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I really started The Outdoor Gems to share outdoor experiences through photography and storytelling to inspire more people to get outside. If more people got outdoors; took a walk, hike, went snowboarding, sat around a campfire, and surfed in the ocean, I think the world would be a better place.

-Jeremiah

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Leadville, Colorado Jer A Leadville, Colorado Jer A

Leadville Colorado, How to spend a Four day weekend

Looking to check out a hidden Colorado area that has lots of cool outdoor recreation and history? Although places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Crested Butte, and Telluride are amazing, it’s always nice to visit somewhere new that still has a lot of cool activities to offer. Less than two hours from Denver is a small Colorado mountain town with..

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

Looking to check out a hidden Colorado area that has lots of cool outdoor recreation and history? Although places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Crested Butte, and Telluride are amazing, it’s always nice to visit somewhere new that still has a lot of cool activities to offer. Less than two hours from Denver is Leadville Colorado a small mountain town with a community feel that has local restaurants, surrounding mountain views, and plenty of outdoor recreation. Leadville Colorado considered the highest incorporated city in North America, stands at 10,158 feet.

Once a bustling mining town, today you can still see lot’s of mining history as you explore the area. In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, where to adventure, and places to eat in your four days in Leadville Colorado. Alright lets doo thissss

Where is Leadville

Pretty close to central Colorado, Leadville sits at 10,158 (highest incorporated city in North America) and is in between Breckenridge and Buena Vista. If you’re coming from Denver or Summit County, you’ll take highway 91 past Copper Mountain and over Fremont Pass. The drive is pretty scenic and make sure to be careful when driving at night as there are a lot of deer. I listed times and distances from major areas. If your driving from Vail you can also go through Minturn to get there.

Denver- 2 hours/101 miles

Breckenridge-50 min/39.5 miles

Vail- 47 min/43 miles

Where to Stay

There are some awesome campgrounds close to the downtown area and also right on Turquoise Lake. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time (months in advance) for spots right on the lake. You can go to recreation.gov to make a reservation. I stayed at the Molly Brown site, and it had everything you needed for camping; a firepit, picnic table, and bathrooms.

If camping isn’t you’re thing, there’s also lodging options within walking distance to downtown. I stayed in a Tiny Home that I booked through VRBO as rates were pretty inexpensive and the units themselves are modern on the inside and a walkable distance to town. They come equipped with all the essentials you would need for a four day trip here.

Leadville also has larger lodging options too, if you have a bigger group, or just want something bigger then a Tiny Home. The Delaware Hotel, right on Main Street has been around since the 1800’s! With units that sleep 3 people all the way up to 9 people.

When is the best time visit

Early June through early October is the best time to visit Leadville. If you do visit in the winter there is Ski Cooper nearby as well as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.

What should we pack

Rain Jacket- Rain is common in the mountains, especially in the afternoon. Brands like Arcteryx, Black Diamond, and Columbia will have some great options.

Hiking Footwear- If you plan on doing any of the hikes I listed below you’ll want to have really good hiking footwear.

Bug Spray- You’ll need this, especially around Turquoise Lake

Lightweight Puffy Jacket- Temps drop at night at high elevations! If you want a jacket that is packable and doesn’t take up space. Any lightweight down jacket will work great.

Sunscreen- The sun at high altitudes is more damaging to your skin, make sure to always pack this!

Leadville Colorado Day 1 Itinerary

Walk around downtown

Once you’ve checked in to your accommodations, I recommend walking around the downtown area. Downtown Leadville is pretty unique and there is a historic feel as you venture through town.

Grab Dinner at High Mountain Pies

Once you’ve checked out the town a little, head over to the my favorite pizza shop in the mountains, High Mountain Pies. They have a killer back patio in the summer, with live music too on certain nights. The Pizza is incredible, so expect at least a 45 minute wait during busier nights.

Sunset at Turquoise Lake

Located just 15 minutes outside of town, this lake got its name from past turquoise mine deposits. The lake itself has a trail that is 13 miles around the entire lake with different entry points. I liked the entry point near the Molly Brown Campground. Right before you enter the campground there’s a parking lot on the left for the Nature Walk Hiking Trail. This trail will take you right to the lake with some pretty awesome views of Wildcat Mountain, Lyle Benchmark Peak, and Galena Mountain!

The beached areas are great for exploring around or just grabbing a blanket to watch the sunset. During the day the lake is also home for activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and Stand UP Paddle boarding. Make sure to pack bug spray if you catch a sunset at the Lake!

