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All the United States Ohio Logan The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Rare recess caves fill this unbelievably beautiful Ohio park.

Logan, Ohio

Added By
Eric Heis
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Ash Cave.   J. Todd Poling/cc by 2.0
Ash Cave.   J. Todd Poling/cc by 2.0
The Rock House Cave.   Mark Spearman/cc by-2.0
Ash Cave waterfall.   Rachel Kramer/cc by-nd 2.0
Mini waterfall   45rpm / Atlas Obscura User
Rock House, Hocking Hills, 10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills, 10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
  anastasiadavis / Atlas Obscura User
  anastasiadavis / Atlas Obscura User
Lower Falls   wildworldimages / Atlas Obscura User
Hocking Hills State Park.   ericheis / Atlas Obscura User
Old Man’s Cave   malloy1947 / Atlas Obscura User
Lower Waterfall   45rpm / Atlas Obscura User
Rock House, Hocking Hills, 10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Ash cave   bradihooker / Atlas Obscura User
  bradihooker / Atlas Obscura User
Ash Cave   ExtraMedium / Atlas Obscura User
Rock House at Hocking Hills   droopydogajna / Atlas Obscura User
Rock House at Hocking Hills   droopydogajna / Atlas Obscura User
By Dr Chris Stout   drchrisstout / Atlas Obscura User
By Dr Chris Stout   drchrisstout / Atlas Obscura User
By Dr Chris Stout   drchrisstout / Atlas Obscura User
Hocking Hills State Park.   ericheis / Atlas Obscura User
Hemlock Bridge Trail   45rpm / Atlas Obscura User
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About

People don't believe the pictures are from an Ohio park, but many who know of this incredible landscape consider it the most beautiful land in the Midwest. Striking rock formations speckle the park, which is filled with gorges and caves waiting to be explored.

These caves and gorges are more than just intriguing slivers of land to explore. They also speak to the park’s long geologic history.

Thousands of years ago, when the Wisconsin Glacier began to melt and recede, its waters bled across the land that’s now part of the park, rushing through cracks in the ground and scarring the earth with deep, winding gorges and recess caves, which are rock shelters carved into the soft sediment. The caves are certainly large enough to wander within—The Rock House cave has a ceiling that’s 25 feet high, and the main corridor is 200 feet long and up to 30 feet wide.

The human history is interesting, too. Old Man's Cave is the most popular attraction and was named after a hermit from the late 1700s who lived in the cave. Ash Cave was named because when the colonial settlers first discovered it, they found mysterious, massive piles of ashes created by Native Americans waiting within.

Related Tags

Nature Parks Rocks Geology Caves Intriguing Environs Waterfalls Natural Wonders Ecosystems Water

Know Before You Go

The park is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are ample opportunities for recreational activities like kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, and hiking, and campsites are available.

Community Contributors

Added By

ericheis

Edited By

ExtraMedium, Kerry Wolfe, Keri Kilgo, drchrisstout...

  • ExtraMedium
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Keri Kilgo
  • drchrisstout
  • wildworldimages
  • bradihooker
  • malloy1947
  • droopydogajna
  • zucchinikill
  • 45rpm
  • anastasiadavis
  • mcrocker

Published

January 21, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.hockinghills.com/ash_cave.html
  • https://ohiostateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/hocking-hills-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=OH&parkId=960009
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hocking_Hills_State_Park
  • http://www.explorehockinghills.com/recreation/hocking-hills-state-park
The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park
19852 OH-664
Logan, Ohio
United States
39.424012, -82.539292
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