Located within a 90-minute drive of the metropolitan areas of Columbus and Cincinnati, camping in the Hocking Hills area near Logan, Ohio offers the opportunity to experience more than just a day trip to this natural preserve. You can enjoy sleeping under the stars after enjoying daytime fitness activities like hiking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking.
Hiking and Camping
More than 25 miles of hiking trails, some rugged and others accessible to beginners or wheelchairs, allow visitors to enjoy the scenic wonder of Hocking Hills State Park and Forest before settling in for the night at a variety of public or private camping facilities, some of which are primitive and others slightly more advanced. The public state park itself offers a large, family campground with amenities, a primitive family walk-in camping area, camping facilities for horseback riders only and a primitive youth group camp. In addition to traditional camping facilities, a multitude of cottages may be leased by those less-interested in "roughing it" outdoors.
Family Campground
The family campground of Hocking Hills State Park is located just east of Old Man's Cave, near State Route 374. It offers 169 sites, 156 of which contain electrical hookups and are fixed with a paved pad. Mobile campers, tents and RVs are permitted. According to Friends of the Hocking Hills, a non-profit, 501-c organization dedicated to the enjoyment and sustainability of the area, shower houses, laundry, and a trailer waste disposal station are available. The campground contains additional fitness pursuits including a swimming pool, volleyball court, horseshoe pit and children's playground.
Primitive Facilities
If you prefer a more basic, primitive camping experience, you will find the state park's family walk-in campground just northeast of the main family camping facility, adjacent to State Route 374 and just south of State Route 664. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that this campground contains 30 sites and is equipped with pit latrines only. Several miles south on State Route 374, just northeast of Ash Cave, is the state park youth group camp, a facility which requires advanced registration.
Horsemen's Camp
After a day of working with horses along 40 miles of bridle trails in the area, equestrian fans and their animals may camp overnight at the State Forest Horsemen's Camp, nestled south of State Route 374 and the Rock House area. This facility is for riders and their horses only, with registration required at the camp's self-registration booth. One horse transportation unit per campsite is allowed, and you are requested to bring additional drinking water for your animals, as water supplies occasionally dwindle. No horseback riding is permitted after dark.
Recreational Rentals
Several canoe and kayak liveries dot Hocking Hills State Park, offering the opportunity to exercise the upper body while paddling along Lake Logan or the Hocking River. If you enjoy your exercise with a bit more motor power, you will find ATV paths and rentals available throughout the forest preserve.
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