How to Explore Ash Cave in Hocking Hills For Beginners

If you’re planning a first time visit to the popular Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park, the great news is that it’s pretty easy to reach it but at the same time due to the crowds, multiple options to see it as well as some other easter eggs that people miss, I want to help you get the most out of your visit which is why I wrote this simple guide to help you do that. 

Info:

• Name: Ash Cave
• Location: Hocking Hills State Park
• Distance: 2 options, both are a little over a mile in and out
• Difficulty: Easy

Overview:

Ash Cave is a stunning natural feature located in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio. It is the largest recess cave in the state, stretching approximately 700 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 90 feet high. Named after the layers of ash found in the cave, believed to be remnants of ancient Native American campfires, Ash Cave offers a captivating glimpse into both geological and cultural history.

Visitors are greeted by a wide, sandy floor and a seasonal waterfall that cascades over the cave’s edge, adding to its serene beauty. This path is particularly popular for its scenic views and relatively gentle terrain, making it suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities.

Ash Cave also serves as a venue for various recreational activities, including hiking, photography, and bird-watching. Its impressive acoustics make it a favored spot for weddings and small concerts. Overall, Ash Cave is a must-see destination within Hocking Hills, celebrated for its natural beauty and historical significance.

How to get there:

Option 1 (easy, handicap accessible trail, bathrooms, more parking):

1. Start at Ash Cave Parking area (paid)
2. Follow the 0.3 mile trail to the Cave
3. Return back the same way

This is the most popular option for families, and anyone who is wheelchair or similar but it is also the one which is most crowded.

Option 2 (easy/moderate hike, less parking, Fire Tower):

1. Start at the Buckeye trail parking lot (fills up to 10 cars)
2. Follow the 0.5 mile trail down to Ash Cave
3. Return the same way

There are 2 advantages to this option vs the first one despite it having a smaller parking lot and not being handicap accessible or having bathrooms:

• You’ll see the Ash Cave Lookout Tower right by the parking lot as you start the hike (and you can ascend it)
• This is more of a classic/scenic hike even before you reach Ash Cave

Best times to visit:

If you don’t mind the crowds, anytime before 5 p.m is fine basically year round. Autumn is a good season to consider going during as well (November). If however you are trying to avoid crowds, I have 2 tips on avoiding them:

1. Go early in the morning before 9 a.m (year round)
2. During winter since this is when the park is in it’s least crowded season

Photos:

Tips:

1. Take the 2nd option hike if you enjoy trails more. Though there’s less parking space, you will get a more classic hiking experience, plus see the Ash Cave Fire Tower.
2. To see the waterfall in it’s full rush, go there at the end of winter (between March-April).
3. If Ash Cave is the only reason you’re going to Hocking Hills State Park, I would strongly recommend checking out my post about it and seeing the many other things to do there. There’s tons of adventures all located close to each other in this park worth exploring!

Cabin info:

If you’re looking for lodging options near Ash Cave, there’s 2 to consider:

1. All Seasons Lodge which is 10 minutes from the main Ash Cave Parking lot
2. Canopy Ridge Cabins which is also about as close
3. Other than this the closest city to the area is Columbus Ohio

Places that look like Ash Cave:

If Ash Cave astounds you, I can promise you that there’s plenty of other places in the US that look like and fortunately I’ve explored more than a few of them. Here’s a quick overview:

Each of these places are located in different states, but here’s detailed info on how to find every single one:

1. Honey Creek Loop trail in Big South Fork
2. Kaaterskill Falls (Catskills)
3. Hamilton Pool Preserve 

Overall this post explains just about everything about Ash Cave and what to expect when you go there. I hope it’s been helpful and that you enjoy the trail and experience of this amazing area!