Waterfalls in Hocking Hills: The Complete List

Close your eyes, open them anywhere in Hocking Hills State Park, and there’s a good chance you’ll be looking at a waterfall. The entire region is a waterfall mecca, and it draws visitors from all around the United States.

If you’re one of those visitors, you’ll hear plenty about the popular spots (which are great). But Hocking Hills is filled with more beautiful waterfalls than you can count on one hand, and they’re not all readily available on the back of tourist pamphlets. So in this article, you’ll find a complete list of all of the major waterfalls in Hocking Hills. 

The Full List of Waterfalls in Hocking Hills

Here’s a comprehensive list of the waterfalls at Hocking Hills (and how you can get to them).

What we’re not including: Small, seasonal waterfalls that are off-trail or unnamed. As you hike along many of the trails in Hocking Hills State Park during the wetter months, you’ll see micro-waterfalls in various ravines and coming down the sides of the rock walls. These beautiful views are simply an added bonus.

Upper Falls at Old Man’s Cave

You don’t even have to hike to reach Upper Falls. It’s just beyond the Old Man’s Cave parking lot. However, the ease of access doesn’t take away from the beauty of Upper Falls. It’s one of the most popular waterfalls in the park. Walk up to the stone bridge above the falls for a different perspective of the waterfall and pool below. After seeing Upper Falls, continue down into Old Man’s Cave to see Devil’s Bathtub, Lower Falls, and Sphinx Head.

Where it’s located: At the start of the Grandma Gatewood trail, just a few hundred yards from the Old Man’s Cave parking lot. 

Lower Falls at Old Man’s Cave

If you’ve done much research on Hocking Hills, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a photo of Lower Falls. It’s one of the falls that people come from all over to see. It’s popular for two reasons:

  • It’s in the Old Man’s Cave section of Hocking Hills, the most popular (and according to many, the most scenic) area of the park.
  • Along the way to Lower Falls, you’ll pass some of the most iconic locations in the park. You can learn more about Old Man’s Cave here.

Where it’s located: Lower Falls is at the lower end of the Old Man’s Cave section of Hocking Hills. It’s about a 1-mile hike from the parking lot.

Broken Rock Falls

Most people turn around before they get to Broken Rock Falls: It’s past the end of Old Man’s Cave. But Broken Rock Falls is one of the most unique waterfalls in the park, and it’s especially worth a visit if you’re looking for a waterfall with some solitude.

The waterfall itself looks unlike any other in Hocking Hills. It cuts through a massive crack in the cliff face (hence the name), yet the actual volume of water is relatively small. So if you can, time your visit to the waterfall during the rainy season: Late winter or early spring.

Even in the summer, when the water is reduced to a trickle, Broken Rock Falls remains an impressive feat of geography that’s well worth visiting.

Where it’s located: You’ll find the trail to Broken Rock Falls shortly after passing Lower Falls on the Grandma Gatewood Trail (just outside of the Old Man’s Cave area). Take it, head up some steps, and arrive at the falls.

Rose Lake Falls

This is an off-trail waterfall, so visit at your own discretion. But it’s without a doubt the most impressive waterfall on the section of trail between Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. It’s a beautiful place: Rose Lake Falls cascades over layers of eroded sandstone before hitting the forest floor and continuing into a small creek below.

Rose Lake Falls is also an excellent spot if you’re visiting during the drier months. While it’s more powerful after a rain, the outflow from Rose Lake Reservoir makes the falls a consistent bet year-round.

Where it’s located: You can find Rose Lake Falls just off the Grandma Gatewood Trail between Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. It’s about 1.5 miles from both spots. When you’re almost directly south of Rose Lake (the steep gorges will begin to flatten), you’ll cross a bridge over a stream. Follow this creek upstream for about 200 yards and you’ll arrive at the falls. 

Whispering Falls

This waterfall is an added bonus for hikers on the Grandma Gatewood Trail. If you’re hiking in the spring, late fall, or winter, you’ll be able to see it at full force. And though Whispering Falls isn’t big, it’s a pleasant surprise as you cruise towards Cedar Falls or Old Man’s Cave.

Although it’s small, Whispering Falls is nearly 100 feet tall: Making it the second-tallest waterfall in Hocking Hills State Park.

Where it’s located: Whispering Falls is located on the Grandma Gatewood Trail, about a 10-minute walk to the west of Cedar Falls.

Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls has a history far deeper than popular tourism. The Shawnee, Delaware, and Wyandot tribes lived and hunted in this area, gunning for food and shelter as they explored. Later, settlers built a small town near the falls. While the town is no longer there, you can still see remains of a rickety grist mill at the top of the waterfall.

The scenery at Cedar Falls is just as impressive as the history. It’s the most powerful waterfall, by volume, in Hocking Hills. The falls tumble 50 feet down, guided by Black Hand sandstone, until the water splashes into a pool at the bottom.

From the Cedar Falls parking lot, it’s just a short hike: But you can extend your Cedar Falls hike to Old Man’s Cave or Ash Cave if you’ve got time.

