With the fall colors and cooler temperatures, it’s been the perfect weather for hiking Hocking Hills with kids. Trying to entertain a toddler with a super short attention span is difficult, hiking is a good way to keep her entertained!

Hocking Hills in southeast Ohio is known for being a gem of the state. It’s gorgeous in any season! And the park is full of attractions, hiking trails, and hidden waterfalls for those who feel up to the challenge of finding them. Not to mention the flora and fauna and history of the area!

Here are some of the main hiking trails at Hocking Hills and a description of their suitability for hiking with kids.

Ash Cave

Ash Cave is a site to behold! It’s the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi, complete with a waterfall cascading off it. There is almost always a trickle of water coming down, but there’s a decent gush after rain.

There’s a paved, accessible trail leading from the parking lot to the mouth of the cave with a view of the waterfall. Because it’s paved, it’s perfect for toddlers who are still uneasy on their feet. Usually the trail is two-way. But due to COVID those who are able to continue along to the upper rim trail are requested to do so. Those needing the accessibility can turn around and return on the same path.

I didn’t know this when I first took my two-year-old niece, and hadn’t planned on doing the rim trail for safety reasons. However, she did well with it! There are a few flights of stairs to get to the dirt path along the rim, and there’s a handrail for most of them. The rim trail is wide enough for two to walk side-by-side, though there are some roots and other potential tripping hazards. There’s no barricade off to the side, but I held her hand and kept her on the inside and she was fine.

The recess at Ash Cave. To the right is where the paved walkway ends, opening up to a large sandy area where kids can play and still maintain distancing.

Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls is another good waterfall in the spring or after the rain, but may only be a trickle in summer or when it’s dry. There are two parking areas near the falls. One has minimal walking and only a few parking spaces, but there are a few flights of stairs. There’s only one place where it’s easy to pull off to the side and let others pass if you decide you need a break on your way up or down.

The main parking lot has numerous spaces and still a couple flights of stairs. But the stairs are broader and much wider, so it’s easier to pause and catch your breath along the way without holding up traffic. There’s a bit more walking to reach the falls, though, once you’ve gotten to the bottom of the stairs.

As long as they can do stairs, even slowly, Cedar Falls is a good hike in Hocking Hills with the kids. And there’s a broad area in front of the falls to enjoy the view.

The stairs to from the cave recess to the rim trail at Ash Cave. The stairs at Cedar Falls are similarly built from the parking lot with fewer spaces, but there are a couple more flights.

Old Man’s Cave

There is a large parking lot for this main attraction. It also connects to Cedar Falls if you’re up for a couple miles of hiking. (Kids 5+ would do better for that hike; it’s likely a bit much for toddlers.) Several of the main sites can be reached from this parking lot, including Upper Falls, Old Man’s Cave, and Lower Falls. Fortunately, you can choose which trails you’d like to do depending on what distance you’re up to that day.

There are a few big steps and slick rocks along the path, so this trail is easier for kids aged 5 and up. It’s doable for younger kids, but you may have to assist them at sections.

This is one of the most popular trails in the park, so it can get pretty busy. As such, social distancing can also be a bit harder on this trail if that’s a concern for you. Even if you give the people ahead of you several feet of space, it’s no guarantee that those behind you will do the same.

Conkle’s Hollow

This is a beautiful area in the fall! The gorge trail is a paved and accessible 1.1-mile out-and-back trail through the center of the gorge. Beyond the paved section, there’s a dirt path that extends back to view a couple waterfalls. There are some tripping hazards, like rocks and roots, and the path gets narrow in parts. It’s definitely doable for kids 5 and up, and can also be done with kids aged 2 or 3, but you may have to help them in sections.

The rim trail offers some mesmerizing views, especially with fall colors. It’s 2.6 miles, so it’s a bit longer. More importantly, this trail offers some hazards, so I recommend kids be 8 years old or older. There are numerous tripping hazards, like roots and rocks, as well as some areas where you just have to plan out your footing a bit. But there are also exposed cliffs and some rock cutouts in the trail where small kids could fall through.

I know that sounds treacherous, and yes, there are warning signs before starting the trail. However, it’s absolutely doable! You just have to pay attention to where you’re walking. There are also several flights of stairs, both going up and down. As long as you trust your child to walk carefully, it’s doable.

Currently the trail is one-way. I don’t know if this was done because of COVID or prior to – last time I had done it, the trail was two-way, but that was years ago. But this is good for social distancing given the path is narrow at parts. Some people, however, were going the wrong way when I visited recently, despite the several obvious signs indicated the one-way traffic.

The paved gorge trail at Conkle’s Hollow. It’s a lovely, easy stroll!

Final Thoughts

There are several other trails in the area, so there’s a trail for everyone in this park!

Have a favorite trail in the Hocking Hills area where you take the kids? Let me know in the comments below!

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