The town of Hocking Hills, Ohio, lies in the rugged foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Ohio. You'll find plenty of outdoor recreation in the area's state forests, parks and rivers. You can hike, mountain bike, fish, explore caves, enjoy archery, play golf or cool off after a long hike with a dip in the state park pool.
Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails
You'll find plenty of hiking in Hocking Hills State Park, including the Grandma Gatewood Trail, a six-mile moderate hike that takes you to Old Man's Cave and onto Cedar Falls. The trail takes you through a half-mile of deep gorge cut out of the sandstone and to several waterfalls. You'll also find two mountain bike trails, each two miles long. The Purple Trail Loop is a moderate trail, while the Orange Trail Loop offers more challenging terrain.
For more hiking, head to Conkie's Hollow State Preserve. You'll find 3.5 miles of trails, some of which take you through deep gorges only 100 feet wide in places. You'll see numerous waterfalls falling over the sandstone cliffs. Trails take you to the top of the cliffs for great views of the gorge and surrounding areas.
Swimming, Fishing and Archery
Hocking Hills State Park offers fishing on Rose Lake, a 17-acre lake that can be reached via a .5-mile trail. Make sure to purchase an Ohio State fishing license before you go. Permits are available at sporting goods or bait and tackle shops in Hocking Hills. The park offers a swimming pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day for visitors who camp at the campground. For a small fee, the general public can also enjoy a swim. The park also features an archery range with five static targets and 22 three-dimensional targets. The range stays open from daylight until dark all year long.
Cave Exploration
Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park makes a great destination for cave exploring. To reach the cave, take the .5-mile trail through a narrow gorge lined with hardwood trees and colorful wildflowers. You'll suddenly find yourself at the ledge of the 700-foot cave. The cave used to hold Sunday worship services since the cave's natural acoustics are so incredible. Head into the cave and give a holler to see what kind of echo you hear. Restrooms and picnic facilities are available at the trailhead.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
Get a taste of the Buckeye Trail, a 1,444-mile-long loop trail that winds around the entire state of Ohio. The trail is marked with either one or two 2-inch-by-6-inch blue blaze marks. Part of the trail in Hocking Hills takes you past Old Man's Cave and into the woodsy Scioto Trail section that takes you along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Golfing
Several golf courses give you a chance to test your skills, including the 18-hole Brass Ring Golf Club in nearby Logan. Or, head to Windy Hills Golf for nine holes of scenic play, located in nearby Rockbridge.
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