Hiking the Grandma Gatewood Trail on Your Own: Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave
The route of the famous Winter Hike is open every day of the year. Here is how to walk it without the crowd, the buses or the guesswork.
Every January, thousands of people walk from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave on the annual Winter Hike. The other 364 days, the same six miles are open to anyone. Walked on a quiet weekday, it may be the best single day of hiking in Hocking Hills. It strings together three of the park's headline gorges on one continuous trail.
The catch is logistics. It is a point-to-point route, and the park does not run a regular shuttle. Here is how to set it up and pace it.
The route at a glance
ODNR lists the Buckeye Trail, American Discovery Trail and Grandma Gatewood Trail as sharing a single 6-mile route through the park, rated difficult. The local tourism site notes it is also part of the North Country Scenic Trail. It starts at the Upper Falls of Old Man's Cave. The name honors Emma Gatewood, the Ohio hiker who famously walked the Appalachian Trail late in life and led the park's early Winter Hikes. Our profile of Grandma Gatewood has her story.
| Segment | Approx. distance | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Man's Cave gorge (Upper Falls to Lower Falls) | About 1/2 mile | Stone steps, bridges, the tunnel stairway, the most people |
| Lower Falls to Cedar Falls | About 3 miles total from Old Man's Cave | Follows the creek through the hemlock valley; boulders and short climbs |
| Cedar Falls to Ash Cave | About 3 miles | Climbs out of the valley, crosses higher ground, then descends to the top of Ash Cave |
| Ash Cave finish | About 1/4 mile | Stairs down to the recess cave, then the paved path to the lot |
Segment lengths vary a little by source. One local guide measures Cedar Falls to Ash Cave as about 2.3 miles plus a quarter mile through Ash Cave. Plan on six miles and you will not be surprised.
Which direction to walk
Go north to south: Old Man's Cave first, Ash Cave last. That is the traditional direction and the one the Winter Hike uses. ODNR also notes that many park trails are one-way, so follow the directional signs. Starting at Old Man's Cave keeps you moving with the flow in the busiest gorge. Our explainer on the one-way trail system covers why those rules exist.
There is a scenic payoff too. Ash Cave is a dramatic finish. You come down the stairs at the top of the cave into the huge recess and walk out on the flat, paved path.
Blazes and wayfinding
The Gatewood route carries the standard blue blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A few practical notes:
- Inside the gorges, official signs and fences do most of the work. Follow them over any blaze you think you see.
- Between gorges, the blue blazes matter more. Where the trail crosses roads or parking areas, pause and look for the next blaze before walking on.
- The Gorge Rim Trail is a separate route between Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls, marked by red-topped posts. It stays on the upland and is a good option on the way back if you are doing an out-and-back.
- Do not count on cell signal. Download an offline map before you leave. See our no-signal navigation guide.
Ohio rule 1501:46-3-30 prohibits leaving posted trails in Hocking Hills State Park without written permission. Shortcuts down slopes erode the sandstone and are a leading cause of falls.
Car shuttle logic
You have three real options.
Option 1: Two cars (best)
- Drive both cars to Ash Cave. The Ash Cave lot is on State Route 56 in South Bloomingville.
- Leave one car there. Everyone piles into the second car.
- Drive to the Old Man's Cave visitor center lot off State Route 664 and start hiking.
- At Ash Cave, drive the parked car back to Old Man's Cave to collect the other one.
Stage the finish car first. Doing it at the end, when you are tired and the light is going, is the step people regret skipping.
Option 2: Out-and-back to Cedar Falls
Walk Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls, about 3 miles, then return on the Gorge Rim Trail for a loop of roughly 6 miles. You see two of the three gorges with one car. Save Ash Cave for a short separate visit by car.
Option 3: Ride or rideshare
Rideshare coverage in rural Hocking County is unreliable, and there is no regular park shuttle outside special events. If you plan to count on a ride, arrange it in advance and confirm a pickup time. Never start the hike assuming you will find one at the end.
