Hocking Hills through the seasons

Article

Spring: the water show

Spring is when the Hocking Hills does the thing it is famous for. Snowmelt and spring rain push volume through the gorges, and the waterfalls at Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave run hard. Cedar Falls in April is a different feature entirely from Cedar Falls in August.

The trade-off is mud and unpredictable weather. Trails are slick, the boardwalks drip, and you will want real footwear rather than sneakers. It is also the quietest of the warm seasons, which is worth a great deal on a Saturday morning.

Summer: green, warm, and busy

By June the canopy closes over the gorges and the trails turn into green tunnels that stay noticeably cooler than the parking lot. This is the season for combining hiking with everything else the area does well: canoeing the Hocking River, ziplining, horseback riding, and long evenings that do not get dark until nine.

It is also the busiest season at the popular trailheads. Being half a mile from Old Man's Cave is worth the most in July: you can walk the gorge early and be back at the cabin before the day-trip traffic arrives from Columbus.

Second summer: the September secret

September and early October are, for our money, the best weeks of the year here. The water is still warm enough for the river, the crowds thin out once school starts, the humidity breaks, and the evenings get cool enough that the fire pit and hot tub start making sense again. Rates are usually softer too.

Fall: peak color, peak demand

Ohio color usually peaks in the second and third weeks of October, though it moves around by a week or two depending on the summer. The gorges are spectacular, with sandstone walls under yellow and orange canopy, and everyone knows it. October weekends here book further ahead than any other time of year, frequently a year out.

If you want fall color without fall crowds, aim for the last week of October or the first week of November. The color is past peak but still real, and the trails empty out.

Winter: frozen falls and nobody around

Winter is the season most people never consider and the one that converts them. When it gets cold enough, the waterfalls freeze into columns and the gorges go silent. On a weekday in January you can have Old Man's Cave essentially to yourself.

The annual Winter Hike in January is the region's oldest tradition and worth planning around. Bring traction for your boots, and note that four-wheel drive is a good idea on the rural roads after snow.

So when should you come?

• Waterfalls at full volume: March through May.
• Swimming, paddling, long evenings: June through August.
• Best all-round weather and fewer people: September.
• Fall color: mid-October, booked far in advance.
• Solitude and frozen falls: January and February.