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Hocking Hills State  Park - Upper Falls

Whispering Cave

5 mile "Day Hike" Loop Trail

Whispering Cave State Route 664, Logan OH 43138| GPS Tracking: (39.424856, -82.552077) Location of Cave and Trail, but parking is at Old Man's Cave parking lot.Hocking Hills Hiking Trails - A Guide to the Hiking Trails of the Hocking Hills-The Book

Parking at Old Man's Cave to access trail (it is a 5-mile, one-way loop. To hike this trail, you must go the entire 5 mile loop as it is one way): GPS Tracking to Old Man's Cave Lot for access: (39.437176, -82.539667)

Whispering Cave/Hemlock Trail is one of the 7 major hiking trails of Hocking Hills State Park in southern Ohio. Whispering Cave is a five-mile loop. It has a swinging bridge and one waterfall. 

There are two places you can hop on the trail-Remember, trails are a 1-way system and you cannot turn around so prepare for a five-mile hike.

1) You can start at the Visitor Center-There are steps at the Visitor Center near the kiosk. Halfway to Cedar Falls, you can catch the Purple Trail marked by a sign.

2) You can also start at Upper Falls near that kiosk also. Follow the blue Trail markers and signs 1 1/2 miles to the Whispering Cave (Purple Trail - it is marked with a sign). It will loop around 1-way to Whispering Cave and back to the Visitor Center.

This hike may be considered strenuous for those who are not physically fit, do not hike regularly, or have health issues such as knee surgeries or heart problems. It involves a moderate to a steep incline, uneven steps, cliff edges, and steeper terrain. It is not suitable for young children or pets.

HIKERS MUST REMAIN ON THE MARKED TRAIL. Well-behaved, non-aggressive pets are permitted on a leash (not recommended because of cliffs). There is NO wading or swimming allowed in the waterfalls or creeks.

Whispering Cave trail access  at Hocking Hills State Park.

You can access Whispering Cave/Hemlock Trail at the kiosk by the parking lot at Upper Falls. It is a 5-mile loop without a turnaround as it is one-way. If you are taking this hike, you must plan for the entire 5 miles.


Whispering Cave.

You can also start at the Visitor Center-There are steps at the Visitor Center near the kiosk. Halfway to Cedar Falls, you can catch the Purple Trail marked by a sign.

The swinging bridge along the trail.

The swinging bridge located along the trail.

Trail to Whispering Cave.

 

Trail to Whispering Cave.

 

Trail at Whispering Cave  - 1-way loop trail.

 

Hocking Hills Park Trail Areas

Hocking Hills Trail System Map.

7 different hiking areas of Hocking Hills State Park- Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Whispering Cave.

Whispering Cave Trail Map

Parking: Hocking Hills State Park Visitor Center

20343-20347 OH-374 Logan, OH 43138 GPS Tracking: (39.396081, -82.545782)

There are two places you can hop on the trail-Remember; trails are a 1-way system.

1) You can start at the Visitor Center-There are steps at the Visitor Center near the kiosk.

2) You can also start at Upper Falls near that kiosk.

Follow the blue trail markers and signs 1 1/2 miles to the Whispering Cave Purple Trail (It is marked with a sign). It will loop around 1-way to Whispering Cave and back to the Visitor Center

Yellow: Whispering Cave Loop Trail (Yellow Blazes on Trees)

Purple is the Old Man's Cave to Whispering Cave Trail Loop Trail (Purple Blazes on Trees)

Blue: Grandma Gatewood Trail (Blue Blazes on Trees)

 

Whispering Cave Trail Map

 

Hocking Hills State Park Trails - Whispering Cave Loop Trailhead #1 - Upper Falls

 

Hocking Hills State Park Trails - Whispering Cave Loop - Trailhead #2 - Visitor Center

 

Whispering Cave Loop

Logan, OH 43138

Parking Access for both trailheads is at Old Man's Cave: 39.437176, -82.539667

Regional Road Map with Trail Areas (Click map to enlarge)

Whispering Cave - Hocking Hills State Park

Whispering Cave Loop is a strenuous, one-way trail day hike.

Swinging bridge along the 5 mile Day Hike Loop Trail.

Part of the 7 trail systems within Ohio's Hocking Hills State Park


 

Home to one of the larger recess caves in the trail system.

Rock formations and hiker along the trail before Whispering Cave Day Hike trail.

OPEN ALL YEAR-ROUND FROM DAWN TO DUSK

There are seven major hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park - All are one-way trail systems.  

Ash CaveOld Man's CaveRock House, Conkle's HollowCedar FallsCantwell 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.