The Hocking Hills Winter Hike: How to Plan for January 2027
Six miles, one January Saturday, a few thousand people and a pot of bean soup at the halfway point. Here is how the day actually works.
Every January, Hocking Hills State Park hosts a group hike from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave by way of Cedar Falls. It is free, it is crowded, and for a lot of Ohio families it is the one day a year they hike in winter on purpose. The route is the same six miles you can walk any day of the year, but on hike day there are volunteers, food stops and a ride back to the start.
This guide covers what we could confirm about the 2027 date, how the day is laid out, where people park, what to wear and how to handle the crowd without hating it.
When is the 2027 Winter Hike?
The local tourism site hockinghills.com lists the next Winter Hike as Saturday, January 16, 2027, with hikers gathering between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. As of this writing we have not seen an ODNR news release for 2027, and ODNR is the organizer, so treat the date as expected rather than final.
The pattern is consistent. The 2026 hike ran on Saturday, January 17, 2026, and ODNR billed it as the 60th annual hike. In other words, expect a Saturday in the middle of January with a rolling morning start.
Watch the ODNR news releases and the Hocking Hills State Park page on ohiodnr.gov. Central Ohio TV stations and newspapers usually repeat the announcement. If winter weather threatens the day, the park page and ODNR social channels are where changes will appear first.
A short history of the hike
According to a long-running local events page, the first Winter Hike took place in 1965 and was led by park naturalist Norv Hall, with roughly 60 people. Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, who in 1955 at age 67 became the first woman to hike the full Appalachian Trail alone, became the face of the event. The Ohio History Connection dates the six-mile hike she led to January 1967. Accounts differ on exactly how the tradition began, but both point to the mid-1960s. She greeted hikers at the trailhead at her final one in 1973, the year she died. The six-mile route now carries her name: the Grandma Gatewood Trail. Our piece on Grandma Gatewood tells more of her story.
The annual number does not line up neatly with the calendar because a couple of hikes were canceled over the decades. In 2026 the hike was also folded into ODNR's America 250 events and its statewide Winter Hike Series.
The route, stop by stop
ODNR describes the shared Buckeye Trail, American Discovery Trail and Grandma Gatewood Trail through the park as a 6-mile route rated difficult. On hike day it runs one direction only, south from Old Man's Cave.
| Stage | What happens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Start: Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave | Rolling start between 9 and 11 a.m. | Some years begin with small interpretive groups to the Upper Falls |
| Old Man's Cave gorge to Lower Falls | Stone steps, bridges and the tunnel stairway | The slowest, most crowded stretch |
| Lower Falls to Cedar Falls | Creekside trail through the hemlock valley | Midway stop with bean soup and cornbread served by the Kiwanis |
| Cedar Falls to Ash Cave | Up and over the ridge, then down to the recess cave | Finish with hot chocolate and doughnuts from the Lions Club |
| Return | Shuttle back toward Old Man's Cave | Donations encouraged; 2026 also offered rides from Cedar Falls |
The Cedar Falls stop is the natural bail-out point. If someone in your group is cold, tired or slipping, it is far better to take the ride from there than to push the second half.
Parking and shuttle logistics
This is the part that trips people up. The visitor center lot at Old Man's Cave is small for an event of this size. In recent years ODNR has pointed overflow parking to Hocking Hills Elementary School off State Route 664, and local event pages describe officers directing traffic to the campground and other lots, with buses moving hikers to the start.
- Carpool. ODNR asks for it every year. Fewer cars means less time idling on 664.
- Arrive early in the window. The start runs until 11 a.m., but parking and buses take time. Plan to park well before you want to walk.
- Do not stage your own car at Ash Cave. On event day, follow the officers. Lots are managed differently than on a normal weekend.
- Bring cash. Donations support the food and the shuttle, and souvenir patches and hiking stick medallions are typically sold.
Staying nearby the night before removes most of the stress. You can be in line for a bus while day-trippers from Columbus are still on US-33.
