The Hocking Hills don't close down once autumn has taken the leaves from the trees. In fact, we're open all year long. Winter has its share of fun things to do, so come on out and shake off the winter blahs with fun stuff like . . .
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Lois’ Antiques |
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Christmas in Ash Cave Christmas in December of each year Check here for Event Date Step away from the hectic holiday season and
come bundled for the weather while enjoying a lighted stroll
back to |
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 Winter Hike -
Annual Winter Hike
Enjoy winters splendor on this 6-mile
trek from Old Man’s Cave to
Hocking Hills State Park |
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Six More Great Ways to Enjoy the Hocking Hills
When You Have to Wear Winter Clothes
1 - Go Sledding
Go sledding in the Hocking Hills Region. You only
need a couple of sleds, a car full of kids (of any age)
and a good layer of warm clothes to get you out of the
house and inhaling some clean, fresh air. It's fun. It's
cheap. And after riding the sled down the hill and then
walking back up to do it again and again and again,
you'll sleep well that night. Below are a couple great sledding
hills for you to try in the Hocking Hills. But bring
your own sleds and snowboards. Parks close at dusk. And
you gotta sled at your own risk. . .
Lake Logan State Park dam (near Hocking Hills State Park)
Sledders can use the dam at Lake Logan and there is plenty of parking at the dam parking lot right off of State Route 664.
How to get to Lake Logan:
From Columbus/Lancaster and Logan:
To get to Lake Logan, folks can take State Route 33 East
from Columbus to the Logan Bremen Exit which is State Route 664. Turn right. The
Lake Logan Dam parking lot is about 1/4
mile down on the right.
Lake Hope State Park dam
Sledders can use the dam which is located right off State Route 278.
How to get to Lake Hope:
From Columbus/Lancaster and Logan:
Take 270 to Route 33 South through Lancaster and down to Nelsonville and State Route 278. Take 278 South to Lake Hope State Park. (1.5 hours)
From Athens:
Take Route 50 West to Prattsville. Turn right on State Route 278, head north through Zaleski and on to Lake Hope State Park. (30 minutes)
2 - Hike, Hike, Hike
The
park is open all year long so you can hike from dawn to
dusk 365 days a year in the Hocking Hills. If you like
the waterfalls at Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave and Cedar
Falls in summer, you'll love to see them frozen to a
blue glaze in winter.
If it's cold enough, you may be able to see them frozen from top to bottom.
3 - Make Friends with the Naturalist
Hocking Hills State Park offers many weekly programs,
monthly programs and special event programs during the
winter. From hikes into the gorge of Old Man's Cave to
programs on Ohio's birds of prey and even to photo
competitions, there is something interesting for every
age and taste.
For Hocking Hills State Park programs and events, click here!
4 - Bird Watch
Bird Watching is the fastest growing outdoor pursuit! Winter bird watching in the Hocking Hills is some of the best in the country. Many unique woodland species call this area home such as the huge Pileated Woodpecker, elusive Ruffed Grouse and the many forest songbirds. www.birdhocking.com
Probably the best part of enjoying bird watching in the Hills during the winter is the fact that it is a great location for several unique species of raptors. Due to the lack of leaf cover, year around residents such as the Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl become much easier to spot. The extreme cold in the Arctic sends many raptors south to the Hocking Hills for the winter. Look closely for the tiny Saw Whet Owl or watch over the small field openings for the Northern Harrier.
A cool spot to see wintering Black Vultures by the dozens: Take a drive to the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and look to the roof. You can't miss these living gargoyles catching a little bit of heat from the roof or soaring overhead.
5 - Go Shopping!
Places to shop:
Grandma Fayes: Groceries Gifts/Souvenirs Candy/Fudge Camping Supplies and just a little bit of everything only a couple miles from Old Man's Cave. 20507 St. Rt. 664 South Logan , OH 43138
Phone:740-385-9466
6 - Go Ghost Hunting!
Moonville Tunnel, Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave have ghostly legends passed down through the ages. From the ghost of a railway engineer seen at Moonville Station from the late 1800s to baying hounds at Old Man's Cave, there are plenty of mysterious places to search for adventure in the Hocking Hills.
Although
Hocking Hills State Park closes at dusk, the park offers ghost hunting
forays throughout the year with Haunted Hocking programs. You can also
explore the ghostly legends yourself with the book Haunted Hocking - A
Ghost Hunter's Guide. You can purchase it at Grandma Fayes, Hocking
Hills Visitor Center, Fiddlestix and Amazon.com.
