Start at Hocking Hills Market in the Logan area, allowing about 45 minutes to pick up breakfast supplies, trail snacks, drinks, and a few easy cabin meals. This is a good first stop before heading into the more rural hills, where options become sparse. Expect roughly $20–40 for basic provisions for two, depending on how much you buy. Keep a cooler in the car, and avoid leaving groceries in the vehicle while you hike.
Drive south toward Hocking Hills State Park Welcome Center near the Old Man’s Cave area; from Logan, the trip is generally 20–25 minutes by car. Spend about 30 minutes checking trail conditions, closures, restroom locations, and current guidance before continuing west. The center is typically open during daytime park hours, but hours can vary seasonally, so check the park’s official page that morning. Parking at popular trailheads can fill quickly, especially on a pleasant September day.
Continue approximately 15 minutes west to Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve. Allow two hours for the paved gorge trail, which follows towering sandstone walls and is the best choice if you want a scenic first hike without overdoing it on arrival day. If you still have energy and conditions are dry, add part or all of the rim trail for elevated views; it is steeper and more rugged. Wear shoes with good traction, bring water, and stay on marked paths—wet rock and leaf cover can be surprisingly slippery. There is no admission fee, but parking is limited, so a midafternoon arrival may require a short wait.
After the hike, drive to your Airbnb cabin with a private hot tub in the countryside, allowing 20–35 minutes depending on the exact location. Settle in, unpack the groceries, and use the hot tub before dinner; confirm the host’s instructions for heating time, towels, and quiet hours, since many cabins are on wooded private roads. For an easy first-night meal, head into downtown Logan for pizza or casual comfort food at Hocking Hills Coffee Emporium & Bakery if you want something light and café-style, or choose a nearby downtown pizzeria for a more substantial meal—budget about $15–25 per person. Logan is roughly 15–25 minutes from most western Hocking Hills cabins, and it is worth eating before returning to the countryside, where kitchens and roads are quiet after dark.
Start early at Old Man’s Cave, ideally arriving around 8:00–8:30 a.m. The gorge trail is quieter then, and the morning light is beautiful on the sandstone walls. Allow about two hours for the loop, including the bridges, waterfalls, narrow passages, and the cave itself. Parking is generally free, but the lot fills noticeably by late morning; wear shoes with good grip because the stone and roots can be slick. Bring water and a small snack—there are no reliable food options along the trail.
From Old Man’s Cave, drive roughly 5–10 minutes to Cedar Falls, following the signed park roads. Continue on foot through the shaded forest and creek valley for about 1½ hours. The waterfall is especially pleasant after recent rain, though it may be modest during a dry spell. There is no need to rush between the two hikes; this is a good place to pause, refill water, and enjoy the quieter stretch of the park.
After a short drive of about 15–20 minutes, continue to Ash Cave for an easy, approximately one-hour walk to Ohio’s largest recess cave. The paved approach makes this the least strenuous stop of the day, but the cave’s scale is impressive, and the seasonal waterfall is worth checking after rainfall. Plan to finish by mid-afternoon, then return to your cabin for a shower and downtime before dinner. Park facilities and visitor services can operate seasonally, so bring everything you need for the trails and check current park notices before leaving.
For dinner, head into Logan for Millstone Southern Smoke, a relaxed barbecue spot where expect roughly $20–35 per person. It is a good choice after a full hiking day; allow about 1½ hours, and consider calling ahead or checking same-day hours since local restaurant schedules can change. Afterward, drive back into the Hocking Hills countryside and settle into a 90-minute cabin hot-tub session. Keep the evening unhurried, drink extra water after the hikes, and bring a towel outside so you can go straight from the tub to a warm, comfortable cabin.
Begin at Rock House shortly after 9:00 a.m., when the forest is cool and the parking area is still relatively easy. The short trail leads to Hocking Hills’ most unusual recess cave: a long, tunnel-like sandstone shelter with window-like openings and natural ledges. Allow about 1½ hours, including time to explore inside and walk the surrounding forest. Wear shoes with good traction—the cave floor and steps can be damp—and bring water, since there are few services once you enter the park.
Continue to Cantwell Cliffs, roughly a 15-minute drive away via State Route 374 and nearby rural roads. This is the more demanding hike of the day, with steep stair sections, narrow rock corridors, cliff overlooks, and uneven footing; allow about 2½ hours and carry lunch or substantial snacks. The trailhead is quieter than the area’s headline attractions, but its rugged terrain makes it slower than the distance suggests. Check trail conditions before setting out, especially after rain, and avoid climbing beyond marked paths.
After returning toward Logan, unwind at Hocking Hills Winery, generally open from late morning into the evening; confirm the September 2026 hours before driving over. A tasting typically runs about $15–30 per person, with light food available, making this a good recovery stop rather than a full dinner. From there, drive about 15 minutes to Lake Logan State Park for an easy lakeside walk—roughly an hour at a relaxed pace. Bring a layer for the evening and finish before dark, as the park’s quieter shoreline areas are not where you want to be navigating after sunset.
Return to your cabin for dinner by the fire pit or hot tub. Pick up anything needed before leaving Logan, since convenience stores and restaurants become sparse in the countryside; keep the meal simple after the two hikes. Give yourselves at least 30 minutes to cool down and change before using the hot tub, and keep water nearby.
Check out early, pack the car, and make Hemlock Bridge Trail your final quiet walk in Hocking Hills State Park. Allow about 1½ hours for the forested route through hemlock-lined ravines; it is a gentler send-off than another dramatic gorge hike, but the cool shade and rushing water are especially pleasant in the morning. Trail access is generally free, though you should have sturdy shoes, water, and a few minutes of daylight buffer—the surface can be slick after rain. Leave your cabin around 8:00 a.m. so you can finish before the day warms up and still have time to check out without rushing.
On the way into Logan, stop at the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, a wonderfully odd little collection near the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. It is a quick 30–45-minute visit, and admission is typically free; hours can be limited or seasonal, so verify the day’s opening time before relying on it. Then spend about 1½ hours around Main Street Logan, browsing the small shops and getting a casual breakfast or lunch. Plan on roughly $12–25 per person, and use the downtown public parking rather than trying to keep moving the car between storefronts.
From downtown Logan, drive about 15–20 minutes northwest to Rockbridge State Nature Preserve for your final hike. The short trail to the natural bridge takes roughly 1½ hours at an easy pace, including time for photos and a look around the sandstone formation. Wear shoes with decent grip and bring water; the trail can be muddy, and there are few amenities once you leave town. This is a good last stop because it feels scenic without committing you to another long hike—just keep an eye on the clock if you still need to retrieve luggage or finish loading the car.
After Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, return toward Logan, collect anything left at your accommodation, and begin the drive home via US-33. Aim to be on the road by mid-afternoon, allowing 30–45 minutes for packing, checkout, and parking logistics rather than cutting it close. US-33 is the practical main route out of the area, but mobile service can be inconsistent around the hills, so download directions and make your final fuel or coffee stop in Logan before leaving.
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