Ash Cave
Hocking County, Ohio
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Hocking County, Ohio
- Access status
- State park; paved, accessible quarter-mile trail
- The walk
- About 1/4 mile one way
- Ground & access
- Flat paved path to the cave, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The rim trail and the trail toward Cedar Falls have stairs and rough sections. Ice is common in winter.
Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in Ohio, at the end of a U-shaped valley in Hocking Hills State Park. A waterfall spills from the rim high above the cave mouth into a stream on the valley floor. From the parking area on Ohio 56, follow the flat, paved Ash Cave Gorge trail through a hemlock gorge to the cave. Wooden stairs to the right of the cave lead up to the rim and the blue-blazed Buckeye Trail, which is rougher. In winter the falls often form large icicles and an ice cone at the base.
Plan your visit
Ash Cave parking off Ohio 56, paved Ash Cave Gorge trail through the hemlock gorge to the recess cave and waterfall
Ohio DNR lists the Ash Cave Gorge trail as 1/4 mile, easy and wheelchair accessible. Return the same way.
Flat paved path to the cave, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The rim trail and the trail toward Cedar Falls have stairs and rough sections. Ice is common in winter.
Where to start
Small parking area at the entrance to the short trail, with more parking across the road. Explore Hocking Hills gives the address as 27291 Ohio 56, South Bloomingville.
Timing & water
Ohio DNR says trails are open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. Wear ice cleats in winter.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Whispering FallsPartial guide: state park trail to Whispering Cave; name match probableHocking County, OH1.5 miN
Cedar FallsState park; stepped trail from the parking area to the base of the fallsHocking County, OH1.7 miNE- Whispering CaveMarked state park trail from the lodge lotHocking County, OH1.7 miN
- Broken Rock FallsState park gorge trail with a side canyon spur on old stone stepsHocking County, OH2.3 miN
- Lower FallsOne-way state park gorge trail with stairsHocking County, OH2.3 miN
- Devil's BathtubState park gorge trail; one-way loop with stairsHocking County, OH2.5 miN
- Upper FallsShort state park walk; accessible deck and steps to the baseHocking County, OH2.6 miN
Rim Trail Falls (off-trail)Hocking County, OH4.6 miNW- Lower FallsPartial guide: probable match to the falls at the head of Conkles Hollow; no petsHocking County, OH4.6 miNW