While big Ohio cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland get their share of tourists, outdoor lovers know that the Hocking Hills region in the southeastern part of the state is a haven. The region has over a dozen outdoor venues, including state parks, state forests, national forests, natural areas, nature preserves and local parks. Sportsmen and nature lovers have a range of activities to explore in Hocking Hills.
Fishing
Get your hooks ready for a variety of fishes in Hocking Hills. The Lake Logan State Park has a reputation for having top-notch fishing. The 400-acre lake has bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, muskie, saugeye and northern pike in its waters. Tar Hollow State Park has panfish like bluegill in its 15-acre lake. The Clear Creek Metro Park, meanwhile, has a stream where anglers can go for brown trout and bass. Visitors will likely need to get an Ohio fishing license in order to fish in most venues in Hocking Hills.
Golfing
Hocking Hills doesn't just offer activities in parks and nature preserves. Golfers can play at the Bass Ring Golf Club, which is open to the public. It features a par-71, 5,861-yards course. PGA pros offer lessons at the club. The venue includes a pro shop, a restaurant and a lounge. The Windy Hills Golf Course and Campsite gives more options than just fun on the links. Golfers can play, then stay overnight at a campground adjacent to the par-72, 6,900-yard golf course.
Hiking
Hiking in Hocking Hills not only provides exercise, but spectacular views as well. In the Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, a hiking trail leads to the state's largest natural rock bridge that's over 100 feet long and 10 to 20 feet wide, according to the preserve. It extends 50 feet over a ravine. Hikers at the Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve can take the lower gorge trail for views of Black Hand sandstone cliffs and hills.
Museums
You can exercise your mind by visiting a museum to learn about the area. The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum has six buildings, including a restored house, print shop and machine shop from the 1800s. Civil War buffs will like the Sherman House Museum, the birthplace of General William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother John Sherman, a Senator. The museum includes Civil War artifacts and memorabilia.
Trail
Completing the Buckeye Trail will take you a while. The trail consists of approximately 1,444 miles throughout the state. Three of the trail's 26 sections pass through Hocking Hills. The Old Man's Cave route lets you explore the Cedar Falls and two caves, Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave. The New Straitsville section brings you through the Wayne National Forest, where you can observe wildlife like deer and turkeys. The Scioto Trail takes you through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the Pike State Forest, the Scioto Trail State Forest and the Tar Hollow State Forest.
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