Summary:
WHAT: 59th Annual Hocking Hills Winter Hike
WHEN: Saturday, January 18, Rolling start between 9-11 a.m.
WHERE: Hocking Hills State Park Visitors Center
19852 State Route 664 South, Logan, Ohio 43138
(We will meet at Walmart in Canal Winchester of Route 33)
Description:
Hocking Hills has an annual Winter Hike in Jan. It attracts thousands of visitors and hikers that there is a line to enter the park. In my few years living in Columbus, I have hiked this event every year (except 1-2 due to really terrible weather) The hike starts around 9pm but the line to enter starts much earlier. Parking gets full very early so I suggest we carpool and meet at the Walmart in Canal Winchester of Route 33 (this is the address of this event). Ideally we would meet at 7.30am at the Walmart and aim to reach Hocking Hills around 8.30pm. We start hiking around 9am from the Upper Falls at Old Man's cave upto Ash Cave totalling up to 6 miles. At Cedar Falls, which is the halfway point, there will be complimentary bean soup, and cornbread. At Ash Cave, there will be hot chocolates and doughnuts as a reward for finishing the hike. School buses will charter us back to the Upper Falls from Cedar Falls and Ash Cave so we will not need to hike back.
What to expect:
Upto an hour or so into the hike, it will be slow paced since a lot of people are trying to enter the park. Due to the snow, people will be extra cautious. Due to the slow pace and wait time for the hike to start, it will get a bit cold so layer accordingly but this will not be an issue as we get into the hike. Water, snacks, crampons, hiking poles, hot hands, and backpack to store layers are recommended to carry.
How much time:
It depends on when you decide to end the hike. I will be hiking all the way to Ash Cave but if you decide to carpool, please make sure where you decide to end. This would take about 4 hours.
More info about the hike can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAiFOdmZAts (My first winter hike, weather was in 60s then. If you can spot me in this video, you will get a KitKat)
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/hocking-hills-winter-hike-2025
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BGKUuuUfLF4doBpq9 (Pics from the previous hikes)
If you need more info, feel free to ask me. See y'all on the 18th!
