GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus

Early-bird coffee and conversation at 5 Bean Coffee!

History

The unique landscape of Hocking Hills State Park was forged over millions of years through geological processes. Its foundation is Blackhand Sandstone, a rock formation laid down more than 300 million years ago when the area was covered by a shallow sea. The dramatic gorges, recess caves, and cliffs that define the park were primarily carved during the last Ice Age, which ended about 10,000 years ago. Though glaciers did not reach the park itself, glacial meltwater torrents found cracks in the hard capstone layer of the sandstone. This water then eroded the softer, middle layer, creating the park's characteristic features, including recessed caves like Ash Cave and the winding gorges seen at Old Man's Cave.

The region has a rich human history, with evidence suggesting that Native American tribes inhabited the Hocking Hills as early as 7,000 years ago. The Adena culture and later the Fort Ancient peoples used the rock overhangs and recesses as shelters. By the 18th century, tribes such as the Wyandot, Delaware, and Shawnee frequented the region. The park's name originates from the Wyandot word "Hockhocking," meaning "bottle river," a reference to the bottle-shaped gorge near present-day Lancaster. After the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 opened the land to settlement, pioneer families moved into the area, with Richard Rowe, a hermit in the 19th century, famously lending his name to Old Man's Cave.

The area's beauty began attracting visitors in the late 1860s, long before its official state park designation. The state of Ohio made its first land purchase in 1924 to protect the area's natural features, acquiring the land surrounding Old Man's Cave. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, more land was added, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the trails, bridges, and shelters still in use today. After the creation of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1949, management of the park was transferred, and the addition of facilities like a dining lodge and cabins in 1972 helped cement its status as a major recreational destination.

In recent years, Hocking Hills has solidified its reputation as a premier destination for travelers in the Midwest, drawing millions of visitors annually. The park's stunning natural features, combined with extensive marketing efforts from organizations like the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, have fueled its rise in popularity. The region's economy, once reliant on manufacturing and oil and gas, has blossomed due to the tourism industry, supporting local businesses, generating tax revenue, and creating jobs. As a testament to its appeal, Hocking Hills has received accolades from publications such as U.S. News and World Report and Forbes, further cementing its status as a must-visit location.

Maps of Hocking Hills

Because I don't love any individual map of Hocking Hills, here is one map of the park (as a PDF). Here is a second map of the park (as a JPG). I have also uploaded a third map to the photos section of this event, below.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the the Grandma Gatewood and Ash Cave Rim Trails from Cedar Falls to Ash Cave and back. Round trip, this hike will be about 5 miles.

After the hike, we will head over to Rock House Pub for food and drinks.

The hike will be at least moderately strenuous. It's probably comparable to Mohican's Hog Hollow Trail (which GOhio! hiked in September), Clear Creek Metro Park, or Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. I think it's certainly a bit more strenuous than either Highbanks Metro Park or Deer Creek State Park (although Deer Creek has its moments).

Where we'll meet

We will meet in the Cedar Falls parking lot. You can use the map pin I've provided here, or you can type "Cedar Falls Trailhead Parking" into your Google Maps and it should come right up.

GPS

While the Hocking Hills Lodge does have free Wi-Fi, cell service at Hocking Hills is spotty at best, if not generally non-existent. I recommend downloading an offline map in Maps just in case.

With that caveat, I've always been able to get around Hocking Hills with my GPS (I have Verizon).

Restrooms and water fountains

Cedar Falls, which is again where we'll be starting, has restrooms. While it also has water fountains, I suspect very strongly that these fountains will be shut off for the winter when we are there.

Ash Cave, which will be the halfway point of our hike, has latrines. It also has an all-season (winter) water fountain that in theory should be working during our hike.

I'd recommend bringing some of your own water anyway just in case, at least for after the hike.

After the hike

Rock House Pub is a separate lounge facility within the Hocking Hills Lodge and Conference Center. Its weekend hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Pub serves drinks, food, and pizza that I find comparable to Marco's. The Lodge also has a separate coffee shop called Cafe '22 that's open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Lodge is about ten minutes away from Cedar Falls. It has a large common seating area with big comfy seats, tables, multiple fireplaces, and outdoor gas fire pits and seating.

