Cantwell Cliffs is the least-visited major trail in Hocking Hills State Park and the most physically demanding. The parking lot rarely fills — on fall foliage weekends when Old Man's Cave is overflowing, Cantwell Cliffs has fewer than a dozen cars. The trail requires genuine scrambling through narrow rock passages along cliff faces. It is not suitable for strollers, sandals, or anyone not prepared for sustained effort near serious drops. For the right hikers, it delivers some of the most dramatic geology in the park with near-complete solitude.
The Quick Facts
Why Almost Nobody Goes Here
Cantwell Cliffs sits at the far southwestern edge of the main park area — past Conkle's Hollow, away from the SR-664 corridor where the majority of visitors concentrate. People who drove two hours from Columbus specifically for Old Man's Cave don't typically continue another 15 minutes down a rural road to a trailhead most of them have never heard of. The trail's reputation for difficulty acts as a further filter.
The result is a trail that still feels like what Hocking Hills was before mass tourism discovered it. On busy fall weekends when the main trailheads resemble a theme park queue, Cantwell Cliffs is quiet. Genuinely quiet.
Guests with mobility limitations, young children, anyone in casual or open-toe footwear, anyone with significant fear of heights, and anyone not comfortable with sustained physical effort near serious drops. The cliff faces at Cantwell Cliffs are among the highest in southeastern Ohio. Falls at multiple points on this trail are potentially fatal.
Right Hiker, Wrong Hiker
- You're an experienced hiker seeking more than the main trails
- This is your second or third Hocking Hills trip
- You specifically want solitude and dramatic geology
- You have proper hiking boots and physical confidence
- You're comfortable near exposed edges without barriers
- You have an athletic dog on leash
- You have children under 10 in your group
- Anyone in your group has mobility limitations
- You're wearing sneakers, sandals, or flat shoes
- Heights trigger genuine anxiety
- You're on a first visit and want the park highlights
- You want a quick 45-minute hike
"At 10 AM on a Saturday in October, Old Man's Cave is shoulder-to-shoulder. Cantwell Cliffs has six cars in the lot and you can hear your own footsteps."
What the Trail Involves
The loop descends from the parking area into the gorge system via steep switchbacks. The trail becomes more demanding quickly — narrow sandstone passages where you squeeze through rock walls (some require turning sideways), sections along the cliff rim with unobstructed drops, and sustained elevation change throughout.
The cliff system here runs among the highest in southeastern Ohio. The same Black Hand sandstone formation as the rest of the park — dramatically undercut, layered, spectacular — but without the guardrails, paved paths, or manicured steps of the main areas. The trail does not have barriers at cliff edges. This is the raw version of what Hocking Hills geology looks like.
The full 2.5-mile loop takes 2–3 hours at a reasonable pace accounting for slower movement on technical sections. Plan more time in wet conditions.
What to Bring
- Hiking boots with ankle support — the single non-negotiable item. The scramble sections require grip and ankle stability that trail runners and sneakers don't provide.
- Trekking poles — helpful on descent; stow them for narrow passage sections where you need hands free.
- Water for the full 2.5 miles — no water sources on trail. More than you think you need.
- Offline maps downloaded before leaving home — cell service is nonexistent here as throughout the gorge system.
- Rain layer — wet sandstone on the scramble sections is dangerous. If rain is forecast, strongly consider rescheduling.
Fall foliage from the cliff tops at Cantwell Cliffs is extraordinary and almost never crowded — mid-October here feels like the park 20 years before mass tourism arrived. Winter (when accessible — check ODNR for ice closures) brings frozen seeps on the cliff faces. Go on a weekday in any season for maximum solitude. Avoid the scramble sections in wet conditions.
The Bottom Line
Cantwell Cliffs is the trail for hikers who are ready for it. If your group has the fitness, footwear, and comfort near exposed terrain, it delivers dramatic geology and complete solitude that the main park areas can no longer provide. If anyone in your group doesn't meet the threshold — go to Ash Cave, have a great time, and come back to Cantwell Cliffs next trip.