Waterfalls & gorges · Ohio

Hocking Hills: Old Man's Cave to Rock House day trip

Hocking Hills: Old Man's Cave to Rock House

A full day in the sandstone gorges an hour south of Columbus: the Old Man's Cave gorge first thing, Cedar Falls, a picnic under the overhang at Ash Cave, the cliffs of Conkle's Hollow and the tunnel-like Rock House, in an order that beats the worst of the parking crush.

Time: 10–11 hour day
Driving: About 3–3½ hours of driving in total
Best time: All year; best mid-October to early November and April to May
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 6:16 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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A thin waterfall drops over a dark sandstone ledge into a wide, still pool in the Old Man's Cave gorge, with hemlocks and a large boulder on the bank — Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0. October 2018 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

7:15 amLeave Columbus on US-33
8:30 amOld Man's Cave
10:30 amCedar Falls
11:30 amAsh Cave and lunch
1:30 pmConkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve
3:30 pmRock House
4:30 pmDrive back to Columbus

Highlights

Worth the trip

Upper Falls, the Devil's Bathtub and the cave itself on the Old Man's Cave gorge trail
Ash Cave's huge sandstone overhang on a paved, accessible path
The cliff-edge rim trail or the quiet gorge floor at Conkle's Hollow

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

In October and early November, days around the Hocking Hills are usually mild and crisp, often in the 50s and 60s°F, with chilly mornings that can dip near freezing and the occasional cold, wet day. The gorges stay several degrees cooler and damper than the open parking lots, and the rock is often wet even when it hasn't rained. In April and May, expect mild days, frequent showers and the fullest waterfalls; thunderstorms can bring sudden downpours. Summer is warm and humid, with afternoon storms and occasional flash flooding in the gorges. In winter, trails freeze, icicles form at the falls, and the park sometimes closes trails for ice. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

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