Timing
For a reference point, the official Winter Hike plans its return rides from Ash Cave about five hours after the start, and that is with a long soup stop and big crowds. On a quiet day, many hikers allow four to five hours with stops, longer on ice. ODNR opens trails half an hour before sunrise and closes them half an hour after sunset. In winter that window is tight. In late December, sunset in Logan is a little after 5 p.m. A sensible plan:
- Winter: start by 9 or 10 a.m. Aim to reach Cedar Falls by early afternoon. If you are behind, finish there.
- Spring and fall weekdays: start mid-morning to miss early mud and the weekend rush.
- Summer weekends: start early. Old Man's Cave fills fast and parking can be the hardest part of the day.
At the halfway point, check three things: time, energy and footing. If any one is off, take the Cedar Falls exit and come back for the second half another day. That is far better than racing the dark down the Ash Cave stairs.
Highlights worth slowing down for
It is easy to treat a point-to-point hike as a march. Do not. The best parts of this route are the places you would drive to separately on a normal trip:
- Old Man's Cave: ODNR's descriptions divide the gorge into the Upper Falls, Upper Gorge, Middle Falls, Lower Falls and Lower Gorge, cut into Blackhand sandstone. Take the time to look at each section, since you will be walking away from the crowds soon after.
- The valley between: the quietest stretch, with hemlocks, boulders and the sound of water. This is where the hike feels most like the backcountry.
- Cedar Falls: a good place for lunch, with restrooms near the parking area.
- Ash Cave: you arrive from above, which most visitors never see, before descending the stairs into the recess.
What to carry
Six miles with stairs, creek crossings and few services is a real day hike. At minimum:
- Water and food for four to five hours
- Traction devices in winter (ODNR notes park trails are often icy)
- A light layer, a warm layer and a shell
- Headlamp, even on a morning start
- Offline map, phone battery pack and a small first aid kit
Our day pack checklist for gorge hikes has the full list.
Quick checklist
- Stage a car at Ash Cave on SR 56 before you start
- Begin at Old Man's Cave and follow blue blazes south
- Follow one-way signs inside the gorges
- Set a turnaround time and check it at Cedar Falls
- Carry a headlamp and offline map
- Pack traction in winter and stay on posted trails
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Grandma Gatewood Trail from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave?
ODNR lists the shared Buckeye Trail, American Discovery Trail and Grandma Gatewood Trail route through the park as 6 miles. Trail guides split it into roughly 3 miles from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and roughly 3 miles from Cedar Falls to Ash Cave.
What color are the blazes on the Gatewood Trail?
Blue. The route is part of the Buckeye Trail, which uses blue blazes. Inside the gorges, follow official directional signs as well, since some park trails are one-way.
Which direction should I hike the Gatewood Trail?
North to south, from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave, is the traditional direction and the one used for the annual Winter Hike. It also keeps you moving with the flow of any one-way sections.
Is there a shuttle between Ash Cave and Old Man's Cave?
Not on a normal day. The park runs return transportation only during special events like the Winter Hike. On your own, use two cars or plan to hike back.
How long does the Gatewood Trail take?
It depends on pace, crowds and ice. Many hikers allow four to five hours for the full 6 miles with stops. In winter, start early enough to finish well before the trails close half an hour after sunset.
Sources and verification
- ODNR: Hocking Hills State Park (6-mile shared route, difficulty, trail hours, one-way trails)
- hockinghills.com: Old Man's Cave and the Grandma Gatewood Trail
- Trek Ohio: overview of Hocking Hills trails (segment lengths, blazes, Gorge Rim Trail)
- thehockinghills.org: Ash Cave to Cedar Falls trail and Ash Cave parking
- Ohio Administrative Code 1501:46-3-30: off-trail use prohibited
Rules, hours and conditions change. Confirm with the managing agency before you go.