Hocking Hills State Park · Trail Guide
The most remote, most challenging, and least crowded trail in Hocking Hills.
Cantwell Cliffs is the most remote major trail in Hocking Hills State Park, located roughly 17 miles from Old Man's Cave on SR-374. It's also the most physically demanding — the two-loop system covers 1.8 to 2.0 miles with 223 feet of elevation gain through massive slump blocks, narrow stone corridors, and gorge walls exceeding 150 feet.
Because of its remoteness, this is consistently the least crowded of all seven major areas. If you want to experience Hocking Hills geology without the crowds, this is your trail.
The signature feature is Fat Woman's Squeeze — a narrow stone corridor descent between massive boulders that requires some agility. The gorge below opens into a dramatic amphitheater of layered sandstone. The two-loop design (in-loop and out-loop) means you'll experience both the gorge floor and the rim. Sweeping forest vistas from the rim make this one of the best fall foliage trails in the region.
The one-way in-loop and out-loop design requires completing both loops — allow 60 to 90 minutes per loop. The small parking lot has only pit toilets. Not wheelchair accessible. The trail involves steep descents, rock scrambling, and narrow passages.
The small parking lot rarely fills — one of the only trailheads in the system where you can reliably find parking on a weekend. No shuttle service reaches Cantwell Cliffs due to its distance from the other areas.
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