Hocking Hills almost ready for reopening
One-way trails, monitored crowd size part of modifications.
Looking for a quick escape this summer? And one that is social-distancing friendly?
As businesses begin to reopen in Ohio, many favorite outdoor destinations, such as Hocking Hills State Park 40 miles southeast of Columbus, are also greeting visitors once again.
Currently, most trails in Hocking Hills State Park are closed due to concerns for public health and social distancing. Nearby Lake Logan and Lake Hope State Park are open.
On Monday, June 15, two beloved Hocking Hills State Park sites — Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House — will once again serve as a natural oasis for travelers from all over the state. Perhaps the most beloved trail, the one to Old Man’s Cave, will reopen later this summer, along with many other trails and destinations in the state park.
These sites will be the first to reopen in the park, since social distancing on the spacious trails surrounding these sites is easier to do than on other trails.
“Visitors are attracted to the rugged beauty of the Hocking Hills region, but some of the features that draw hikers also make it difficult for them to practice safe social distancing,” said Glen Cobb, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Parks and Watercraft, in a news release. “Our top priority is the safety of our visitors, staff and first responders, and we believe the modifications will make trail use safer.”
What visitors can expect
The ODNR will be rerouting trails and directing hikers to oneway travel in places where this form of social distancing is possible. Aside from allowing visitors to maintain a proper social distance, one-way travel throughout the trails also protects the delicate ecological systems in the area.
Visitors will be asked to park only in designated spots. When the parking lot is deemed full, the area will be temporarily closed until more space becomes available.
Along with the reopening of these popular trails, the Hocking State Forest is also bringing back several recreational features beginning June 15, such as the horse camp, Airplane Rock and bridle trails north of the rappelling area on Unger Road. The bridle trails south of the rappelling area and fire-tower parking area will remain closed to the public until further notice. Later in the summer months, park officials hope to revise current trails surrounding other popular destinations, like Ash Cave, Cedar Falls and Whispering Cave, to allow for social distancing.
Looking to spend an entire weekend exploring all that Hocking
Hills State Park has to offer? The park will be taking new reservations for the campground and cabin areas with an arrival date of July 15 or later. If you reserved a spot at a campground or cabin through June 30, the reservation will be automatically canceled and a full refund will be issued to the original form of payment.
If they are unable to refund your reservation to the original form of payment, then you will receive an Ohio State Parks e-gift card that can be used on a future reservation. For more information about Hocking Hills State Park and their coronavirus policies, head to https://thehockinghills.org.
If you’re planning a trip to Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills offers more than 900 lodging opportunities, including cabins, tree houses, luxury lodges, tipis, yurts and more. For those wanting to plan a retreat that keeps social distancing top of
mind, nearly all of these offerings are located in secluded, forested areas, with many offering contactless entry codes.
“So many of us are eagerly awaiting an opportunity to travel safely and unplug from all the negative noise and suffocating monotony that’s bombarded us for two months,” said Karen Raymore, executive director of Explore Hocking Hills, in a press release. “In the Hocking Hills, the only noise you hear is the joyful sound of nature. But our initial experiences need to be safe and allow us to travel not far from home and socially distance.”
Many Hocking Hills restaurants, bars and breweries are now offering outdoor and indoor dining. Hocking Hills Winery and Brewery 33, for example, are open and offering tastings and outdoor seating with live music. Hocking Hills Moonshine distillery is open for tours, tastings and retail sales. A number of other local shops and businesses, like Homegrown on Main and Jack Pine Studio, are open.
For more Hocking Hills travel resources, visit to ExploreHockingHills.com or call 1-800-Hocking (800462-5464).