One Drive. 2 Hikes.

And 3 Awesome Views. A Heart of Hocking Guide to Fall Colors

Fall Colors in the Hocking Hills -  Autumn creeps into the Hocking Hills in late September and then bursts into October with brilliant oranges, yellows, reds and greens.  If  you are looking for the "best" date to come, we can't actually say when it will be. Things like the amount of rain, cool air and other factors make it difficult to pinpoint an exact date. However, if you look below, you can see it is usually mid-October when the most radiant colors flow across the Hocking Hills horizon.

Update: September 4, 2009 -  No changes yet. Cooler nights - about 53 degrees and warm days -about 81 degrees.

What to wear in October when leaf peeping - Ohio's weather in the fall could definitely be called 'fickle'. Temperatures can range from 45 degrees to 70 degrees! Suggested clothing is jeans or warm pants, t-shirt or sweatshirt and a waterproof jacket. Grab some clothes you can layer if it is cooler in the morning and you can toss in a backpack during the warmer afternoons. We recommend hiking boots or tennis shoes with a thick tread - leaves along the trail can be slippery!

Fall Color Hikes in the Region:

Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Colors Hike October 17, 2009 Hocking Hills State Park-    1:00 PM Bring along a cool drink and celebrate the season’s colors.  Meet with the naturalist at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center for a strenuous hike that spans roughly 6 miles of the Grandma Gatewood trail.   We will be traversing the section that runs from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back while enjoying the scenic beauty and cultural personality.  This hike does include several hills and steps and is not recommended for the easily winded individual.  (Approx. 3to4 hrs) 740-385-8003

Columbus Metroparks - October 18, 2009 4:00 pm  Battelle Darby Creek Naturalist Office - 1775 Darby Creek Dr.
Galloway OH 43119.  Relish Autumns array of colors on a 2-mile hike.(614) 508-8111

Clearcreek Metropark - October 11, 2009 10:30 am Backcountry Hike to Buzzard's Roost  Fern Parking Lot
Clear Creek Road-- The hike will be approximately 4-miles roundtrip and last about 3 hours. It will be rugged so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring drinking water. Ages 13 an up only.(614) 508-8111

Lake Hope State Park - October 17th, 10 am - Lake Hope State Park Fall Hike at 27331 St. Rd. 278, in McArthur, OH. -mile guided hikes begin at 10:00am from the shelter house. Hike ends at Hope Furnace with bean soup and cornbread. Shuttles return you to your car. Enjoy Sassafras tea to start.(740)596-3030

How it starts: September 21 - Warm days, cool nights and rain gets the leaves beginning to change color. The deep greens will begin fade to a smoky gray-green. Although not yet the deep maroons, pumpkin oranges and golden yellows of mid-October, the changes are just a month away!

View from fire tower - Hocking Hills State Forest September Mid

Views around the Park in a Typical October:

October 19 -  Conkle's Hollow - Fall is here! Cooler days and rain have brought a wave of color to the Hocking Hills!

One Drive. 2 Hikes.

And 3 Awesome Views.

Autumn. It is here in the Hocking Hills with bright yellows, deep oranges and brilliant maroons. And there is alot of it. You don't even have to get our of your car to catch an entire horizon of fall colors. But if you've come to hike, take pictures, relax and catch a few colors before Winter comes crashing down on us with snow, here's a few places you can drive to see some greens, oranges, yellows and maroons.

Please note that the drive will take you past all of the Hocking Hills State Park trails (all 25 miles of trails!), so feel free to stop in and visit each one. We have noted those below that offer the best views. But please remember - with views come cliffs! Please make sure all pets and children are under your control when hiking. Conkle's Hollow does not allow pets as it is a nature preserve. The lower trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Please stay on the trails at all Hocking Hills State Park areas - it is the law.

The Drive

Start out at Ash Cave on State Route 56. Turn left on the first road to the left - State Route 374.  You'll pass places like Cedar Falls and Rose Lake.  If you're not in a hurry, stop at the Rose Lake Fishing gravel parking area not far after Cedar Falls on the right hand side. You can hike down to Rose Lake and get a bit of color there, too.

Two Hikes with 3 Awesome Views

Conkle's Hollow - Take State Route 374 and turn on to Big Pine Road. From there, follow the signs to Conkle's Hollow where you will travel a dead-end drive back to the parking area and trail head.

When you get on the trail, head toward the Upper Rim Trail designated by the many steps. Since this is a preserve, you must stay on the marked trails! Also a word of caution-the upper section of Conkle's Hollow is over 200 feet in the air in some places and the trail is along the edge. No Pets are allowed. Don't take kids here and certainly, use your common sense.

Conkle's Hollow Upper Trail From Forestry Headquarters: you will have to leave Conkle's Hollow parking lot to get here. Pull out of Conkle's Hollow and make a right. Go to the first stop sign (State Route 374) and make a right.  Go about a 1/2 mile and watch for the pull offs on the right. Do not block any gates. Follow the tail to lookout point.

Cantwell Cliffs: Cantwell Cliffs is one of the most remote and the least visited of the six park areas. The trail overlaps itself so look at the map carefully if you want to avoid going in circles. There is a 2 mile gorge trail and approximately a mile of rim trail. 

Click on the Map for a Larger View - This map will take you on an Autumn drive you'll never forget. We've mapped it out to circle the most prominent hiking areas in the Hocking Hills, all known for their seasonal waterfalls and awesome autumn views.

The Hocking Hills Region is located in the Midwest US settled into the edges of Appalachia's  Southeastern Ohio. It is known for its wilderness areas, unique rock formations, cascading waterfalls, breathtaking cliff edges and the many cabins and cottages tucked into its hillsides to escape the everyday. It encompasses such natural areas as Lake Hope State Park, Wayne National Forest, Zaleski State Forest, Hocking State Forest and a few Columbus Metroparks. One of the largest visited park systems in Ohio is Hocking Hills State Park located within this region. There are over 25 miles of hiking trails including those at Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave. em>