Leadville Colorado Day 2 Itinerary

Grab Coffee at City on a Hill

Located right on main street, Uphill has a variety of coffee and espresso options as well as some baked goods and breakfast items too. It has a cool ambience on the inside and you can expect the inside to fill up with coffee enthusiasts and working professionals throughout the morning and afternoon. They also have a location in Canon City Colorado.

Take a Mining Tour

There’s a few places in Leadville that you can do a tour of the Mining history in Leadville. The Matchless Mine is Located right in town and they offer self guided tours or guided tours. During the late 1800’s most of the Silver in the world came from Leadville as well as the Matchless Mine;

Originally discovered by a man named Horace Tabor, the Matchless Mine was producing 25 tons of Silver/Day with a profit of $1,000 dollars in the late 1800’s ($254,000 today) . You’ll take a tour of the mining area including the Matchless Mine itself as well as the home of Baby DOE, who was the mistress of Tabor.

Ride the Leadville Train

A great activity for families or couples, the Leadville train runs year round. In the summer they offer am and pm times (mid June-Mid August), with times being more limited into the fall and winter. The train will take you through Prospect Mountain with views of the Sawatch Mountain Range including 14ers Mt Elbert and Mt Massive. They offer indoor and outdoor general seating as well as your own private lounge car if you want to pay more. The ride in total is about 2-2.5 hours with concessions on board too.

Grab Dinner at Treeline

Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3:30-9, Treeline is locally owned and has been around since 2017. They offer a wide variety of starters and entrees with local Colorado ingredients as well as a full cocktail, beer, and wine menu. You can make a reservation ahead of time for outside or inside dining and make sure to check out the rooftop patio that overlooks downtown Leadville.

 

Leadville Day 3 Itinerary

Hike the Timberlake Trail

Close to ten Miles west of Leadville, just past Turquoise Lake, this trail is awesome to hike early in the morning before people fill up the small parking lot at the base of the trailhead. I would pack sandals with you as there is a point in the trail where you have to cross a creek and your hiking boots will get wet. You’ll start the hike off by walking through the Holy Cross wilderness and about halfway to the lake it will open up and you’ll have some awesome views of Galena mountain on your right.

Once you get to the top, either find a place to hang out and relax or you can walk around part of the lake. You’re also allowed to fish at the top, just make sure to have a registered Colorado fishing license. Overall the hike is pretty moderate and doesn’t take very long, which is what I liked about it. Below I listed some trail details.

  • 4.3 Miles out and back

  • 869 Feet of elevation gain

  • Dogs allowed, but on leash

  • Best time to hike it is June-October

  • Takes about 2.5 hours to complete

Grab coffee at Zero Day

Originally started by two backpacking enthusiasts who met on the Colorado Trail, the name is derived from the term Zero day, which means a rest day if someone is backpacking a trail. The two eventually decided to buy the coffee shop and provide a place for locals to hang out in. It’s honestly a perfect spot to post up and get some work done if you need to. They also sell a small amount of outdoor gear in the shop which is pretty cool.

Along with coffee there are also baked goods and breakfast burritos. Friday-Sunday the bar is open with beer and wine options from 5-9. The shop has a cool local vibe and I would def recommend checking it out if your in Leadville.

Check out the shops downtown

Like many Colorado mountain towns, Leadville has a number of cool shops to check out. One being Melanzana, a local outdoor clothing brand that is made and started in Leadville Colorado. In order to shop here, you must schedule and appointment months in advance! Although, you are still allowed to walk around and check out what they have to offer, including the factory process of how their stuff is made.

Also make sure to check out local small businesses Galena and Elevation goods. Galena is a local outdoor clothing company and Elevation goods will have locally made home goods (soaps, candles, blankets) as well as Colorado Mountain Apparel. If your looking for an outdoor gear specific store, go to Leadville Outdoors and Mountain Market. They’ll have packs, camping gear, backpacking gear, footwear, and outdoor clothing.

Lunch at Golden Burrow

A staple in downtown Leadville, The Golden Burrow has a classic diner look on the inside with diner items that are all plant based. The restaurant was purchased in 2020 by locals Marcee and Dan who renovated the inside but kept the same old school feel. Their goal is to make a better planet by providing opportunities for their employees as well as cutting out meat consumption. The food is honestly great and the service is awesome. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner depending on the time of year, just make sure to check the hours ahead of time before you show up!

Hike Mayflower Gulch in the evening for Sunset

This is one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in Colorado because it isn’t too hard, yet takes you to some amazing historical cabins with surrounding mountain views in all directions. Because this is a popular hike, if you go in evening, there will be a lot less people on the trail. Pack some snacks, bring a headlamp, and enjoy the trail.

