Located on State Route 664, Old Man’s Cave is one of the most popular areas to visit in the Upper Falls section of Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio. The cave derives its name from Richard Rowe. He was a hermit who lived in the gorge and is actually buried under one of the cave’s ledges. This cave area and the park are popular among visitors for good reason.
Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park
Sections Of Old Man’s Cave
The area is divided into five sections: Upper Falls, Upper Gorge, Middle Falls, Lower Falls, and Lower Gorge. Each section offers something unique for visitors to see. The gorge itself is approximately ½ a mile and visitors are able to see the Blackhand sandstone that it cuts through it. There are also impressive waterfalls to view as well as rock bridges and hemlock trees.
Exploring The Park
Old Man’s Cave is just one part of the Hocking Hills State Park system. The park itself is made up of five sections which include: Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, and Rock House, and there are over 25 miles of hiking trails to explore throughout the area. It’s important to note that because of the numerous cliffs, it’s important to be cautious when visiting the park. For those that want to camp, there are more than 200 campsites available, but cabins do tend to book up fairly quickly. Many of these sites do have electricity, which is great for those that don’t want to rough it too much. Things to do in the park include:
- Water-related activities such as rafting, boating, canoeing, swimming, and kayaking
- Hunting and fishing, by permit only
- Rock climbing
- Animal watching
- Train rides on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
- Horseback riding on one of the numerous trails
- Archery in one of the designated areas
- Zip line tours that include a traditional tour, SuperZip, and the Nightflight tour
- Exploring one of the trails which include Conkie’s Hollow, Ash Cave Rim, Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs, and Cedar Falls
Both Old Man’s Cave and the entire Hocking Hills area make for a great place to spend a week or two and go exploring. Visitors are generally pleasantly surprised to learn about the history of the area and to check out all the surprising scenery. This is one of Ohio’s best-kept secrets and a great place to take a family vacation during both the summer and fall. If you are interested in exploring Old Man’s Cave on a Hocking Hills State Park tour or a US National Park tour in general, feel free to explore your options with Atlas!
