The Hocking Hills Scenic Byway runs 26.4 miles through southeast Ohio, from US 33 at Rockbridge south to Ash Cave. It follows State Route 374, a road laid out to connect the sites of Hocking Hills State Park.
Ohio established the byway in May 2004. It passes the park’s six separate areas, where the Blackhand sandstone has eroded into cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, and recess caves.
Most stops are a short walk from the car. That makes the drive easy to split between a handful of trailheads, with time left over for a lunch break or a longer hike on the Grandma Gatewood Trail between Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave.
Route Details: Hocking Hills Scenic Byway
Mile markers below are my estimates of distance from the US 33 start.
Rockbridge (0 miles)
The byway starts where State Route 374 leaves US 33 near Rockbridge. Rockbridge State Nature Preserve is close by and worth a look before you head south. The Glenlaurel Inn in Rockbridge has a Tesla destination charger.
Cantwell Cliffs (5 miles)
Cantwell Cliffs is the northernmost site on the byway. The trail climbs through a narrow crevice in the sandstone and loops back along the cliff top.
Rock House (8 miles)
Rock House is a long, sheltered corridor cut into the cliff face. It is a short walk from the parking lot and makes a good early stop on a hot day.
Conkle’s Hollow (10 miles)
Conkle’s Hollow is a state nature preserve with a narrow sandstone gorge. The gorge trail is accessible, and a separate rim trail runs along the top.
Old Man’s Cave (15 miles)
Old Man’s Cave is the most visited stop. The visitor center sits here, and the gorge trail starts at the Upper Falls and runs to the Lower Falls, passing the Devil’s Bathtub, Eagle Rock, and Sphinx Head. The cave is named for Richard Rowe, a hermit who lived here in the early 1800s. The state bought the land in 1924.
Hocking Hills State Park Lodge (18 miles)
The park’s dining lodge and conference center is nearby on State Route 664. It has a ChargePoint charger, and the Gem Mine and Lake Logan State Park are a short drive away.
Cedar Falls (21 miles)
Cedar Falls is a waterfall in a hemlock-shaded gorge, reached by a trail from the road. The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls on State Route 374 has a Tesla destination charger.
Ash Cave (26.4 miles)
The byway ends at Ash Cave, the largest recess cave in Ohio, roughly 90 feet high and 700 feet wide. Settlers named it for the heap of ashes they found inside. The trail from the parking lot is short and accessible, and the Grandma Gatewood Trail runs about 2.5 miles back to Old Man’s Cave for anyone who wants to hike it.
Use the trip planner to build a day-by-day itinerary based on your available time and starting point.
