Best Things to Do in Hocking Hills, OH With Kids
Hocking Hills' best family days are the Old Man's Cave gorge trail, Ash Cave's short walk to Ohio's largest recess cave, the Cedar Falls trail, a Hocking Hills Canopy Tours zip-line course, and a canoe or kayak float down the Hocking River.
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1Area photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Old Man's Cave Gorge Trail
The signature Hocking Hills hike: a paved-then-natural trail through a narrow gorge past waterfalls, a recess cave, and rock formations kids can walk right into. The lower loop near the visitor center is short enough for younger kids; extending toward Cedar Falls turns it into a half-day hike.
Watch out: This is the busiest trail in the park system, especially on fall weekends, when the parking lot fills early and trails get crowded. Some sections have steep stairs and drop-offs; keep younger kids close.
2Area photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Ash Cave
A short, mostly paved walk to Ohio's largest recess cave, a huge overhanging rock shelter you can walk fully into. Flatter and easier than Old Man's Cave, which makes it the better first stop for very young kids or anyone with mobility limits.
Watch out: Because it is the easiest trail in the system, it is also crowded, especially midday. Go early or late in the day for a quieter visit.
3Area photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Cedar Falls Trail
Hocking Hills' largest waterfall by water volume, reachable by its own shorter trailhead if you don't want the full Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls trek. The trail down to the falls has real elevation change but rewards it with the best single waterfall view in the park system.
Watch out: The descent to the falls is steep with uneven stone steps; not stroller-friendly and tough for young toddlers. Rocks near the water are slick, especially after rain.
4Area photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Hocking Hills Canopy Tours Zip-Line
A zip-line course strung through the forest canopy above the same gorges you have been hiking, with multiple lines of varying length and height. A good change of pace from trail walking, and one of the few ways to see the terrain from above.
Watch out: Weight and age minimums (typically around 8 years old and a minimum weight) rule out younger kids. Book ahead in peak fall foliage season; tours sell out.
5Area photo: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Hocking River Canoe or Kayak Float
A calm, slow-moving stretch of river best reached through a livery based near Logan, with shuttle service back to your car. Water levels stay manageable for first-time paddlers most of the season, and it is a good lower-effort outdoor half-day after a couple of hiking-heavy days.
Watch out: Water levels drop in late summer during dry stretches, which can mean more dragging the canoe over shallow spots than paddling; call ahead to check conditions. Life jackets are required for kids by law and provided by the livery.
Frequently asked
Which Hocking Hills trail is best for young kids?
Ash Cave. It is mostly paved, flat, and short (under a mile round trip), and still ends at the most dramatic single feature in the park system.
Can we do Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls in one hike?
Yes, they are connected by the same trail system, and the full out-and-back runs about 6 miles round trip. For young kids, treat them as two separate shorter hikes on different days instead.
Is Hocking Hills busy year-round?
Fall (especially October foliage weekends) is by far the busiest season and books up cabins and zip-line tours weeks ahead. Spring and early summer are quieter with the same trail access.
How should we budget activities for a 3-day Hocking Hills trip?
The hikes themselves are free. Add $300–$450 for a family of 4 doing one zip-line tour and one canoe float, on top of cabin lodging.
Same destination, where to stay
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