Visiting Hocking Hill’s Ash Cave on a sun-dappled Sunday morning makes me think of entering nature’s own sacred sanctuary.
Links and information within story updated 2020
The quiet hush of the wooded walk, culminating in the protective bowl of a natural amphitheater created by recessed caves offers plenty of little niches where visitors can simply sit and meditate on the area’s beauty. During spring and summer, Ash Cave serves as a seasonal showcase for a slender waterfall that drops into a pond nearly 100 feet below the cave’s rim, and every season offers ample opportunity for photographers to take beautiful pictures.
Even as the area draws more photographers, hikers, families and others to explore and enjoy the area as summer mornings segue into busy summer afternoons, visitors can still find a quiet nook where they can relax to enjoy the passing parade and beautiful surroundings.
Ash Cave is just one of the natural features that draw photographers, hikers and nature lovers to the Hocking Hills State Park in southern Ohio.
The park’s caves and natural features tell the fascinating story of Ohio’s early history, as millions of years’ worth of erosion and the weathering of time created majestic formations and gorges in the area’s Blackhand sandstone.
Men first lived in the area about 7,000 years ago, and Ash Cave derives its name from piles of ashes discovered by early settlers in the sheltering recesses. Some historians believe the ashes came from early Native American campfires in the area, although no one knows the source of the ashes for sure.
The quarter-mile, paved trail into Ash Cave makes it one of the more accessible areas in the park, while longer trails like the path into Old Man's Cave offer varied and challenging terrain for more experienced hikers.
I often just use a hand-held camera when I travel, but the relatively easy trail into the park’s Ash Cave and the half-mile Cedar Falls trail made carting in my lightweight tripod for steadier shots no problem. It’s best to allow plenty of time to spend at each area you visit in the park as it’s easy to spend several hours just shooting the falls, wildflowers and interesting rock formations along each trail.
I’m reluctant to leave the park when I visit, but I always come home with plenty of photos to help me remember the feeling of peaceful serenity I experience each time I’m there.
© Dominique King 2008(updated 2020)
Hooray for Ohio destinations!! :) One of my friends said they set up zip-lining there. Do you know anything about that? Maybe it could be your next story...
Posted by: Natalie | September 12, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I've never tried zip lining...haven't even seen anyone doing it anywhere here in Michigan or at Hocking Hills. I'll bet there are some great places throughout Hocking Hills for it, though...we don't really have the terrain for it here.
Have you done it?
Posted by: Dominique | September 12, 2008 at 03:07 PM