Currently is having construction in some areas but was very beautiful!!! The trails were nice!!!read more

I am a little hesitant in writing this review. I have been coming here for over 30 years, and the…read morelast thing I want to see is more people, but it is better to share. It started with our grandmother bringing us here to burn off energy, and to get some background in nature. what was good intentions has now blossomed into a full fledged love affair with nature. granted I am from southern ohia, (ohio for yall not along the Ohia river, I have grown up in nature. There are no restrooms (to my knowledge), so you will need to empty your bladder in the city of Jackson or use a bottle or bag (remember to clean up after yourself please). there are approx. 5 1\2 miles of trails, moderate in traversing. All trails start and end at the parking lot. the pine ridge trail takes you along the lake, and the salt creek trail takes you along salt creek and along sandstone cliffs. In autumn, the foliage is outstanding and smell of hemlock is inspiring. On a side note, due to state budget cuts, park rangers need our help in cleaning up after unruly visitors. just yesterday, I removed two bags of refuse consisting of shirts, socks, a diaper, soda pop cans, and a pair of shoes. this is a nature preserve, lets keep it that way.

Neat little place. Hike can be difficult if you're out of shape. I had never seen these before.read more

Definitely a nice hike but a little challenging for super small kiddos. The glyphs are cool but…read moresome have been vandalized.

Just beautiful clean and nice place for a family outing will be coming back and checking out more…read moreof the outdoors

At some of Ohio's State park it's hard to be a human powered vessel when so many boats are zooming…read moreby. You are almost relegated to smaller coves as you try to escape the waves caused by power boats. Not at Lake Hope State Park as boaters are restricted to electric motors only. My wife is all about the well maintained mountain bike trails. We were both all about the small camping pads and many non electric sites. This meant that as tent campers we were not back to back with massive RVs. And our dog was all about all of it, especially since a state park means that he gets to hang out with his pack!  On the down side, there was only one water spigot, one near the check in, that was marked as potable. Perhaps the others throughout the campground are and are not marked. However, we chose to only get water from that spigot. The spigot that was closest to our campsite was way too close to the pit toilet for me to feel comfortable drinking without filtering/boiling.  While we didn't get the chance to actually take our boats off the car, thanks to thunderstorms, we did drive around and find some spots that would work perfectly as put ins. There's a space just off the main road that would work for those who are kayaking, canoeing, or SUPing. The drive to and from LHSP was beautiful, with the visual elevation changes. I loved that it was almost in the HHills area but lacked all the folks (and the restrictions on dogs)! Lake Hope State Park is a place that we will hands down visit again. Although, our first visit there was filled with thunderstorms- we managed to stay dry and camped anyway!

Leith Run Campground Absolutely the worst camping experience…read morewe've ever had. We booked a riverfront site months in advance, but the host gave it away to someone else. Even though she was responsive, that should never have happened. The people occupying our site were rude and refused to leave despite us showing our confirmation--resolving that mess took two exhausting hours. The toilet was disgusting, clearly hadn't been cleaned in ages. We had to hold it all night and left first thing in the morning. Other sites might be better, but Leith Run was a nightmare. Never again.

We enjoy hiking in the Wayne National Forest. This lovely wayside location is not only the office…read morefor the foresty division but also a lovely little roadside museum, visitors center and restrooms There are picnic tables and lovely gardens of wildflowers to meander in while people are taking a health break This location is free to visit and very useful if you want literature, need assistance finding something in the area or the bathroom Visitors Center is small but very nice and friendly staff

A lot more strenuous hike to get to the lower falls, but gorgeous. You have to take this option…read moreversus going to the cave/regular exit.

