01/25/2025
Shawna and I needed to get away for the weekend as being cooped up in the house with sub-freezing temperatures was taking its toll. We needed some outdoors, so why not go to one of our favorite places in Ohio, the Hocking Hills Region? We were hoping to see some impressive ice formations.
We decided to get a cabin in the Hocking Hills State Park. The cabins are cozy, peaceful, and fairly recently renovated.
The cabins are near the Hocking Hills Lodge and Conference Center, which is only in its 3rd year. We’ve stayed there several times, and Shawna has even sung at a couple of the more significant events: last year for the Hocking Hills Winter Hike 2024 and again on Memorial Day Weekend last year. This place is beautiful. There are numerous nooks to hang out with games or relax and read. There are also two fireplaces on the bottom floor and two on the main floor, one double-sided facing the bar area. There are also patios to enjoy during the warmer months.
The Lodge also has the Rock House Restaurant, which has excellent food. They have a chef whose dinner plates are very delicious and unique. I’ve had Pork Chops, Ribeye Steak, and other dinners; they have all been top-notch. The restaurant is also open for lunch and breakfast. The menu has matured to include vegetarian and health-conscious options and gluten-sensitive items. Cafe 22 is also open most of the day and serves soft drinks, coffee, ice cream, sandwiches, delicious pizza, chips, and sweets.
We wanted to head into the main gorge on Saturday to witness the fantastic ice formations and frozen waterfalls. A week earlier, I had seen pictures of the Hocking Hills Winter Hike 2025, and they were awesome then. With the consistently cold temperatures, they may be even better now.
We started at the Old Man’s Cave parking lot and entered at the top of the gorge at Upper Falls.
As we descended the trail through the gorge from there, we were surrounded by ice hanging on the cliffs on both sides. This section of the gorge has several waterfalls, and we intended to make a short loop through the gorge, past Old Man’s Cave and on to Lower Falls, before ascending back up to the Visitor Center, where we had parked.
We stayed straight at Old Man’s Cave instead of returning on the shorter loop through the cave. The waterfall here was connected entirely from top to bottom with ice.
The ice was treacherous as we proceeded to Lower Falls, but we were happy to have our spikes. I had lent Shawna my preferred Katoola Micro Spikes, flawless on ice, even on 30-degree inclines. I was wearing my Yaktrax Walkers Traction System “cleats,” which aren’t quite as grippy but served the purpose well with caution where there was an incline or decline. We saw countless people without spikes, several wipeouts, with one even sliding down the stairs about 20 steps. They were both hurt but were able to get back up. I even saw some people in Vans which have absolutely no traction. We were thankful for spikes, and I wouldn’t recommend going down there without them when it’s icy.
At lower falls, the ice was equally impressive. It was fully connected as well.
The climb from Lower Falls to the top of the gorge is grueling. It involves climbing back up the twisted trail, spiraling stairs, and through a long tunnel, seemingly going right up the wall a hundred feet above.
We had left our dog at the cabin for the first hike as she would have had problems with the ice, aside from the hazardous and deadly drops. So we returned to pick her up for the next destination, Ash Cave, a few miles south of the Lodge.
Ash Cave’s trail is very flat; it’s paved all the way to the cave and falls.
The cave was massive and awe-inspiring. The waterfall was frozen, with a large chandelier up top and a considerable cone below. Notice the people in the pictures for size comparison.
From Ash Cave, we ascended the stairs to the top as the signs told us. It turns out that was a mistake; we should have returned the way we came. There is no additional scenery, and the metal stairs hurt Bella’s feet as she climbed them. Then, the trail back to the parking lot was constantly descending and very icy. We were lucky we had our spikes, but a couple of others didn’t have them, and they were not having a good time.
That evening, we had dinner at the lodge and relaxed in front of one of the fireplaces for a while before heading back to the cabin.
The trip certainly gave us what we were after and recharged our batteries for a bit more. The energy and wonder of the Hocking Hills Region is second to none within Ohio. Don’t get me wrong, there are many other beautiful areas around Ohio, but this one is the best. If you are coming here, remember to wear proper footwear, carry water, and even have trekking poles for stability. Old Mans Cave can get crowded during the warmer months, but other areas exist. Consider checking out Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve(no pets), Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, or Whispering Cave from the back of the lodge as alternative scenic hikes.
I also wanted to shout out to some other places we visited on this trip.
The Hocking Hills Inn and Coffee Emporium have excellent coffee and some food, including my favorite, breakfast Pizzas, and Shawna’s favorite, the Chicken Salad without the bread because she is gluten-sensitive. Of note is that they have a few gluten-free sweet treats as well.
Kingy’s Pizza Pub is near Canal Winchester, closer to Columbus. It has terrific pizza, along with a gluten-free cauliflower crust. We stopped there on our way down. I also had the wings, which were pretty good as well. The place can get crowded on a Friday night, so be prepared to wait for a table, but it’s well worth it.
We have also eaten at Millstone BBQ, Hungry Buffalo, and Brewery 33, all side by side on the SW corner of the 33 and 664 interchange in Logan. They all have excellent food.
Links
- Hocking Hills State Park
- Hocking Hills Lodge and Conference Center
- Rock House Restaurant
- Cafe ’22
- Hocking Hills Inn & Coffee Emporium
- Kingy’s Pizza
- Brewery 33
- Millstone BBQ
- Hungry Buffalo
Waypoints
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