi full loop)
Elevation: 16 ft gain
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
GPS: 39.3960, −82.5459
Ohio's largest recess cave: approximately 700 feet wide, 100 feet deep, and 90 feet high. The paved gorge trail is just 0.25 miles with only 16 feet of elevation — the most accessible trail in the entire park system. Van-accessible parking with striped access aisles. Wheelchair users can travel to where the paved surface becomes sandy at the cave entrance, then turn around. The full loop incorporating the rim trail (steep wooden stairs, not accessible) totals roughly 1 mile. Seasonal waterfall drops ~90 feet into the cave. The rim trail back is worth doing if you have the legs — the view looking down into the horseshoe bowl is completely different from the gorge floor perspective.
Fully ADA AccessibleOhio's Largest CaveSeasonal WaterfallStroller Friendly
Distance: 0.5–0.9 mi
Elevation: 200+ ft gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
GPS: 39.4183, −82.5263
Widely considered the most photographically beautiful waterfall in the park — a broad cascade into a hemlock-lined gorge. The 200+ feet of elevation change via steep staircases earns a Moderate rating despite the short distance. New staircase installed in recent trail improvements. Adjacent to the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls. The trailhead parking lot is small (~7 cars); a larger main lot is nearby. Connecting trail links Cedar Falls to Old Man's Cave (Gorge Trail — 6 miles one-way; also used for the annual Winter Hike in January).
Best WaterfallHemlock GorgeSteep Staircases
Distance: Gorge: 1 mi round trip / Rim: 2.5 mi loop
Elevation: 200 ft (rim)
Difficulty: Moderate–Strenuous
Dogs: ✗ Prohibited
GPS: 39.4549, −82.5652
The gorge trail is two-way (the exception to the one-way rule) — an easy, largely flat out-and-back to the gorge head. The rim trail above is a strenuous loop with 200-foot sandstone cliffs that are the highest in Ohio. No dogs at all — this is an Ohio State Nature Preserve, not just state park land. The cliffs are spectacular and terrifying. Multiple fatalities have occurred here from falls. Stay on the designated trail, stay away from edges. Best visited on a clear day when the rim views extend for miles across the Hocking Hills.
Ohio's Highest CliffsNo Dogs — Nature PreserveCliff Safety Critical
Distance: 0.6 mi round trip
Elevation: 150 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
The only true cave (not a recess) in the Ohio state park system — a tunnel carved through solid sandstone with window-like openings that frame views of the forest. Short trail but the destination is unlike anything else in the park. Parking lot rarely fills. The windows of Rock House create natural frames for photography that have made this one of the most distinctive trail features in the region. Less visited than Old Man's Cave or Ash Cave, which makes it feel more like a discovery.
Only True Cave in OH State ParksLow CrowdsSandstone Windows
Distance: ~2.5 mi loop
Elevation: Significant
Difficulty: Strenuous
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
The most remote and physically demanding trail in the main park system — a scramble through narrow passages and along cliff faces. Parking lot rarely fills (the remoteness is a natural crowd filter). The cliffs here run SE Ohio's highest walls. Not suitable for children, anyone with mobility limitations, or anyone unprepared for genuine scrambling. Bring proper footwear — this is not a sandals trail. The reward: some of the most dramatic geology in the park with almost no other visitors.
Strenuous ScrambleLow CrowdsRemote
Distance: 5 mi loop (one-way — full loop required)
Elevation: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs: ✓ Leashed
Access: Old Man's Cave parking
The most overlooked major trail in the park — accessed from Old Man's Cave parking but less than 10% of visitors continue to this 5-mile one-way loop. The longest trail in the park system. Features Whispering Cave (a smaller but acoustically striking recess cave), Hemlock Bridge, and extended gorge trail through old-growth hemlock forest. One critical note: this is a one-way loop — you cannot turn around. The full 5 miles must be completed. Plan 3–4 hours.
Low Crowds5 Mile LoopOld-Growth HemlockFull Loop Required
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Core Rules That Apply to Every Trail
- Dawn to dusk, year-round: All areas open every day with no entry fee. Vehicles must be out of parking lots by dark.
- No swimming or wading: Prohibited in all waterfalls, creeks, and natural water. No exceptions.
- 6-foot leash required: For all dogs at dog-legal trailheads.
- No drones: Prohibited under Ohio Administrative Code.
- Stay on designated trails: Off-trail travel damages rare and endangered plant species.
- Cell service is effectively zero in gorge areas. Download offline maps before you arrive.
🗺️ ODNR DETOUR App
ODNR launched the DETOUR app specifically for Hocking Hills trail navigation. Download it before you leave — it works offline and was designed for the dead-zone cell environment in the gorges. Don't rely on Google Maps once you're on trail.
The Bottom Line
First visit with mixed abilities: Ash Cave then Old Man's Cave. Strong hikers who want solitude: Cantwell Cliffs or Whispering Cave loop. Geology obsessives: Rock House. Best photography: Cedar Falls and Conkle's Hollow rim (no dogs). The park rewards visitors who go beyond the two flagship trailheads — most people never make it to Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House, which means you often have them nearly to yourself.