Hocking Hills Cabins

Find a place to stay - a cabin, cottage or inn room. Compare prices. Book a Stay now-
Hocking Hills Cabins

Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills Park Trails 

Need Hocking Hills trail info? Find Trails here-Hocking Hills Trails  

Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills Programs

Explore daily and weekly programs at Hocking Hills State Park. Find out more about Programs here - Hocking Hills State Park Programs
Hocking Hills
Attractions and Activities

Find something to do in the Hocking Hills during your trip.
Click here for Attractions-
Hocking Hills Attractions
Hocking Hills
Maps and Directions

Maps and directions around the Hocking Hills Region. More Map Info here-
Hocking Hills Maps
Hocking Hills
Pet Friendly Travel

Pet Friendly Hocking Hills  More Pet Stuff Here-
Pet Friendly Travel
Hocking Hills
Kid Friendly Travel

Check out Kid Friendly Hocking Hills. More Kid Stuff Here -
Kid Friendly TravelHocking Hills

Hocking Hills Weddings and Romantic Stays

Free and low cost wedding places in the Hocking Hills. More here-Hocking Hills Weddings

Hocking Hills State Park Fall Colors HikeHocking Hills State Park
Heart of Hocking

Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Colors Hike

October 13, 2012                          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. 3 to 4 hrs)

 

Grandma Gatewood Fall Colors Hike-

Bask in the colors of Autumn's sweet adieu before winter's chill. Strenuous hike from Old Man's Cave, to Cedar Falls and back again. Lots of rough terrain and beautiful leaf displays make this hike an awesome adventure well worth the taking. This hike is moderately paced and rugged.  If you are a casual hiker, have heart problems, are overweight, have knee or hip injuries or one who has not hiked lately, try some of the shorter hikes and work up to this one next year.

Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Center 19852 State Route 664 S  

Time: 1:00 pm

Dress: 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!


From all over the world, people come to gawk at the colorful spread of leaf color the Hocking Hills has to display.  And it is definitely worth the trip. The Grandma Gatewood Fall Color Hike is one of the park's more strenuous programs-covering 6 miles of Old Man's Cave's celebrated hilly ups and downs the region is known for. 

The tour is guided by Hocking Hills State Park Naturalist, Pat Quackenbush, and covers the area from Old Man's Cave Visitor Center to Cedar Falls. The hike has become so popular, there are fewer stops along the way than the shorter guided tours. Hikers walk the trail, awed by the wide display of leaf colors, cliff overlooks, rock formations and waterfalls. 

 It is imperative that you bring drinks and snacks- 6 miles is a long hike. Although the hike is at a relaxed stride, there are some tough spots (roots, rocks, rough terrain) to pass through. This hike is not well-suited for really  young children (unless you are prepared to carry them part of the 6 miles) or if you have medical problems. And a special treat. . .at the end of the hike, the park generously offers free marshmallows and s'mores hikers can cook over an open fire.

Heart of Hocking

Kid Friendly: Maybe not. This is a five-six mile hike, up and down hills with plenty of roots, rocks and cooler weather. It is breathtaking, relaxing, fun and nonstop. However, if your kids are the kind you have to lug  around in a shopping cart when you are only five minutes into shopping at the nearest grocery store, this might not be the hike for them. Besides, most cell phones don't work at the bottom of Old Man's Cave and it would be tough to call someone to pick them up.

Pet Friendly - There are more than a few people who bring their dogs with them on this hike. Plenty of warning though, there are lots of people walking in a long line. If your dog doesn't like people and is not used to the cold, keep them home. For those who have difficulty walking - Not recommended. Although the staff at the park clear the trails to their best ability, there are still logs to climb over and plenty of rocks, roots and hills that seem a mile high.

Hocking Hills State Park 19852 State Route 664 S  Logan, Ohio     43138 (740) 385-8003 Naturalist Office

Heart of Hocking

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.