Hocking Hills, Ohio – Clear Falls

What is Hocking Hills?

Hocking Hills is a region of remarkable natural beauty in southern Ohio.

It is home to Ohio’s most beautiful waterfalls, deepest caves, and steepest gorges. Hocking Hills is a piece of magic hidden in the Midwest. The area is a paradise for anyone who enjoys the outdoors: hiking, canoeing, ziplining, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more are at their very best in Hocking Hills.

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1: Old Man’s Cave

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Millions of years ago, Old Man’s Cave was covered by a shallow sea. Today, it’s a deep sandstone gorge, a place where you’ll find waterfalls and recess caves at nearly every turn. It is one of the most stunning places in all of Ohio.

[read more button – Old Man’s Cave article]

2: Ash Cave

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Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in the entire state of Ohio. So, it should come as no surprise that this is a special place to visit. You can look up as the rocky sandstone wall stretches towards the sky, far above, and a small waterfall pours off the cave’s roof.

[read more button – Ash Cave article]

3: Cedar Falls

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The cliff walls here stretch more than 100 feet towards the sky as you snake along a beautiful stream and head toward the largest waterfall (by volume) in all of Hocking Hills. You’ll be glad you went to Cedar Falls. [read more – Cedar Falls article]

[read more – Grandma Gatewood Trail article]

4: Rock House

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This is a cave almost big enough to get lost in. You can spend hours in the far corners of the 200-foot-long Rock House cave, marveling at the ancient erosion that created this place. Seven “windows” in the rock wall let golden sunlight splash into the cave, illuminating the space inside.

[read more – Rock House article]

5: Grandma Gatewood Trail

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This is not just one place. Rather, it’s a trail that will take you to many of the most stunning natural landmarks in Ohio. Named after a legendary Ohio trailblazer, this trail cuts through the center of Hocking Hills State Park. Hiking it is the quintessential Hocking Hills experience.

Here’s a list of the scenic highlights at Hocking Hills State Park and the surrounding areas:

Things to do in Hocking Hills

// Note for this section: I think these can be panels with photos, headers, and short descriptions. Like what you see on the VisitMT site for Glacier National Park: https://www.visitmt.com/places-to-go/glacier-national-park

Then we can have a “Learn More” button under each short description. I’ve included in-text links for now, but I think a button would look nicer and probably have a higher CTR. //

There are many wonderful things to do in Hocking Hills. You can browse our full list of things to do in Hocking Hills or scroll down to see some of the some of the highlights:

Hocking Hills State Park

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The state park is, by far, the most popular attraction within the Hocking Hills region. It contains the majority of the trails, waterfalls, and caves that you’ll want to visit. Hocking Hills State Park was established in 1924 and welcomes millions of visitors each year. You’ll find more than 25 miles of hiking trails throughout the beautiful 2,300+ acres. It is the most popular state park in Ohio. And, there are cabins and spaces for camping. Learn more about the park.

Hiking

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Take the Grandma Gatewood Trail, a legendary path through the region’s main attractions. Or hike the Ash Cave Trail, a short trek to the state’s biggest recess cave. Or, take one of the dozens of other trails Hocking Hills has to offer. See a full list of hiking trails in Hocking Hills.

Waterfall hunting

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Hunt for waterfalls of all types: In gorges, rolling off caves, tucked behind a sea of dark-green leaves. Visit the popular waterfalls, head to the off-the-radar spots, or see them all. A complete list of waterfalls in Hocking Hills.

Rock climbing

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Push yourself to the limits––or don’t––and go rock climbing at Hocking Hills. Go alone, go with a guide, choose any skill level: Whatever you pick, you’ll have fun. Learn how to go rock climbing at Hocking Hills.

Ziplining

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It’s the only way to see Hocking Hills at 50 miles per hour. Zip through trees, have lunch on cave ledges, fly past waterfalls: Yes, you can do all of those things. This is how to zipline at Hocking Hills.

Camping

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Pitch a tent amongst the trees. Or, get a cabin. There are plenty of great camping opportunities within, and just outside of, Hocking Hills State Park. Here are the best places to camp in Hocking Hills.

Horseback riding

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Explore Hocking Hills on the back of a horse. The horseback riding tours in the area generally come with lunch, cooked in the wilderness, and you’ll get to see things you would likely otherwise miss. Learn more about seeing the unique places in Hocking Hills, on a horse.

Canoeing and kayaking
The Hocking River is a small, quiet, and (most importantly) gorgeous river that runs directly through the Hocking Hills region. Rent a kayak or a canoe and spend your afternoon paddling through paradise. Here are the best places to rent and put in.

John Glenn Astronomy Park

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Stargazing at JGAP description.

Hocking Hills Winery

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Winery description.

Where is Hocking Hills located?

Hocking Hills is located in Southern Ohio, about one hour south of Columbus. Although the region itself is remote, Hocking Hills is easily accessible from many major cities. Driving distances from other cities:

From Columbus: 1 hour drive
From Cincinnati: 2 hours
From Cleveland: 3 hours
From Pittsburgh: 3 hours
From Indianapolis: 3.5 hours
From Detroit: 4 hours

[Interactive Google Map or some custom-designed map here]

[Downloadable trail maps]

Hocking Hills hiking trails

Hiking trails in Hocking Hills are unlike those you’ll find in most other parts of the Midwest: the trails here will take you past 100-foot waterfalls, ancient gorges, and old remnants of people and civilizations long gone. There’s nothing quite like a hike in Hocking hills. Here’s a list of the best trails in the area.

Waterfalls at Hocking Hills

If one were to make a list of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ohio, it’s no doubt that the falls in Hocking Hills would take many of the top spots. You’ll see waterfalls rolling off of recess caves, frothing through gorges, bubbling into quiet pools in the forest. There are more waterfalls than you could count on both hands—or ten hands, for that matter. Here’s a list of all the waterfalls in Hocking Hills and where you can find them.

Hidden Gems

Hocking Hills isn’t exactly a secret. And on weekends, some of the park’s most popular spots can get busy. Below is a list of hidden gems where you’re more likely to find solitude, no matter when you go:

21 Horse Cave

Robinson Falls

Rock Falls Natural Sanctuary

Sheep Dip

Rock Stalls

Clear Creek Metro Park

Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve

Hocking Hills cabins and lodging

Wondering where to stay when you visit Hocking Hills? Clear Falls has luxury cabins situated on a private, 500-acre wildlife preserve. It’s paradise in the wilderness—and just a few minutes’ walk from most of Hocking Hills’ most beautiful attractions. Find your cabin below.

Browse cabins by style:

Browse cabins by size:

[My thoughts: I think a carousel with photos from, and links to, your various cabins would be cool here. Instead of giving people a comprehensive list, show them pictures of the coolest places to get them excited. Then, below, include a “See All Cabins” button that takes people to the lodging page where they can filter by size, amount of people, and more. Of course, you could always just give people the comprehensive list that’s currently on the site. I think that would work, too.]