Old Man's Cave Trail

Old Man's Cave Trail is the crown jewel of Hocking Hills State Park and the most visited trail in the entire Ohio state park system. The route descends into a dramatic recess cave carved into Black Hand sandstone, where a massive hemlock gorge shelters ferns and mosses year-round. The cave itself stretches roughly 200 feet wide and 50 feet deep, its ceiling blackened by centuries of campfire smoke from the hermit Richard Rowe, who lived here in the early 1800s. The loop follows the winding gorge of Old Man's Creek, passing the Lower Falls, Devil's Bathtub, and the Upper Falls before climbing carved stone steps back to the rim. Towering eastern hemlocks filter the light into a perpetual green dusk even in summer. The trail surface is paved in several sections and includes wooden boardwalks over wet areas, making it accessible for most hikers despite the moderate rating. Crowds peak on autumn weekends; arrive before 9 a.m. to experience the gorge in relative solitude. The park surrounding the cave is free to enter, though parking fills quickly. No camping is permitted within the cave area, but Hocking Hills State Park campground sits just a short drive away.