Hocking Hills State Park · Trail Guide
The 5.3-mile point-to-point trail connecting Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave — the definitive Hocking Hills day hike.
The Grandma Gatewood Trail is the backbone of Hocking Hills State Park — a 5.3-mile point-to-point trail that connects the three most visited areas: Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave. It follows Queer Creek and the East Fork of Queer Creek through the deepest gorges in the park, passing both major waterfalls and ending at Ohio's largest recess cave.
The trail is named for Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, who in 1955, at age 67, became the first woman to solo thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail. She wore Keds sneakers and carried a homemade denim bag. She went on to complete the AT two more times and was instrumental in establishing Ohio's Buckeye Trail, which overlaps the Grandma Gatewood Trail through Hocking Hills. She grew up in Gallia County, about 90 miles southeast of the park.
Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls: ~2.5 miles. This segment follows Queer Creek downstream through the gorge, passing between towering sandstone walls. The trail descends from the Old Man's Cave area through hemlock forest and crosses several footbridges. The Buckeye Trail (blue blazes) and the Grandma Gatewood Trail share this route. Expect moderate terrain with some steep stair sections.
Cedar Falls to Ash Cave: ~2.8 miles. After visiting Cedar Falls, the trail continues south along the East Fork of Queer Creek (historically called "Feed Rock Fork" on older maps). This segment is more remote and less traveled than the northern half. The terrain transitions from gorge floor to ridgetop before descending to Ash Cave's massive horseshoe-shaped amphitheater.
Because the trail is point-to-point, you'll end at a different trailhead than where you started. The free weekend shuttle (Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM–5 PM, spring through late October) connects Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave — making the full one-way hike practical without needing two cars. The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly.
Most hikers start at Old Man's Cave and walk south to Ash Cave, which is generally considered the easier direction since it trends slightly downhill toward Ash Cave's low-elevation gorge. However, starting at Ash Cave and hiking north is less crowded.
The Grandma Gatewood Trail intersects with several other park trails: the Gorge Overlook Trail (2.8 mi, red blazes, Moderate) provides elevated views of the gorge from above. The Whispering Cave to Old Man's Cave Trail (1.9 mi, purple blazes, Difficult) connects the Lodge area. The Rose Lake Trail (1.6 mi, green blazes) offers a detour to Rose Lake. All of these appear on the official park map — download it before you go.
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