This trail will be off of highway 91, about 20 minutes from downtown Leadville with a pretty decent size parking lot. The trail starts off with a slight incline through the woods and then ends up at the old mining area. Straight ahead is the Iconic Fletcher Mountain and if you turn around, you’ll be able to see Tucker Mountain and Jacque Peak.

The best part about this hike are the old mining cabins as you get above tree line. This is my favorite area to walk around and catch golden hour. I listed some trail stats below.

Trail Stats

Route Type: Out and Back

Elevation Gain: 1,548 Feet

Length: 6.1 Miles

Dogs Ok

Time: About 3.5 Hours

Best time to hike: Year round however in the winter you’ll need snowshoes and understand that you can’t snowshoe past the cabins without proper avalanche knowledge and gear!

Leadville Day 4 Itinerary

Fly fishing

Start your morning off with Colorado Fly Fishing Guides, whose shop is located right in downtown Leadville. You’ll get set up with waders, boots, and a reel/pole for the day. The guides are very knowledgable and down to earth. You’ll go out with a guide and they’ll be able give you plenty of pointers to catch fish on the river.

They offer 2 hour, half day, and full day sessions. I went with half day as it is a good amount of time to get a feel for fly fishing. If you’re a complete beginner they will give you a casting lesson at a local pond spot. A good way to understand the basic fundamentals of fly fishing!

Once you do a casting lesson, the guide will take you to a river spot in the Leadville area and you’ll wade through the river, casting and searching for fish. It’s a pretty fun experience catching fish with mountain backdrops.

Lunch at Buchi Cafe

After fly fishing grab lunch in downtown Leadville at Buchi Cafe. Open until 3 pm their menu is inspired by Cuban Cafes. Enjoy the outside patio in the summer or grab a window seat at the High Top table inside. Another recommended lunch spot in town is Tennessee Pass Cafe.

Check out the Mining Museum

For $15 you can check out Leadville’s Mining history as well as the history behind mining in the surrounding area. They have exhibits on the tools used, minerals, old mining towns, and the overall history of Mining in Colorado and out west. Sometimes you get rain in the mountains and this is a cool activity to do indoors.

Walk the Mineral Belt Trail

An easy walkable path around the town of Leadville as well as some old mining spots, this is a path that can be walked, ran, or biked on. It’s about 12 miles total on a paved path, but I parked my car just past the Matchless Mine on the right and started walking at Mile marker number 2. You don’t even have to go the whole way. It’s nice to just walk two or three miles in the evening. Mount Massive, Elbert, and Prospect Mountain will all be in the background as you walk the path mixed with old mining structures.

Grab a drink at Two Mile Brewery

End your trip at Leadvilles only Brewery, Two Mile. It has a local hangout feel and they also have small menu if your hungry for classic bar food. With the nights being longer in the summer it’s nice to grab a seat outside and have a cold one at high altitude.

Other Activities in Leadville Colorado

Monarch Mine

This was probably one of my favorite things to check out in Leadville. Monarch Mine is just outside of the downtown area surrounded by other old mines. The road can be a little rocky and steep so I would recommend having AWD. It took me about 30 minutes, but I’m a slow driver lol. I recommend going in the evening when the light is golden a few hours before the sun sets.

Fish hatchery

Located on 3,072 acres, the fish hatchery ensures that Colorado has healthy trout populations! The hatchery is open Monday-Friday from 7am-3:30am. There are also hiking trails nearby along with areas to fish, hunt, and picnic if you chose to.

Bike the Mineral Belt Trail

Rent and E-bike or regular bike at one of the bike shops downtown and bike the Mineral Belt trail that I mentioned earlier. Bike shops in town include; Leadvelo Bicicasa, Cycles of Life, and E-Bike Leadville. I rented a bike at Leadvelo for 4 hours, which is about the time it took to Bike around the entire Mineral Belt trail with breaks in between.

Silver Dollar Saloon

Opening in 1879 a lot of the original building is still intact today. As you walk in, it’s like a walk through time with pictures and old memorabilia. Even if you don’t drink it’s worth checking out.

Hike Mt Elbert

If you’re ok with waking up at 4am and hiking the tallest Peak in Colorado, then this is for you. Depending on the route you take, Elbert can be a challenging hike but with very rewarding views thoughout. Just make sure to start early due to afternoon thunderstorms! For a complete guide check out the blog post I did on Mt. Elbert.

That’s it for a four day trip to Leadville and if you have any questions or info to add leave a comment below. It’s always cool to connect with other people looking to get outdoors! Looking for other Colorado trips? Check out Twin Lakes not too far from Leadville, for hiking, camping, hanging out at the lake, and kayaking.

