Weekend escape from Louisville · Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills

Recess caves, hemlock gorges and waterfalls

Start with day 1
Waterfall spilling into a green pool beneath a stone arch bridge
Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave

Enormous sandstone caves, waterfalls that pour over their rims, and cool hemlock gorges that feel like a different climate. Hocking Hills is made for families: short trails, big payoffs, and cabins with hot tubs at the end of the day.

Great for Trailhead FamilySmall-Town Wanderer
  1. Old Man's Cave
  2. Cedar Falls
  3. Logan
  4. Ash Cave
  5. Conkle's Hollow
  6. Rock House

Before you go

Rules and seasons checked October 2026

Free entry

Ohio state parks don't charge an entrance fee.

Parking

Old Man's Cave has the biggest lot and it still fills between 10 am and 3 pm on summer and fall weekends. Arrive before 9.

Rain is good

The waterfalls are at their best after rain. Bring shells and go anyway.

Day 1 of 2

Saturday: the big three

The park's most famous gorge, a waterfall, and a barbecue lunch in town.

  1. Old Man's Cave

    A one-way gorge loop of about a mile past the Devil's Bathtub, an A-frame bridge, the upper and lower falls, and the cave itself.

    Alyssa's note Stone stairs and narrow spots, so wear real shoes. No swimming in the Devil's Bathtub. Exit 1 cuts the loop short near the visitor center.

  2. Cedar Falls

    About a mile of trail and stairs to a waterfall spilling into a rocky pool in a hemlock gorge.

  3. Millstone Southern Smoked BBQ

    A barbecue favorite in Logan for a big late lunch.

  4. Ash Cave

    A quarter-mile accessible path through a shaded gorge to a huge recess cave with a thin waterfall over the rim. Great for strollers and grandparents.

Day 2 of 2

Sunday: the quiet corners

A paved gorge walk and a cave with windows before the drive home.

  1. Conkle's Hollow Lower Gorge

    An easy, accessible trail of about three-quarters of a mile deep into one of the state's narrowest, deepest gorges.

    Alyssa's note The 2-mile rim trail above is for confident older kids only. The cliff tops are unfenced.

  2. Rock House

    About a mile round trip to a tall, sunlit cave with window-like openings in its wall.

  3. Head home

    About 4 hours back to Louisville.

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Kid-tested trails on this trip

Distances are round trip. Times are estimates for a family with kids about 6 to 9; the Trail Finder adjusts them for your crew.

Open in the Trail Finder

Ash Cave

0.5 mi~20 ftAny age

A shaded, accessible path to an enormous recess cave with a thin waterfall over the rim. Great for strollers and grandparents.

Old Man's Cave Gorge Loop

1.0 mi~150 ftAges 4+

Devil's Bathtub, an A-frame bridge, two falls and the cave itself. Exit 1 shortens the loop near the visitor center.

Cedar Falls

1.0 mi~150 ftAges 4+

A waterfall spilling into a rocky pool in a hemlock gorge. Best after rain.

Conkle's Hollow Lower Gorge

0.75 mi~30 ftAny age

An accessible trail deep into one of Ohio's narrowest gorges.

Rock House

1.0 mi~150 ftAges 5+

A tall, sunlit cave with window-like openings in its wall.

Conkle's Hollow Rim Trail

2.0 mi~250 ftAges 10+

Cliff-top views down into the gorge.

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Sources

Restaurants, hours, fees and seasons change. Confirm before you go.