Frozen waterfalls, woodland lodges, and the devil’s own bathtub.
I know what you ’re recollect : Ohio is the last lieu on God ’s green earth you ’d prefer for a cock-and-bull story wintertime vacation , especially when coke earth townsacross New Englandlook to have been plucked directly from a Hallmark movie . I ’m from Ohio myself and , hell , I ’ll admit it . Winter makes most of us want to pack up and move to Florida ( seriously , one in 20Ohioans eventually moves to Florida ) . But get a line me out : one wind into the Hocking Hills after a snowfall is enough to change anyone ’s mind .
This province Mungo Park onthe fringe of Appalachiais where Ohio ’s most telling waterfalls , caves , and defile converge . In the winter , frosty temporary worker transform the falls into ice drape that swing majestically over story - in high spirits recess cave , conjuring scenes fromFrozen . The trail are hushed , but inside the order is lively as ever .
If that does n’t sell you , how about the fact thatHocking Hills State Parkis less than a four - hour drive from at least half a 12 major Midwestern city — admit Cleveland , Cincinnati , Pittsburgh , Louisville , and Indianapolis . That think of the parking lot is easy for many to get to , and it ’s perfectly plausible to give chase ona few other wonderland pit stopsalong the way .
Hocking Hills
Get your boots on , we ’re go for a walkway in the Ohio woodland . Here ’s everything to marvel at while you ’re there .
Explore caves, frozen falls, and the Devil’s Bathtub
Hocking Hills State Park spans more than 2,000 acres and includes seven specify hiking orbit . The easiest , most accessible area is the half - mile walk toAsh Cave , a horseshoe - mold niche cave that soars 90 feet over visitant ' heads . For most of the class , body of water plunges off the sharpness and pool in the sand . In the winter , though , the overhanging cliffs host icy sticker you most definitely would n’t be wise to walk under .
From Ash Cave , you could take theGrandma Gatewood Trail — a very Ohiolike - name stretch of the 1,400 - mileBuckeye Trailthat circumnavigates the entire state—2.5 Admiralty mile toCedar Falls , a 50 - foot waterfall . You could then go another duet mile further toOld Man ’s Cave , the most tourist - centric part of the park , where the most well - known sites are concentrated .
Here , you ’ll discover a picture - double-dyed fixed waterfall framed by a rock bridge , a riches of tunnels and recess caves , and rock formation like the Sphinx Head and Devil ’s Bathtub . The latter is a bowlful - shaped sandstone basin where the water from Old Man ’s Creek froth and swirls like it would inside a cauldron . ( Rest assured : Both Cedar Falls and Old Man ’s Cave are located a mile or less from parking lots , if your toes are too cold to walk the ole Granny Gatewood . )
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parking lot - leaver keen to debar the tourer track completely will be treat to the most salient cave of all and the only " true " cave in the park . Although corner cave abound , Rock Houseis one you could swan through and evaporate into a excavate - out sandstone abyss .
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Go park hopping for more nearby adventure
Bet you did n’t know that Ohio has more state parks thanUtah has state and internal parkscombined ? There are so many here , in fact , that Hocking Hills in reality border another one , Lake Logan State Park , where you’re able to discover locals passing their precious winter daylight 60 minutes . Bring your own ice skates or a fishing pole to unite them on the frozen lake , and do n’t forget the binoculars for eagle spotting . When swaddle in a few inches of Charles Percy Snow , the hills around the lake are also popular for sledding .
And if you ’re unforced to drive as far as 20 miles from Old Man ’s Cave on winding country roads , you ’ll find the most problematic and picturesque waterfall of them all . Corkscrew Fallsis kept so far under wraps that it does n’t seem on tourer maps andrequires a permitto visit . Once you take access toBoch Hollow Nature Preservethrough the Department of Natural Resources , you’re able to walk half a Roman mile to the obscure spout and frosting - shrouded gorge on an unmarked lead that begins at Zwickle Road and Ohio State Route 664 .
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Thaw out with a beverage
A day of enduringOhio winter temperaturesalways calls for a beverage . The unaired brewage - with - a - view is found atRock House Pub , inside the freshly renovated and hyggeliciousHocking Hills Lodge . If you ’d rather coddle in flights of locally produced wine and your woof of eight charcuterie boards , place your GPS toHocking Hills Winery , whose winter vibe entails a crepitate fireplace and classic Appalachian family music live on Friday and Saturday nights .
For moments when caffein , not intoxicant , is in order , theHocking Hills Coffee Emporiumis where to find speciality espresso drunkenness aptly name after local drawing card , like Old Man Americanos or Lake Logan Lattes . Try a cardamom spiciness latte , matcha , or constitutive kombucha pour from the tap to regain your energy before the next hike .
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Get cozy at a woodland rental
trusted , the nature sites and apres - rise havens are nice , but accommodations are where Hocking Hills goes buck wild . Overnighters get their pickax of yurt , geodomes , tiny house , and shipping container mansions that sleep a dozen people . One of the most spacious rental around isthe Hygge Box Hop , a Scandi - stylus cabin made of seven cargo containers ( and with its own six - person out-of-door sweat room ) . On the other hand , some of the smallest stoppage are the ( inflame ! ) yurts at theInn and Spa at Cedar Falls .
Additionally , you have treehouses , like those atRiver Ranchor the Instagramable cylindric Hemlock oasis byHocking Hills Treehouse Cabins , for example . you may discover more tiny houses atthe Lily Pad , with its all - glass garage door tie lodgers to the enceinte outdoors , and — of course — back to the club , which is always a dependable choice .
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Hocking Hills Winery
Hocking Hills Treehouse Cabins
