Hocking HillsWhere all the best roads lead . . .HIKE. STAY. PLAY. YOUR HOCKING HILLS ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!
Hocking HillsWhere all the best roads lead . . .HIKE. STAY. PLAY. YOUR HOCKING HILLS ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!
Daily Hikes to Monthly Events
Wednesday, June 11th 2-3 pm Beginners Kayaking – Join the Naturalist to learn the basics of kayaking and paddle around Lake Logan. Bring sunscreen and water to drink if you wish. All equipment is provided. Meet the naturalist at the Lake Logan beach parking lot. Call 740-279-1177 or visit the Old Mans Cave Visitor Center to sign up. *SIGN UP REQUIRED*
Thursday, June 12th 2 pm Creature Feature- Learn about one or more of our native Ohio creatures and how they can relate to us! Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Saturday, June 14th 2 pm Awesome Amphibians - Find out what makes something an amphibian. Get the chance to see an example up close! Meet at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby.
Wednesday, June 25th 2-3 pm Beginners Kayaking – Join the Naturalist to learn the basics of kayaking and paddle around Lake Logan. Bring sunscreen and water to drink if you wish. All equipment is provided. Meet the naturalist at the Lake Logan beach parking lot. Call 740-279-1177 or visit the Old Mans Cave Visitor Center to sign up. *SIGN UP REQUIRED*
Thursday, June 26th 2 pm Creature Feature- Learn about one or more of our native Ohio creatures and how they can relate to us! Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Saturday, July 5th 11 am Beginner Archery - Join us beside the swimming pool in the campground for a beginner's archery course. All equipment is provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
2 pm Radical Reptiles - Learn about defining characteristics of a reptile. Get the chance to see an example up close! Meet at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby.
Tuesday, August 5th 10 am Old Man’s Cave Hike – Join us for a moderate 1-mile round trip hike through the gorge. Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Wednesday, August 6th 2-3 pm Beginners Kayaking – Join the Naturalist to learn the basics of kayaking and paddle around Lake Logan. Bring sunscreen and water to drink if you wish. All equipment is provided. Meet the naturalist at the Lake Logan beach parking lot. Call 740-279-1177 or visit the Old Mans Cave Visitor Center to sign up. *SIGN UP REQUIRED*
Thursday, August 7th
2 pm Creature Feature- Learn about one or more of our native Ohio creatures and how they can relate to us! Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Saturday, August 9th
11 am Beginner Archery - Join us beside the swimming pool in the campground for a beginner's archery course. All equipment is provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
2 pm Radical Reptiles - Learn about defining characteristics of a reptile. Get the chance to see an example up close! Meet at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby.
Thursday, August 28th
2 pm Creature Feature- Learn about one or more of our native Ohio creatures and how they can relate to us! Meet at the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Saturday, August 30th
11 am Intro Birding – Join us for a short hike down the paved portion of the purple trail and learn some common birds and how to ID them and their calls. Bring binoculars if you have them! Meet at Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
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Lantern Hike June 7 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Take a 3-mile evening hike to Green Mansions, roast s’mores over a campfire and learn about nocturnal animals found at Clear Creek. Lanterns will be provided for the return hike. Mileage is round trip. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster (39.594057, -82.622219). 740.969.8210
Backcountry Hike June 19 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Take a 5-mile backcountry hike to Winnowing Rock. Terrain at Clear Creek is rugged and steep. Bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster (39.594057, -82.622219).
I will be offering a night hike and ghost hunt at Moonville Tunnel on Saturday evening May 24, 2025, telling local ghost stories along the trail, followed by a ghost hunt at the famous and haunted tunnel. We leave at 8:30 p.m. I will be walking an out-and-back section of the Moonville Rail Trail, and those interested can hike with me from Moonville town proper to Ingham Station/Bear Hollow. It is a laid-back hike among others with the shared curiosity of ghosts, hiking, and the wild. I don’t speak the entire way, leaving some time to chat as we walk and just enjoy the dusk (and hopefully ghosts, owls, stars, and other creatures of the night).
After, those who wish to join the paranormal investigation can use my tools to try to communicate with the local ghosts.
The hike and ghost hunt will take about 2-2.5 hours. It takes about 30-40 minutes to hike one way at a leisurely pace. However, we move steadily with a few short stops to hear the old folklore and local ghost stories, so it may be too challenging for those with health issues, breathing problems, walking difficulties, or who are out of shape.
The hike is free. However, I happily accept tips!
It is a little over 1.5 miles one-way, a total of 3.0 miles on a flat gravel railroad bed. Each participant must sign a waiver (I will bring them, but you can fill out your own or look at the waiver on 21crows.com) to attend; there are no exceptions. Please don’t fill out the online form-I will bring paper copies. Although registration is not necessary, time/directions/details will be sent the day before the hike to those who register/sign up. (including an alternate route to the tunnel if road is flooded as it has been) Register at loneghostwriter@gmail.com or private message me on FB- Haunted Ohio facebook.com/ohioghoststories/
Night hike and ghost hunt at the famous Moonville Tunnel at the newest Vinton County Park District. Hikers will be walking an out-and-back section of the Moonville Rail Trail from Moonville to Ingham Station/Bear Hollow with author, folklorist and ghost hunter Jannette Quackenbush, along the way listening the local folklore leading to the ghost stories passed down by those who once lived along this particular path of the railway. After, Jannette will bring ghost hunting tools and equipment from throughout history so hikers can try and learn how to ghost hunt inside the tunnel.
Night hike and ghost hunt at the famous King HollowTunnel. Hikers will be walking an out-and-back section of the Moonville Rail Trail from King Switch to Mineral with author, folklorist and ghost hunter Jannette Quackenbush, along the way listening the local folklore leading to the ghost stories passed down by those who once lived along this particular path of the railway. After the hike, Jannette will bring ghost hunting tools and equipment from throughout history so hikers can try and learn how to ghost hunt at the tunnel.
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Saturday, June 7 Snake Snacks 11:00am-12:00pm Watch what happens when one of our resident snakes is served a delicious dish! Learn the strategies snakes use to capture and subdue prey then swallow and digest it whole. Meet at the Nature Center Live snakes will be used as part of this program and will be fed frozen, thawed mice. Guests will have an opportunity to see and touch our animal ambassadors prior to feeding.
Saturday, June 21 Snake Snacks 11:00am-12:00pm Watch what happens when one of our resident snakes is served a delicious dish! Learn the strategies snakes use to capture and subdue prey then swallow and digest it whole. Meet at the Nature Center Live snakes will be used as part of this program and will be fed frozen, thawed mice. Guests will have an opportunity to see and touch our animal ambassadors prior to feeding.
Friday, June 27 Nature Journaling 2:00pm-3:30pm Create your own journal with upcycled materials and explore creative techniques for connecting with nature through writing and illustration. Guided prompts will be shared to support intentional observation and reflection as we explore outdoors. Meet at the Shelter House (August 9th - Meet at Nature Center) Paper and writing utensils will be provided but feel free to bring your own creative materials as well.
Sundays Turtle Time 1:00pm-2:00pm Learn about our resident turtles and how we care for them! Kids and adults will have an opportunity to help feed and exercise our turtles as we learn best practices in turtle management. Meet at the Nature Center.
Free to the public. All Year Long.
Learn. See. Do. At Hocking Hills State Park.
At Ash Cave
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.