This particular section of the Hike in Hocking Hills State Park near Old Man's Cave is actually…read morecalled MIDDLE FALLS not the Lower Falls, I put in for an edit and I hope they correct it. If you take the path straight over the hillside in front of the OLD MAN CAVE VISITORS CENTER, you immediately drop down beside this fall. This stream is not a huge stream but after the heavy rains lately, it is flowing full. Once in the gorge, if you look up at the rock cliff across the creek line you will see this jagged edge of the rocks sticking out near the rim like a perch. I would be scared to death to stand out there on that ledge, but can you imagine the adrenaline rush???!!!!???? I love hiking in this gorge. If you take the entire trail you will go through 2 tunnels, see several caves and visit three falls in addition to the water swirl known as the Devils' Bathtub. What do I love most about this adventure..? The trails down in the gorge are wide and easy to traverse, but mainly my biggest pleasure it is all FREE. I highly recommend if you are in the area and have about 2 good hours to enjoy this outdoor wonderland .....STOP HERE and ENJOY but be safe...high cliffs, steep steps, crowds and breathtaking views can be a hazard!!!

My husband Tony and I went hiking at Whispering Cave. The trailhead is located off the parking lot…read moreof the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge & Conference Center. The trail dead ends at the cave and is only about 1/2 mile from the lodge itself but it's over the mountain and their are some steps that (remember) you have to climb back up to get back to your car!!! The cave is more of a very long Shelf like over hang, not very deep inside like a cave or room. You could keep dry if needed but it's not a cave in my eyes! It's a moderate rough hike with rock formations and large roots you can trip on so be careful! But enjoy yourself!! I loved it! It's beautiful down there!!! Free to enjoy and very busy!

Hocking Hills State Park is simply magical. Once you step onto the trails, it does not even feel…read morelike you are still in Ohio. We are so used to the rolling hills, corn and soybean fields of the Midwest. It truly feels like stepping into another world. We visited on a Wednesday - after the busy summer season - school back in session. I was surprised to still see quite a few people around the main attractions, especially Old Man's Cave, Devil's Bathtub and Cedar Falls, but once we moved farther along the trail, it became quiet and very peaceful. We hiked approximately for seven miles. The trails are marked with color codes on the trees but what I was missing where clear signs along the trail. It was difficult at times to determine if we where still on the right one. We ended up taking a wrong turn at one point and ended up on the purple trail instead of the red one we originally wanted to hike. But still - it was honestly one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. Hiking always recharges my soul, and this place certainly did that. The rock formations, caves, waterfalls, moss and forest scenery are absolutely breathtaking. That being said, some portions of the trail can be challenging. There are steep climbs, uneven ground and areas that can become slippery from the moisture and moss. At times, we had to steady ourselves on rocks or trees while climbing. Good hiking shoes are an absolute must, and be sure to bring a snack and plenty of water, especially on a warm day.

Wow is this a beautiful state park!…read more We went hiking on a Saturday which was crazy packed, but it was still stunning to home through gorges. Everything was beautiful! One downside is that they had stinky compost toilets even at the visitor's center.

Amazing spot to swim, fish, and explore. With the new trail biking is now better than before and…read morewould recommend on a good weather day!

Love this place! Long trails with lots to see. The bike path is spacious and has amazing views.read more

This is a nice trail loop in Hocking Hills. There are a couple ways to do the loop so you can…read moreeasily spend over an hour here before moving on to another area.

I've spent time exploring the Hocking Hills area for over a decade now and for whatever reason, I…read moredon't remember ever visiting Cantwell Cliffs... at least until a few weeks ago. I rented a cabin in the area and specifically wanted to go somewhere I had never been before. Cantwell Cliffs is about 17 miles from Old Man's Cave so I have to assume that's why I never made the extended trip. However, this go round time was not an issue and therefore I started my day of hiking there. It had snowed the entire evening before and didn't clear up until about 11AM that morning. Once it was done for the day I decided to head out. By the looks of it, only one person had beat me there. Due to the fresh snow the foot trail was hard to follow and deep, but thankfully all the trails here are marked really well. Along with the welcome signage and map at the beginning, it's easy to follow the colored marks among the trees. I will say that coming when there is a foot of snow on the ground isn't for the inexperienced. The staircases were slick with ice and snow, harder to climb but I was happy to be getting a work out in. It was absolutely breathtaking and so peaceful. I can't believe it took me so long to visit. I can't wait to go back when it's lush with green and flowing waterfalls. If you're in the area and want to get away from the crowds, definitely add Cantwell Cliffs to your itinerary.