Spring wildflowers and stunning waterfalls are just a couple of reasons to plan a stay at Hocking Hills, Ohio this spring. April and May are perfect times to experience mother nature’s wake from the winter months.
Begin your memories at the new Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center, opened in October 2022. Enjoy rustic elegance surrounded by stunning nature views. The lodge is surrounded by hiking trails, caves, and waterfalls bringing its guest excitement and discovery.
The lodge offers 81 guest rooms full of rustic charm and most provide a partial view of the Hocking Hills State Park or outdoor pool. Many of the units adjoin the next room allowing family and friends to have an exceptional time together.
Dine indoors or outdoors at one of the three on-site locations each offering its own unique style. Rock House Restaurant offers a full-service menu where Café 22 is an easy-to-grab quick bite or take-it-to-go as you set out on your adventures. Kick back in the evening hours at the Rock House Pub which offers a cozy fireplace creating a relaxing environment while you enjoy your favorite drink and take in the breathtaking views.
Pack your swimsuit as you will want to take advantage of the indoor pool or relax in the all-season hot tub. An outdoor pool is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For those who want to continue their workout routines while on vacation, the lodge offers excellent equipment with amazing views. Outdoor fire tables and parlor games are also a fun addition to the lodge’s amenities.
A ballroom and conference center make for a perfect wedding destination. Professional event staff are on hand to accommodate your unique needs during your stay. The Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center can host everything from wedding receptions and family reunions to corporate events, retreats, and more.
Hocking Hills is one of Ohio’s most visited parks as outdoor enthusiasts enjoy over 2,356 acres of stunning natural scenery. There are miles of trails, rugged cliffs, caves, sandstone gorges, and serene waterfalls. Due to the extra rain in the spring, the waterfalls have a stronger and more beautiful cascade.
Ash Cave should be on your itinerary as it is the largest recess cave east of Mississippi. It has a horseshoe-shaped rim spanning 700 feet, with a runoff waterfall. The cave can be accessed by a short hike along the lower paved trail making it handicap and child friendly.
For a more challenging hike check out Cantwell Cliffs. It is situated on a high outcropping of Black Hand sandstone making it one of the most remote areas of Hocking Hills. Hikers are given the best of two worlds. The high-rim trail offers far-reaching vistas of breathtaking beauty, while the valley trail makes the hiker feel incredibly small when walking at the base of the cliffs. Anyone who is up for the challenge will be rewarded with stunning views.
If you are looking for the best waterfall display in Hocking County head to Cedar Falls. The water plunges 50 feet down making it one of the most photographed waterfalls in Ohio.
Old Man’s Cave is another must-see on your itinerary as it comprises the Upper Falls, Upper Gorge, Middle Falls, Lower Falls, and Lower Gorge. It travels along the magnificent gorge cut through the entire 150-foot thickness of sandstone. A little fun fact, Richard Rowe, a hermit who moved to the Ohio Valley in 1796, once called this area home. Deriving its name from the hermit, Old Man’s Cave is the most visited park.
In 1977, Conkle’s Hollow Nature Preserve was designated as a State Nature Preserve. It has sheer cliffs that rise nearly 200 feet above the valley floor. The deep, cool gorge is only 100 feet wide in places and is considered the deepest in Ohio. Conkle’s Hollow has numerous waterfalls cascading over its sandstone cliffs and the upper trail rim offers panoramic views as the lower gorge trail leads hikers into the valley floor covered with lush flora and soaring cliffs.
Another interesting spot to visit is the Moonville Tunnel. The community of Moonville sprung up around the railroad and principally housed miners and a few railroad workers. It had approximately one hundred residents at its peak in the 1800s. The community declined during the early 1900s as coal mines started closing. Today, only the foundation of the old schoolhouse, a train tunnel, and the community cemetery remain. Moonville still remains well known, due to its reputation of being haunted. Allegedly the ghosts of railroad workers who were killed by trains in the Moonville Tunnel still wave their lanterns in the abandoned tunnel. (For more facts click the story link “Moonville Sees New Life”)
Hocking Hills has something for everyone. Enjoy a day on the river while kayaking or canoeing. Take on the hills on horseback or camp under the stars. Feel free as you zipline from one tree across to the next. Grab a bike and discover over 50 miles of biking trails ranging from leisurely to difficult. Experience rock climbing and repelling, take an eco/nature tour, or throw your line in the water in the hopes to tell the next “fish story.”
Have little ones? Check out an outdoor adventure on the farm at Muddy Boots Farm. Enjoy petting animals from cute and cuddly rabbits to friendly camels. Children four and under are free making it a great and affordable family outing.
“A cozy Hocking Hills cabin or lodge is an ideal home base for an unforgettable spring break. Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Hocking Hills with waterfalls thundering throughout the gorges and star-filled night skies,” said Karen Raymore, Executive Director Hocking Hills Tourism Association. “You don’t need to travel far to feel like you’ve been transported to a magical world of natural beauty.”
Visit www.explorehockinghills.com to book your spring getaway and let your memories begin at Hocking Hills this spring. For more information about the Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center go to www.hockinghillsparklodge.com.