What to wear
Organizers recommend layered clothing, a hat, gloves, a warm coat, long underwear and broken-in hiking boots, with ice cleats as an option. That is sound advice. We would add a few specifics from years of gorge hiking:
- No cotton next to skin. You will sweat on the climbs and then stand still in line. Wet cotton stays cold.
- A dry pair of socks in a zip bag for the Cedar Falls stop.
- Traction in the pack. Pull-on microspikes weigh little and can save the day on frozen steps. See our winter traction guide for how to choose and fit them.
- A light shell for spray near the falls and for wind on the ridge.
- Boots you already own. Organizers specifically warn against new boots that are not broken in.
ODNR notes that park trails are often icy in winter. The worst spots are stone steps under dripping ledges and the shaded floor of the gorges. Walk the middle of steps, use handrails where they exist, and never pass someone on ice to save a few seconds.
Crowds and pacing
The local tourism listing reports that about 5,600 people joined the most recent hike. That many people on a narrow gorge trail means you will stop often, especially on stairs and at the bridges in the Old Man's Cave section. Accept it. The hike is a social event first.
- Keep right and single-file on stairs so faster hikers and volunteers can get by.
- Layer down before the climbs. Overheating on the first stairway and then freezing in a queue is the classic mistake.
- Eat early. A snack before Cedar Falls keeps energy steady even if the soup line is long.
- Plan for most of the day. Between the start window, the soup stop, the walking and the shuttle, budget the full late morning and afternoon.
Is it right for kids?
Six miles rated difficult, on cold and possibly icy ground, is a real effort for young children. Kids who already hike a few miles comfortably usually do fine, especially knowing the Cedar Falls ride is there. For younger children, consider walking just the first section and enjoying the atmosphere. Our guide to trails with kids has shorter options.
If you can't make the date
The trail is open year-round during park hours, which ODNR sets at half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. You can walk the same route on a quieter weekday, though you will need your own car shuttle and you will not get the soup. Check current closures first, and remember that in mid-January the daylight window is short. A late start on a 6-mile winter hike is how people end up on frozen steps at dusk.
Quick checklist
- Confirm the date on ODNR's Hocking Hills State Park page in early January
- Carpool and arrive well before 11 a.m.
- Wool or synthetic base layer, warm mid layer, wind or rain shell
- Hat, gloves, broken-in boots, spare socks
- Pull-on traction devices in the pack
- Cash for donations and patches
- Water and a snack for before Cedar Falls
- Agree on a meeting spot in case your group gets separated
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Hocking Hills Winter Hike?
The local tourism site hockinghills.com lists Saturday, January 16, 2027. ODNR has not been the source of that date as of this writing, so confirm on the Hocking Hills State Park page or ODNR news releases in the weeks before you go.
How long is the Winter Hike?
About 6 miles, starting at the Upper Falls of Old Man's Cave and finishing at Ash Cave, with Cedar Falls as the midway stop. A shuttle returns hikers to the Old Man's Cave area.
Does the Winter Hike cost anything?
No. The hike is free. Donations are encouraged at the food stops and for the return shuttle, and commemorative patches are usually for sale, so bring some cash.
Where do I park for the Winter Hike?
The visitor center lot at Old Man's Cave is small. Recent hikes used overflow parking at Hocking Hills Elementary School off State Route 664, and officers direct traffic on the day. Carpool if you can and follow posted directions.
Do I need ice cleats for the Winter Hike?
Organizers list ice cleats as optional, and ODNR notes park trails are often icy in winter. Conditions change year to year, so pack a pair of pull-on traction devices and decide at the trailhead.
Sources and verification
- hockinghills.com: Annual Winter Hike page (2027 date, route, food stops, attendance)
- thehockinghills.org: Winter Hike history and what to bring
- Crescent-News: ODNR announcement of the 60th hike, January 17, 2026
- Ohio History Connection: Emma "Grandma" Gatewood
- ODNR: Hocking Hills State Park (hours, trail ratings, winter conditions)
Event details change year to year. Confirm the date, parking and shuttle plan with ODNR before you drive down.