At A Grade Ahead, we provide superior academic enrichment for our students. Time spent in our classrooms is vital to academic growth. While classroom time is important, taking breaks and enjoying time outside the classroom is also important for every child’s well-being. Summer break is a great time for kids and families to embrace some fresh air fun. Our headquarters in Central Ohio is surrounded by many opportunities for summertime adventures. Join us in this post as we head southeast to one of our favorite state parks: Hocking Hills!
As an Ohio native, I have made yearly visits to Hocking Hills State Park since childhood. Anytime someone from out-of-state asks me what to do in Ohio, Hocking Hills is one of my first recommendations. Located between Columbus and Athens, the park is a world-class destination for nature lovers. Full of beautiful rock formations nestled in the forest, the area features caves, cliffs, gorges, creeks, waterfalls and more. From breathtaking geological features to fascinating human history, the park offers visitors so much to explore. At A Grade Ahead, we love a good educational exploration!
Allow your child to explore the world through learning with A Grade Ahead! We offer year-round educational enrichment in math and English for grades Pre-K through High School. Check out a curriculum sample or take a free assessment to get started today!!
HIKING TRAILS
One of my personal favorite family activities is nature hikes. I love being immersed in nature and encouraging that same passion in my children. Hocking Hills offers a vast variety of trails ranging from easy to difficult. Whether you’re seeking a steep physical challenge, or an easygoing stroll, the park has it all. See below for a list of trails, and click here for a link to the trail maps.
- Ash Cave Gorge – 1/4-mile – Easy – Handicap Accessible
- Ash Cave Rim – 1/4-mile – Moderate
- Cantwell Cliffs – 2 miles – Difficult
- Cedar Falls – 1 mile – Moderate
- Old Man’s Cave – 1 mile – Moderate
- Rock House – 1 mile – Moderate
- Whispering Cave Trail (includes the “swinging” Hemlock Bridge) – 4.5 miles – Difficult. Features the second largest cave in the region with a 105-foot seasonal waterfall cascading to the floor below.
- Buckeye Trailand American Discovery Trail join with the Grandma Gatewood Trail for 6 miles through the park. The trail is rated difficult.
- Nearby Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve offers two traditional trails; one is handicapped-accessible. No pets are permitted in the nature preserve.
LOCAL WILDLIFE
Animal lovers will enjoy searching for local wildlife including white-tailed deer, squirrels, turtles, a variety of birds, and more. Whenever I visit the area with my family, we make a game out of spotting creatures in the wilderness. Several years ago, while walking to Cedar Falls, we spotted the largest turtles we had ever seen! They were lazily swimming under a bridge in the creek near the foot of the falls. Last year, we saw two white-tailed deer munching on the greenery lining Conkles Hollow. We almost always find squirrels and chipmunks scurrying through the woods. There’s nothing like seeing animals in their natural environments.
*If you spot wildlife on your trip, be sure to observe from afar. Please respect nature by never feeding or touching animals in their environments.
HISTORY
If you enjoy learning about history, you will love Hocking Hills rich anthropological history dating back thousands of years. According to the park’s website, Native Americans of the Adena tribe lived around the Hocking cliffs 7,000 years ago. Other tribes including the Wyandot, Delaware, and Shawnee passed through the area by the middle of the 18th century. Settlers began moving to the area near the turn of the 19th century, and Hocking County was established in 1818. By 1870, recreational tourism was already happening as the caves attracted visitors. In 1924, the state of Ohio purchased part of the land, including Old Man’s Cave, to preserve the natural resources. After additional purchases and management shifts throughout the 20th century, today’s park has seven defined areas for visitors to explore.
Would you like your child to take an active interest in science or history? Call or visit an A Grade Ahead Academy near you and see if they are offering Eco-Explorers, Time Traveler Tales, or one of our other enrichment camps in your area! Check out this previous article about our camps being offered this year. Looking for even more? Check out our science curriculum to boost your child’s interest in this fundamental subject.
ACTIVITIES AND LODGING
In addition to the endless hiking trails, Hocking Hills has a wide variety of recreational activities for outdoor adventurers. From mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and boating, to bridle trails, astronomy, and archery, there is something for everyone. With so many activities to choose from, visitors may want to spend more than one day in the area. The State Park offers cottages as well as a beautiful lodge and hotel that opened in 2022.
At A Grade Ahead, we love the idea of engaging with history, natural science, and the outdoors in Hocking Hills. Will you and your family plan an educational outing to Hocking Hills this year? Have you been there before? What was your favorite part? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: Amanda Hutson, Curriculum Assistant at A Grade Ahead
