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20201023 – Hocking Hills State Park – Rose Lake, Gorge Overlook, and Grandma Gatewood Trails

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Date: 10/23/2020 – Distance: 6.9 mi – Elapsed Time: 3.25 hr – Ascent: 997 ft – Descent: 951 ft – Difficulty: Medium

I arrived in Hocking Hills around 2pm on Friday. I was staying in the Hocking Hills State Park Campground for two nights. I wanted to get some hiking done on Friday, before it got dark, to make the most of my time. This first hike I did was down to Rose Lake, around the lake, down the Gorge Overlook Trail to Cedar Falls, then down into the gorge and along the Grandma Gatewood Trail back to Old Man’s Cave and back up to the campground before it got dark. Aside from the Rose Lake trail, I had hiked all of these trails before and knew the terrain.

Rose Lake from the southwest side of the dam.
There was still plenty of fall color.
The reds really contrast with the green and yellows.
And the deep purple of these oaks is sweet.
There are still some late season wildflowers like this thistle variety.
There is a wildlife observation blind at the northern tip of the lake.
Rose Falls below the dam.
There’s a lot of Hemlocks on the Gorge Overlook Trail.
This mushroom had amazing purple color.
Small hollow along the Gorge Overlook Trail. This may be the feeder for Whispering Falls.
You can just make out the top of Cedar Falls.
Suspension bridge leading to Cedar Falls.
I actually had never been down this staircase to the bottom of the falls.
Not much water coming over Cedar Falls.
Had never explored this trail up to the main Cedar Falls lot either.
I turned back here as I didn’t want to do the climb up to the parking lot.
The cliffs in this gorge never disappoint.
The I noticed the Grandma Gatewood Trail is one way due to COVID. I was too far in with limited time to turn around. I guess they expect you to take the Overlook Trail back.
Fall on Queer Creek.
I love this part of the trail.
Broken Rock Falls Hollow.
Lower Falls is just a trickle.
Stairs descending to the top of Lower Falls.
Looking back.
Old Man’s Cave with few people. It’s Friday.
Devil’s Bathtub is calm.
Cool fungus.
Upper Falls is also barely flowing.

From Upper Falls, I headed up the gorge and back to camp.

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