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
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.
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
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.
