Hocking HillsWhere all the best roads lead . . .HIKE. STAY. PLAY. YOUR HOCKING HILLS ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!
Hocking HillsWhere all the best roads lead . . .HIKE. STAY. PLAY. YOUR HOCKING HILLS ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!
Daily Hikes to Monthly Events
Wednesday, June 7th : Critter Chat: Bobcats, 10 am – 11 am Join to learn about one of Ohio’s most elusive predator: the bobcat! More than just a mascot, hear about how these creatures are making a comeback! Join us at the Historic Cabin behind the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center.
Thursday, June 8th : Cave Critters at Rock House Hike, 10 am Join us for a moderate, one-mile round trip hike to Rock House cave and learn about the critters that call our caves home. From bats to rock doves and everything in between. Join us at the shelter house at Rock House. Be prepared for the weather and steps.
Friday, June 9th : Nature Origami, 12 pm – 1 pm Come create some cute paper critters and cool plants as we practice the art of origami. Join us at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby. All materials provided.
Friday, June 30th : Marvelous Mammals, 12 pm – 1 pm Learn about the miraculous mammalian creatures that call Ohio home! Join us at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby.
Thursday, July 13th : Beginners’ Stand Up Paddleboarding at Rose Lake, 2 pm – 3 pm Come learn the basics of paddleboarding at Rose Lake with the naturalists. Come practice your balance with us as we putter about the lake. Join us at the Rose Lake Dam. Registration is required. Attendance is limited to 5 participants and for ages 12 and up. Stop by the Campground Office to register. All equipment is provided.
Friday, August 11th : Landscape Watercolor, 12 pm – 1 pm Come paint a landscape of the beautiful scenery you can find in the area. This is not a guided class but an opportunity to express yourself artistically with
materials and inspiration provided. Join us at the Hocking Hills Lodge Lobby.
Materials provided but this is not a guided class.
Beginners’ Kayaking at Lake Logan, 2 pm – 3 pm Join the Naturalists to learn the basics of kayaking on Lake Logan. Meet us at the
boat launch by the Lake Logan swimming beach. Event is limited to 5
participants. Ages 12 and up. Visit the Old Man’s
Cave Visitor center to sign up. All equipment is provided. Sun screen is suggested.
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Watercraft Adventure! Thursdays in June from 10 - 11:30 AM
Kayaks or Stand-Up Paddleboards may be available depending on program date *Available for ages 12 and up
Saturday June 17
Let’s Talk Honeybees 10:00 am-11:00am Join Zale Maxwell from the Ohio Queen Bee Project to discover the natural history of honeybees, exciting research being done to combat common issues plaguing them, and ways to help pollinators in your back yard. An observation hive with live bees will be available to see! Meet at the Nature Center.
Spectacular Snakes 1:00-2:00pm Discover or enhance your appreciation of these amazing creatures while learning what makes a snake, well ... a snake! You’ll have a chance to explore the parts and pieces of these ravishing reptiles up close and be given the opportunity to meet a live snake in the flesh! Meet at the Nature Center Live snakes will be used as part of this program with opportunities to see and touch our animal ambassadors up close!
Friday, June 23 Herp Hunt 1:30-2:30pm Join the Naturalist on a wilderness expedition for herptiles! What exactly is a herptile? Come find out as we learn how scientists classify organisms then lend a helping hand while we explore these cool critters up close. Meet at the Hope Furnace parking area. Please dress for the weather and bring footwear appropriate for potentially wet, soggy, and muddy conditions.
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June 07, 2023 Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
2023 marks the 100th year since Ed Thomas conducted the first breeding bird survey in Neotoma Valley. Join staff for birding and to learn about the history of this unique area on a 1-mile hike. Meet at the Thomas Mathias Parking Lot, 24950 Clear Creek Road in Rockbridge. Clear Creek Thomas-Mathias Parking Lot 24950 Clear Creek Rd. Rockbridge, OH, 43149 (614)508-8111
June 24, 2023 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Fly Fishing For Beginners - 30951400 Learn the basics of fly-fishing. This will be the first of two programs offered this summer. A second program will be offered in July that goes beyond the basics and will help further develop skills. Equipment provided. Meet at the Fern Parking Lot: 22937 Clear Creek Road, Rockbridge.
For Clear Creek program inquiries or questions please contact the Clear Creek Naturalists at 740-969-9001.
June 2023 Special Events
Nature Programs at Hocking College Nature Center
Saturdays
10 AM – Slithery Snakes - Is that a stick or…? Join our
student naturalist in a 15-minute program about our
native snakes and the benefits they have in our
ecosystem.
12 PM – Animal Encounter – Come on down for a rotating animal encounter experience! Which animal ambassador will our student naturalist bring out today?
2 PM – Guided Nature Trek – Join the naturalist on a leisurely hike exploring the nearby trails, woods,
meadows, and pond.
Sundays
10 AM – Trekking Turtles - Why did the turtle cross the
road? Join our student naturalist for a 15-minute
program about the native turtles of Ohio and what could
be so interesting on the other side of that road.
12 PM – Animal Encounter – Come on down for a rotating animal encounter experience! Which animal ambassador will our student naturalist bring out today?
2 PM – Guided Nature Trek – Join the naturalist on a leisurely hike exploring the nearby trails, woods,
meadows, and pond.
June 24 – 2 PM – Historic Game Day - Join us at Robbins Crossing to experience a multitude of games played by our ancestors from yesteryear! Everything from the game of graces to stilts to skittles will be available to play and maybe a friendly competition with a secret prize as well.
June 25 – 4 PM – A Sense of Nature - Join our naturalist on a 30-minute hike through the woods as we use all of our senses to experience the natural world around us.
Free to the public. All Year Long.
Learn. See. Do. At Hocking Hills State Park.
At Ash Cave
There are seven major hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park - All are one-way trail systems.
Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Whispering Cave Trail. These park areas offer a unique experience for those who walk its paths no matter what season (the park is open year-round from dawn to dusk)—located on the southern edge of Hocking County. But those are just a handful. There are many hiking trails in the Hocking Hills include those at Wayne National Forest, Clear Creek Metro Parks, Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County Park District's Moonville Tunnel, and Hocking College's Robbins Crossing (with park programs) and the Athens Hock-Hocking Adena Rail Trail bikeway.