Let's play various and sundry board games at Crooked Can Brewing! The brewery has extensive food options, a good amount of space, and a large (free) parking lot.

The games I bring come from the following list, but feel free to bring some of your own as well!

1. Bang!
2. Chinatown
3. Codenames
4. Coup
5. Deception
6. Family Feud
7. Just One
8. Mafia
9. Mexican Train Dominoes
10. Playing cards
11. The Resistance (Hidden Agenda)
12. Secret Hitler
13. Sequence
14. Settlers of Catan
15. So Clover!
16. Splendor: Marvel
17. Telestrations
18. Ticket to Ride
19. Tsuro
20. Ultimate Werewolf
21. Uno
22. Wits & Wagers
23. Yahtzee

History

Blacklick Woods Metro Park, established in 1949, holds the distinction of being the first Columbus Metro Park. Its creation stemmed from a post-World War II push to preserve natural areas amid rapid suburban growth. The land, originally farmland and woodlots along Blacklick Creek, was acquired by the Columbus Metropolitan Park Board through donations and purchases. Early efforts focused on basic trail development and reforestation to combat erosion. The park's name derives from the creek, which early settlers called "Black Lick" due to its dark, mineral-rich waters. By the 1950s, it served as a model for the expanding Metro Parks system.

In the 1960s, Blacklick Woods expanded significantly with additional land acquisitions, reaching over 600 acres. A golf course was added in 1964, one of the first public courses in the region, designed to generate revenue for park maintenance. Native American artifacts, including arrowheads from the Adena culture, were discovered during construction, highlighting the area's prehistoric use as hunting grounds. The park introduced interpretive programs to educate visitors on local ecology and history. Flood control measures along the creek became a priority after heavy rains caused damage. These developments solidified its role as a recreational hub.

The 1970s and 1980s brought environmental awareness, leading to habitat restoration projects at Blacklick Woods. Invasive species were removed, and native wildflowers were planted in the meadows. A nature center opened in 1976, featuring exhibits on wetlands and forests. The park's slate-covered bridge, a remnant of 19th-century infrastructure, was preserved as a historic feature. Birdwatching gained popularity with the addition of observation decks. Community volunteers played a key role in trail maintenance and cleanups.

During the 1990s, Blacklick Woods underwent major upgrades, including paved multi-use trails for biking and hiking. The Walter A. Tucker Nature Preserve, a 53-acre old-growth forest within the park, was dedicated in 1995 to protect rare beech-maple woodlands. Educational partnerships with local schools introduced field trips on topics like stream ecology. The golf course was renovated to improve playability while minimizing environmental impact. Annual events, such as the fall festival, drew thousands to celebrate the park's natural beauty. These enhancements balanced recreation with conservation.

In the 21st century, Blacklick Woods has adapted to increasing visitation with sustainable practices. Solar panels were installed at facilities in the 2010s to reduce energy costs. The park now spans 643 acres, offering diverse habitats from wetlands to uplands. Recent initiatives include pollinator gardens and prescribed burns to maintain prairie areas. It remains a flagship for the Metro Parks, inspiring similar preservations system-wide. Ongoing archaeological surveys continue to uncover traces of early inhabitants.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Blacklick Woods.

Summary

For this event, we will hike about 4.5 miles by doing a couple loops of the Buttonbush, Tucker, Maple Loop, and Beech trails. Blacklick Woods is a very nice park, but it is generally flat and not strenuous, so this will be one of the easier hikes that we do.

Where We'll Meet

Drive all the way to the back of the park to the parking lot that is nearest the Nature Center. There are restrooms here next to the Canopy Walk. We'll meet near these restrooms.

Speaking of the Canopy Walk, it's not officially part of the event this time. However, if interested people want to freelance and check it out after the hike (before heading to the brewery), that's okay.

After the Hike

After we're done with the trails, we'll head to Prost Beer & Wine Café for drinks and food. The actual address of the brewery is 7354 E Main St, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068, and we should be there by 5:00 if you just want to do that and skip the hike.