Hiking among the panoramic grandeur of deep gorges, cascading waterfalls and soaring sandstone rock cliffs in southeastern Ohio’s Hocking Hills, you can experience the curving trails— wrought by glaciers millions of years ago— now lushly adorned with old growth trees and native plants.
High Life
Hocking Hills Adventure Trek (Trek Network) offers activities including guided hikes and beginner to intermediate rappelling. Hocking State Forest Rappelling and Climbing provides gear for visitors, who join a guide to weave their way to a succession of three beautiful cliffs, each steeper than the last (35ft, 50ft and 80ft). At each site, guides expertly tie the ropes to the anchoring trees and explain and demonstrate rappelling techniques. Once hooked up, take a backward step out for an interactive descent.
Hocking Hills Adventure Trek 25851 Big Pine Rd Rockbridge OH 740.777.2579 hockinghillsadventuretrek.com. For more info on Hocking State Forest hiking trails visit hockinghills.com/hocking_hills_state_forest.html
Avoiding Trial Crowds:
A nature hike loses something with lots of noisy people milling around, so plan your excursion to the more popular Hocking Hills attractions like Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls and Rock House for earlier in the mornings or later in the day. To get away from the crowds, drive farther out to Cantwell Cliffs (17 miles on SR 374 beyond Old Man’s Cave). This one–mile trail is considered the most scenic in the area with the best rock formation.
For more info on all trails, maps the Logan Ohio area and to download the free hocking hills app, go to hockinghills.com. Logan and Rockbridge OH are about a 31/2 hour drive from Toledo.
Rappelling Tips:
Take your time and bend your knees just a bit while making contact with the cliff face.
Use your heels and keep your focus at eye level to enjoy the beautiful striated
colors of the rocks.
Wear longer shorts or pants with a little give for ease of movement since your rappelling harness wraps around both legs and your waist.
Wear closed toe shoes with good treads and bring plenty of drinking water.
Tree Zipping
Don’t miss the Canopy Tour Zip Line, a fun adventure that offers swinging rope bridges and platforms high in the trees. The scenery is gorgeous and gliding through the tree canopy is exhilarating. Don’t miss the Super Zip from an 85 foot high tower, a quarter mile cable ride above the Hocking River. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours 10714 Jackson St. Rockbridge. 740-385-9477. hockinghillscanopytours.com
Good Eats and Vibes
Check out outdoor patios with live weekend music in Logan, OH at Utopia Brick Oven Restaurant (great pizza and meals with vegetarian options) at 117 W. Main and Home Tavern (great burgers) at 363 Gallagher.
