{"id":448670,"date":"2023-04-14T15:12:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T19:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/?p=448670"},"modified":"2023-04-14T15:14:19","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T19:14:19","slug":"hocking-hills-state-park-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartertravel.com\/hocking-hills-state-park-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Hocking Hills State Park Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As you journey along the stretch of highway that leads from Columbus, Ohio to Hocking Hills State Park,<\/a> the scenery begins to change. Billboards and buildings fall away, replaced by rolling fields and eventually, a towering forest that seems to stretch on forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I visited the park in early January, when the wintery stillness highlighted the otherworldly serenity of the region. However, Hocking Hills is worth a trip in any season. Whether planning a summer vacation or an autumn excursion, you\u2019re sure to find your perfect escape in the Ohio wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fossils & History<\/a>
Nature & Wildlife<\/a>
Outdoor Recreation<\/a>
Day Trips & Nearby Activities<\/a>
Accommodations<\/a>
Food & Drink<\/a>
Weekend Itinerary for Hocking Hills, Ohio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Related:<\/h3>\n

What to Pack for Hiking: 38 Essentials<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Fossils & History at Hocking Hills State Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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James Alcantar\/Wirestock Creators | Adobe Stock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over 200 million years ago, an ancient ocean occupied the land that is now Hocking Hills. Sharp-eyed visitors can still spot marine life fossils high above sea level, embedded in the park\u2019s characteristic black hand sandstone rock formations left behind as the water receded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the millions of years that followed, the region was home to many, including the people of the Adena culture, responsible for the incredible mounds built throughout Ohio, and the Wyandot people, who\u2019s name for the river flowing through the region\u2014hockhocking<\/em>\u2014<\/em>inspired the name for the park. Hocking Hills State Park is established on the lands of the Shawnee, Delaware, and Wyandot people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1924, the State of Ohio purchased the first 146 acres of what would become modern day Hocking Hills State Park. Visitation rose throughout the 20th century, resulting in the over 3 million annual visitors that enjoy the park today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature & Wildlife in Hocking Hills State Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2,000 acres of Hocking Hills State Park are teeming with wildlife. Drive slowly down the park\u2019s winding roads and you\u2019re sure to catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer returning your gaze from the edges of the forest. Listen to the hoots of barred owls as you hike the trails and keep your eyes peeled for the bright yellow chest of a Magnolia Warbler.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few residents of the park you won\u2019t want to run into up close, however. Black bears and bobcats both call Hocking Hills home, although spotting the former has become rare in recent decades due to overhunting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Related:<\/h3>\n

The Ultimate Camping Packing List: 29 Essentials<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Outdoor Recreation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Notable Trails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Rock
Carol McPherson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Each of the seven main trails<\/a> in Hocking Hills has its own unique history and landscape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n