Where it’s located: Cedar Falls is on the Cedar Falls trail, just a half-mile off the Grandma Gatewood Trail. You can take a short loop hike from the Cedar Falls parking lot, or access the falls via Old Man’s cave or Ash Cave on the Grandma Gatewood Trail.

Hidden Falls

You won’t see many people at Hidden Falls: The waterfall does live up to its name. It is located about 50 yards off the trail at Cedar Falls, and the detour is worth every minute. 

Where it’s located: Just off the trail at Cedar Falls. When you come down the stairs towards Cedar Falls and get to the junction with the Gorge Overlook Trail (there’s clear signage at the junction) head left on the dirt footpath next to the large tree stump. This takes you 50 yards to the falls.

Ash Cave Falls

Ash Cave is the biggest recess cave in Ohio. And as if that wasn’t enough, the cave boasts a delicate, 90-foot waterfall cascading from its ceiling. Ash Cave Falls, like many of the smaller waterfalls in Hocking Hills, is a seasonal waterfall. Time your visit during the spring, late fall, or winter to get the full experience.

If you happen to visit Hocking Hills during an extended midwinter cold snap, you’re in for something special: When it’s cold enough, Ash Cave Falls forms a massive ice pillar. The pillar, with the colossal Ash Cave cavern behind it, is one of the most unique sights in Ohio. Typically, temperatures need to be below freezing for a few days in a row to achieve this effect.

Where it’s located: You’ll find Ash Cave Falls at Ash Cave, just off the Ash Gorge Trail. It’s at the south end of the Grandma Gatewood Trail.

Conkle’s Hollow Falls

People generally don’t go to Conkle’s Hollow for the falls: They go to visit the largest gorge in Ohio for some of the only sweeping landscape views in Hocking Hills. But when hikers reach the end of the Conkle’s Hollow gorge, where the sandstone merges and slopes up towards the hills, they’re met with a 25-foot waterfall.

It’s one of the most underrated waterfalls in Hocking Hills. Conkle’s Hollow Falls often dries up in the summer, though. Time your visit during the rainier months for the best experience. The gorge itself is gorgeous no matter when you visit.

Where it’s located: Take the Gorge Trail at Conkle’s Hollow. After about a half-mile, you’ll reach the end. That’s where you’ll find the waterfall.

Rockbridge Falls

Rockbridge is Ohio’s biggest natural arch, and it flies under the radar among most visitors to Hocking Hills. Rockbridge Falls is located in a recess cave beneath the famous arch. The waterfall is small, but pretty, and it adds wild character to the spot.

Chances are that if you’re heading to Rockbridge, you’re not going strictly for the falls. But if you do want to see the waterfall, time your visit during the rainy months of the year. Peak summer heat saps up moisture from the stream and reduces the waterfall to a trickle—and, sometimes, completely dries it up.

Where it’s located: Rockbridge Falls is located at the Rockbridge natural arch. It’s about a 2-mile hike, round-trip, from the parking lot.

Big Spring Hollow Falls

It might seem strange that almost nobody visits the tallest waterfall in Hocking Hills. But that’s the case for Big Spring Hollow Falls. It’s beautiful, covered by thick forest, and over 100 feet tall. 

So why don’t many people visit it? Big Spring Hollow Falls lies outside the borders of Hocking Hills State Park and the trail is relatively difficult to find. For that reason, it flies under the radar.

Where it’s located: Put the coordinates 39.45888, -82.55841 into your navigation app. It’ll take you to a small parking lot on Big Pine Road, near Conkle’s Hollow. The trail to Big Spring Hollow Falls is across the street from this parking lot: It’s on the south side of the road.

Parish Rock Falls

You won’t hear about it as much as the others on this list, but Parish Rock Falls is a gem. It’s a multi-tiered waterfall, cascading more than 100 feet before crashing into the ground below. You’ll probably have this waterfall all to yourself.

Where it’s located: Put the address 21300 OH-664, South Bloomingville, OH 43152 into your map. Find the pull-off near the Hocking State Forest sign, scan around for the trailhead (it’s right near the pull-off), and start hiking. 

Cantwell Cliffs Falls

The falls at Cantwell Cliffs aren’t the main attraction—the cliffs are—but it’s a welcome bonus if you visit at the right time of year. It’s a small cascade, and you’re most likely to see it during the wetter months of the year. And even during those wetter months, you should time your visit directly after a heavy rainfall or snowmelt to get the full experience.

Where it’s located: At the recess cave on the trail at Cantwell Cliffs.

Places to stay near Hocking Hills

Wondering where to stay when you visit Hocking Hills? Clear Falls has 15 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.

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Waterfalls in Hocking Hills: The Bottom Line

There’s no better place in Ohio to see waterfalls than Hocking Hills. Pick any number of the waterfalls on this list, grab a trail map, and head out. Or just pick them all. At Hocking Hills, it’s impossible to go wrong.