The Hocking Hills has the highest concentration of waterfalls in Ohio, and they are all within a short drive of each other. What changes dramatically is how much water is falling.
The falls, in order of power
- Cedar Falls — the strongest in the park. Best after rain, magnificent in spring.
- Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave — the postcard shot, framed by hemlock and stone bridge.
- Lower Falls, Old Man's Cave — wider, quieter, at the far end of the gorge walk.
- Ash Cave — a slender ribbon over an enormous rim. Reduces to a trickle in high summer; the shelter is worth it regardless.
- Conkle's Hollow — a seasonal fall at the head of the gorge, best in spring.
Season by season
Spring is peak flow — this is the season if the waterfalls are your reason for coming. Summer reduces the smaller falls but keeps the gorges cool and green. Autumn puts colour around them. Winter can freeze them into standing columns of ice, which is a genuinely different and spectacular sight.
Photography notes
Overcast days are better than bright ones — direct sun through a gorge blows out the highlights. Early morning gives you empty frames. A small tripod and a slow shutter give you the silk-water look; the rock is wet, so bring a cloth for your lens.
Base yourself close
A cabin near the trails means being at the falls before anyone else. Find one here.