My two trips to Hocking Hills, in October 2018 and again in July 2019, show how you can have a different experience in the same place. Both were fun although I think the second trip with Nataliya was probably better.

Part I – October 2018

The first time I went with my parents. We took I-71 up to Washington Court House and then got on US 35 to US 23. I strongly suggest just taking I-71 all the way to Columbus and then taking I-270 to US 33, like Nataliya and I did later on. It’s just as fast and a lot more comfortable. I almost got car sick (which hasn’t happened for years) when dad insisted on driving the hilly, twisting back roads!

In 2018, my parents and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in the nearby town of Logan. There aren’t a lot of hotels nearby although there are quite a few cabins for rent.

The hotel was fine and there were several restaurants nearby. We had dinner at Millstone Southern Smoked BBQ which was very crowded and loud due to an OSU football game.

The meal was good and afterwards dad and I sampled a few beers at Brewery 33, which was also within walking distance. Brewery 33 is very small but had a good selection of basic beers. This was back when I could still drink – alas! In fact, I don’t really miss it much although there are days when I really need a beer after work!

The next day, we hiked 3 trails in Hocking Hills State Park. Old Man’s Cave is the most popular spot and was our first stop. There is a large parking lot, but it quickly fills up. The visitors center was then under construction but would open only a few weeks before my return trip in 2019.

Old Man’s Cave is named for a recess inhabited by an early settler of the region in 1790s. The trail is only about a half mile long but is usually very crowded. Along the way, you’ll encounter the Devil’s Bathtub – an interesting whirlpool that supposedly swirls down to Hades (the underworld).

The trail descends from the parking lot into the canyon and the Upper Falls. At the bottom, the trail is cooler and easy to walk until you reach the lower falls. Hiking beyond the Lower Falls can be moderately strenuous. I elected to continue and see the Lower Falls while my parents opted to take a break. From the Lower Falls, the trail becomes part of the 6-mile Grandma Gatewood Trail, which connects several other trailheads in the park.

Instead of continuing along the loop, we got back in our car and stopped at Cedar Falls next. The parking lot is much smaller than at Old Man’s Cave and has a small bathroom and shelter. Cedar Falls is a magnificent 50-foot waterfall but is a misnomer because the early settlers of the region mistook the hemlock trees for cedars.

The trail is only half a mile but descends steeply down to the falls. A mathematician designed the steps to make them as comfortable as possible, although climbing back up is strenuous. The trail was also popular as well including a swarm of approximately 50 shirtless teenagers who went jogging by – apparently some sort of high school sports team in training.

Ash Cave was our final stop on the first trip. There are several small parking lots nearby with restrooms. The path to the cave is paved and only about a quarter mile long, although a half-mile trail loop also ascends along the upper edge of the cave. Ash Cave is named for the large piles of ash found in the cave by early settlers, which probably accumulated from fires lit by Native Americans over the centuries.

Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in the state which is readily apparent as you approach. The massive cave is shaped like a horseshoe and stretches 700 feet from end to end. It rises 90 feet tall and is 100 feet deep. A large mound, called the Pulpit Rock, sits in the middle and provides a good view of this unique geological feature. Ash Cave was also busy, and a large group of people had set up folding chairs. Several people were playing drums and other musical instruments which rippled through the air due to the cave’s acoustics.

Part II – July 2019

Even though Hocking Hills is a relatively small park, I still had a fun time the second time around less than a year later. Nataliya and I took a different approach in several respects. First, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Athens. It was a bit cheaper than Logan but also a 45-minute drive to the park. However, Athens (pop. 25,000) also offered amenities than Logan (pop. 7,000).

Athens is home to Jackie O’s Brewery, which produces one of my favorite beers – Razz Wheat (American raspberry wheat ale). In addition, Nataliya and I tried a flight of bourbon barrel beers which is one of my favorite styles. I was also extremely fortunate to have a brief window where the side effects of my medication were mild, and I could have a few sips (literally). I had a delicious salad with chicken and apples. The Rueben egg rolls were also amazing too.

After dinner, we wandered around the campus of Ohio University for a little while, which was very beautiful and quiet at night. Since it was summer, the campus was nearly deserted.Then, we went around the corner to see a movie at the Athena Cinema, a small historic theater. We decided to see “The Art of Self-Defense” which was a little ham-handed.

The next morning, we started our hike at Old Man’s Cave again. The new visitor’s center (a fire destroyed the previous building in 2016) had opened only a few weeks before and included some interesting displays on the history and ecology of the Hocking Hills region. It also features a gift shop which sells ice cream – a tasty treat after a hot hike.

Even though we partly recovered my tracks from 2018, Old Man’s Cave is still a lot of fun and Nataliya loved it since this was her first trip. This time, we continued along the trail after reaching the Lower Falls and headed along the Grandma Gatewood Loop towards Whispering Cave. This recess cave is about 300 long and sometimes has a waterfall in the center (which was not flowing when we visited). A few parts of the trail were moderately strenuous. We reconnected to the Grandma Gatewood loop and hiked back to Cedar Falls. The main attractions were very busy, but the Grandma Gatewood Trail had less traffic, although it was not totally empty.

Rose Lake was our last stop before returning to Old Man’s Cave. There is a sharp climb up to the reservoir, but it is not very long. Fishing is allowed at Rose Lake with a valid permit, but swimming is not. The lake was very quiet and pretty which makes it a great spot for a short rest. By the time we returned, we probably spent about 4 hours hiking and covered about 7 miles. My legs were tired – this was my longest trek in years!

Nataliya and I plan to go back again since there are still several destinations to visit, including Cantwell Cliffs, the Rock House and Conkle’s Hollow. In addition, there are numerous other parks and forests nearby, including Wayne National Forest. The Sherman House in Lancaster is about 30 minutes from Hocking Hills. It is the birthplace of Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman and is another place I’d like to visit as well.