Ash Cave Loop (Hocking Hills State Park) Hiking Guide
Ash Cave is the rare big scenic payoff that a wheelchair can reach. An asphalt path follows a shaded gorge to a horseshoe-shaped overhang about 700 feet across, where a small creek pours off the rim in the wet months. Walkers who want more can climb steps beyond the cave and loop back above the gorge.
The Loop
From the lot at 27291 State Route 56 you cross the highway at a traffic light, then follow the paved trail up the gorge. At the cave, wheelchair users and strollers turn around on the asphalt. Everyone else continues up the steep steps and goes right at the top to reach the parking area along a rougher dirt path. The Hocking Hills Organization records about 0.6 mile in roughly 40 minutes. GoHocking lists 0.5 mile and 111 feet of gain, the figure we use. The park's list shows a quarter mile each for gorge and rim, and its map gives the rim 0.3.
Why the Numbers Differ
Hiking Project draws the two trails separately: 0.4 mile with 85 feet of climbing for the gorge, and 0.7 mile with 211 feet for its longer version of the rim. That is more than the walk back to the car needs, so we did not add them together. Treat any single total as approximate. What matters is the shape of the walk: nearly level to the cave, then one short, steep climb.
The Cave and Its Waterfall
GoHocking measures the overhang at 700 feet wide, 100 feet deep and 90 feet from floor to rim. Settlers named it for the great pile of ashes they found inside, whose source is still unknown. The falls are seasonal, most reliable in winter, in spring and after substantial rain, so don't count on them in a dry stretch. In a hard freeze the water builds an ice mound on the sandy floor, one good reason to come in January. Archaeologists have also recovered tools, clothing and remains here, so leave the site as you found it.
Footing for People and Dogs
Plain asphalt gives way at the back of the cave to rough stone and then a stairway. Its slip-resistant metal grating spooks some dogs, according to a local guide's account, although plenty handle it fine. Pets need a 6-foot leash and can't go in the water. Without railings along parts of the rim, small children need a hand. In winter, ODNR suggests cleats for its trails, and this section's stairs and rim path are where you would want them.
When to Go
Spring melt gives the strongest flow. No admission is charged at any time of year, and the area closes around dusk: 30 minutes after sunset to be exact. Restrooms sit near the parking area, and the park keeps a reservable picnic shelter here. Expect a crowd on the December evening of Christmas in Ash Cave, when the paved trail is lit by lanterns, and at the January Winter Hike, which finishes here. The Hocking Hills Organization says park areas are quieter early in the week and very early in the day; Hocking Hikes warns that weekend mornings here are still busy.
Hiking tips for Ash Cave Loop (Hocking Hills State Park)
- Visit after rain or during snowmelt if the waterfall is the point.
- Plan to turn around at the end of the pavement with a wheelchair or stroller.
- Carry small dogs up the grated stairs if they balk.
- Stay on the path and out of the plunge pool; wading is banned.
- Go left at the top of the steps only if you mean to hike 2.3 miles to Cedar Falls.
Nearby trails to explore
- Cedar Falls Loop (Hocking Hills State Park)
- Grandma Gatewood Trail (Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave)
- Old Man's Cave Trail (Hocking Hills State Park)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Ash Cave suits a mixed group, from strollers to people who want the rim. Set a date in TrailMates, say who is coming and how far they want to walk in the event's group chat, and meet at the lot. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.