Diamond Jubilee: Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Cedar Falls

walking path

Old Man's Cave. June 2021

The hollows and caves of the park complex have long attracted the peoples of Ohio. Evidence of the ancient Adena culture illustrates man first inhabited the recesses more than 7,000 years ago. In the mid 1700's several Indian tribes traveled through or lived here including the Wyandot, Delaware and Shawnee. Their name for the river from which the park gets its name was Hockhocking of "bottle river." The name comes from the bottle-shaped valley of the Hocking River whose formation is due to its one-time blockage by glacial ice. After the Greenville Treaty of 1795, Numerous white settlers moved into the region and Hocking County was organized in 1818. The area around the parks began to develop in 1835 when a powder mill was built near Rock House and a grist mill was constructed at Cedar Falls. The cave areas were well-known as scenic attractions by 1870. In 1924, the first land purchase by the state was made to preserve the scenic features. This first parcel of 146 acres included Old Man's Cave. Subsequent purchases built acreage while the areas existed under the Department of Forestry as State Forest Parks. The Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 and the new Division of Parks assumed control of the Hocking Hills State Parks assumed control of the Hocking Hills State Park complex which today includes the six park areas.

https://www.hockinghillsstatepark.com/

Long before I considered my Jubilee Trip I read about Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio. The images of the place were incongruent with my image (incorrect) of a "pancake flat" state. AQ had not visited the park, but heard from friends that it was "amazing". Since it was between Marietta and Columbus, it made for an easy stop. We located the entrance, parked the car, and took a few long walks to see the sights. Just one problem - it hadn't rained for a long time and, like our earlier experience in Cayuhoga Valley National Park, the park's famous waterfalls were either dry (Old Man's Cave) or a trickle (Cedar Falls).

Of course, we felt disappointed NOT to see the park's most famous attractions at their peak and the place was actually crowded (somewhat shocking during COVID). Perhaps everyone thought an outdoor activity was safe? Nonetheless, the preserved forest of Hocking Hills made for some beautiful walks even if the waterfalls were not gushing forth. I could not get over that we were in Ohio! In fact, the drive between Marietta and the park was actually forested and hilly being a part of the back side of the Appalachian mountains.

I would definitely visit again when water levels are higher. The place had not been oversold - it was one of the most beautiful nature preserves I saw on that entire trip!

As I traveled, I rated things. I gave Hocking Hills State Park a 10/10.

Next stop, some covered bridges...