Cedar Falls is the largest waterfall (in terms of volume) in Hocking Hills State Park. There are wider and taller falls in the park, but Cedar Falls contains more water than all of the others. At approximately 50 ft high, Cedar Falls is easily the most photographed of the waterfalls in Ohio. Fun Fact: Cedar Falls was actually owned by the Barton Family in the late 1800s and early 1900s until it was sold to the state by one of W.S. Barton’s descendants in the 1940s. When W.S. owned the land he used to hold annual picnics at the falls where over 3,000 attendees would gather together.

Ash Cave is the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi and is the southernmost of six natural areas that make up Hocking Hills State Park. With a horseshoe-shaped rim that spans 700 feet and a runoff waterfall, Ash Cave is easily one of the most awe inspiring natural attractions in Hocking Hills State Park and definitely a must see if you’re in the area.

Old Man’s Cave is one of the most popular natural attractions in Ohio. The cave gets its name from the hermit Richard Rowe who, legend has it, lived in the recess of the cave in the late 1700s. The cave is located in a gorge of Black Hand Sandstone and while the cave itself is relatively small, the gorge extends for about one-half mile with its deepest point reaching around 150 feet.

Located just outside of Old Man’s Cave, the Hocking Hills Reservoir (also known as Rose Lake) is easily accessible from State Route 374 by a 1/2-mile hiking trail. Although swimming is not allowed at the lake, it is a great place to go fishing as it’s stocked with trout each spring (just make sure you bring your valid Ohio fishing license). Boats and kayaks are also allowed.

Just down the road, the John Glenn Astronomy park provides a venue for visitors to the Hocking Hills State Park to experience the night sky with their own eyes or through a large telescope. This astronomy Park allows visitors to actually see the Andromeda Galaxy, which is over 2.5 million lightyears away. They also have regular “guided stargazing” programs on clear Fridays and Saturdays beginning March 4, 2022 and ending in November 2022.