Grandma Gatewood Hike
October 12, 2024 Grandma Gatewood Fall Color Hike 9am
Join staff for our seasonal fall colors hike and take in the scenery along the Grandma
Gatewood trail. We will be hiking roughly 6-miles on this trail from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar
Falls and back. This hike is rated difficult, please dress for the fall weather and terrain.
Hocking Hills State Park is home to the Grandma Gatewood Hike in honor of Emma Gatewood, an Ohio hiking pioneer. Gatewood endured many hardships and hiked the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail alone, inspiring many others to overcome great odds of their own.
Staff lead hikers and traverse the section running from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back while enjoying the scenic beauty. This vigorous, staff-led hike includes several strenuous uphill climbs and steps and is recommended only for the healthy and fit. The walk is approximately 3 to 4 hours. The hike will include several hills and sandstone steps.
Inspired by Emma Gatewood’s life-challenges and her journeys, the Grandma Gatewood Fall Color Hike is one of the park’s more challenging treks. It has a fast pace and covers 6 miles of Old Man’s Cave’s celebrated hilly ups and downs for which the region is known and reflects the type of paths Grandma Gatewood followed.
Starting Point: Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center. 9 AM
Cost: The Event is FREE!
Kid-Friendly? This hike is not well-suited for young children.
Pet Friendly? Non-aggressive pets on leash are allowed on this hike although it is not recommended.
There are seven major hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park - All are one-way trail systems.
Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Whispering Cave Trail. These park areas offer a unique experience for those who walk its paths no matter what season (the park is open year-round from dawn to dusk)—located on the southern edge of Hocking County. But those are just a handful. There are many hiking trails in the Hocking Hills include those at Wayne National Forest, Clear Creek Metro Parks, Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County Park District's Moonville Tunnel, and Hocking College's Robbins Crossing (with park programs) and the Athens Hock-Hocking Adena Rail Trail bikeway.