Hocking Hills Old Mans Cave

About this spectacle

Old Man's Cave is the iconic centerpiece of Hocking Hills State Park in southeastern Ohio, carved by centuries of erosion into the Black Hand sandstone. Visitors descend into a dramatic recess cave — a deep, shadowed alcove where waterfalls tumble over moss-draped rock lips and hemlock trees cling to the gorge walls above. The main trail winds along a creek corridor through towering cliff walls streaked with mineral stains, past Upper and Lower Falls and the signature cave hollow where the ceiling arches overhead. Light filters down in angled shafts, and the air stays cool even in summer. In winter, ice formations frame the falls; in autumn, fiery foliage rims the canyon rim. The confined gorge amplifies the sound of falling water and wind through the hemlocks, creating a sensory experience well beyond typical Midwest hiking.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — May

Getting there

Nearest airport: CMH. Nearest city: Columbus.

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