Date: 07/09/2022 – Distance: 5.6 mi – Elapsed Time: 3.5 hr – Ascent: 663 ft – Descent: 728 ft – Difficulty: Medium
Hocking Hills State Park is one of the most popular State Parks in Ohio and for good reason. It is filled with spectacular waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, spacious recess caves, and amazing wildflowers and wildlife. The total park is made up of several disconnected areas centered around features. The park has many trails, and some longer ones even connect a few of the distinct areas. I have hiked all over this park including the surrounding Hocking State Forest. I was camping in the State Park Campground this weekend and decided to hike into the Old Man’s Cave area to meet up with a friend and his family who were looking for an excursion into nature.
I was camping at site #130, which was kinda small, but was the last one available, as is usually the case with this campground. The trails were just down the road, and there was a connector trail right at the top of the hill at the entrance to the campground, which would take me to Old Man’s Cave.At the bottom of the connector trail, I turned right on the Gorge Overlook Trail toward Upper Falls. I was trying to meet my friend near the top of the falls. As it turns out, I found them at the Visitor Center.Upper Falls, as seen from above on the bridge.Looking down at the area below Upper Falls from the bridge.From the area in front of Upper Falls.Upper Falls.I always find this balanced rock fascinating.Recent rains have even made some of the smaller falls flow.Devil’s Bathtub.Below Devil’s Bathtub. The trail comes down the narrow stairs to the right.Kids always want to have their picture taken in this small cave.It was a little overcast today, and my camera had issues focusing sharply, but it’s still a beautiful place.These falls are on the stairs into the gorge right in front of the visitor center.Some type of Viburnum.My friends crossing the artistic bridge under the A-frame bridge.Coming up on Old Man’s Cave. Old Man’s Cave from the opposite side of the creek.The cave across from Old Man’s Cave. Old Man’s Cave is huge.Middle Falls is right in front of the cave.Me taking in the scene.Two of us got separated from the rest and we had to go looking. One went toward Lower Falls and I went up through the cave and wrapped around the top toward Lower Falls from the other dierction.Descending the staircase toward Lower Falls. It’s an incredible scene.Made it to Lower Falls. We didn’t find the rest of the group.So we climbed the staircase back toward the Visitor Center. They were at the car, preparing lunch.We decided to drive to Cedar Falls and do a short hike there after lunch.Looking upstream toward Cedar Falls from the curved bridge after descending into the gorge.It was a little hazy, giving a mysterious look to the cliffs.That’s called Hidden Falls.Crossing another bridge and coming up on Cedar Falls. The plaque in front of the falls.Cedar Falls. You shouldn’t be swimming here.Cedar Falls.A bad image of Hidden Falls.This trail goes back to the parking area.The trail follows a small recess cave with some tight squeezes.The parking lot isn’t far from the top of these stairs.Jack-o-lanterns maybe? These glow in the dark.I’m not good at identifying the shrooms.Back at camp, I collected a few fallen pieces of the pine trees around my campsite. These are all from the same tree.Site #130 in the State Park Campground just above Old Man’s Cave.Another fungus growing on the pine roots.Cool colored Honeysuckle. This is not native, and I found it in the town of Logan.Sourwood flowers.
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