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Hocking Hills Ohio, A three day Itinerary

Ohio, located in the midwest part of the United States is known mostly for sports, open fields, and of course not much elevation gain. However! there’s actually a number of cool outdoor places if you’re willing to seek them out. Hocking Hills state park is a southern Ohio Gem with a number of cool trails that will take you

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

Hocking Hills State Park has steep drop offs in certain areas, please follow signage and assume all risk

Ohio, located in the midwest part of the United States is known mostly for sports, open fields, and of course not much elevation gain. However! there’s actually a number of cool outdoor places if you’re willing to seek them out. Hocking Hills state park is a southern Ohio Gem with a number of cool trails that will take you through rock formations, caves, cliffs, and even waterfalls. It’s an amazing place that I’ve been going to since I was a kid. It’s a perfect spot for families, couples, and even older people, to take a day trip or spend a long weekend. Even my 91 year old Grandmother made the trek down to this unique spot.

To get the most out of a 3 day trip in this unique part of Ohio I’ll be going over where to stay, what to pack, and where to go. Alright lets do thissss.

driving through the Hocking Hills
An old barn at the Hocking Hills

Where is the Hocking Hills

Located in South East Ohio in Hocking County with the closest towns/cities being Athens, Chillicothe, and Logan. There’s a lot of outdoor activities that you can do in the area such as hiking, camping, kayaking, zip-lining, and canoeing.

There’s three roads surrounding Hocking Hills state park, with main parking lot next to Old Man’s Cave, off of state route OH-664. Below I’ve listed the mileage, time, and distance from major cities to Hocking Hills.

Columbus: US 33/57 miles/1 hour

Cincinnati: I 71/135 miles/2 hours 20 min

Dayton: US 35/108 miles/1 hour 55 min

Mansfield: I 71 -> US 33/120 miles/2 hours

An old cabin at the Hocking Hills
The living area
Cozy cabin

Where to Stay

There’s a number of places to stay from Cabins, to the new lodge, Boxhop, and even camping. Below I’ve listed a handful of lodging options in the area.

Camping- A perfect way to save money, but still experience this awesome place. Check out campground details through Explore Hocking Hills or Reserve Ohio

Cabins- Lots of cabin options, I stayed in this newly built cabin booked through VRBO that was close to all of the the trails and parks. A lot of cabins will have a hot tub or fire pit as well.

Boxhop- A really creative way to create housing the Box Hop uses old shipping containers to create one of a kind units that range from a studio all the way to a five bedroom place. A little more expensive, but these properties look pretty awesome.

The State Park Lodge- New to the Hocking Hills, these units are going to be like a hotel room with the lodge having amenities such as a pool/hot tub, restaurant, and gift shop. They also offer cabins on-site with pet friendly options. To check availability head over to their website, Hocking Hills Park Lodge.

parking

Best time to Visit

April through October and if you can swing it, go on the weekdays! The fall can be a very busy time on the weekends in the Hocking Hills, so make sure to book a place ahead of time and plan for more people on the trails.

What to Pack

A few items that I would make sure to bring are

  • A rain jacket for spring, summer and fall months. We hit some rain while we were hiking and it was kind of nice because not many people were around..

  • Proper Footwear- You’ll want to have some good hiking shoes or trail shoes because certain areas are rocky or muddy. Proper footwear will help give you good support and traction! La Sportiva and Merrell are my personal

  • Sunscreen- A lot of the areas are shaded, however I would still make sure to have this for your trip. I like SunBum because it doesn’t feel greasy.

  • Water Bottle- Gotta stay Hydrated, I like Hydroflask

proper hiking footwear

What’s the story behind the Hocking Hills

Millions of years ago (350 million) Ohio was closer to the equator and covered by the ocean. Black Hand Sandstone was deposited from rivers running through the state as well as during the Glacier melt era. This Black Sandstone is what you see today with the all the rock formations and gorges. Over millions of years water eroded and carved out the Hocking Hills that you see today. If you look closely at the rocks, you’ll notice different rock layers and honey comb carve outs.

Dating as far back as 13,000 B.C. there were a number of different native people that lived in the Ohio Area, including Paleo Indian, Archaic, Woodland, and Fort Ancient people. Disease and war between European settlers along with wars between tribes started to drive out many of the last Native American Tribes in Ohio including Wyandot, Shawnee, Delaware, Miami, and Ottawa. Sadly by the mid 1800’s the last Native Americans in Ohio were forced to live on reservations in Kansas and Oklahoma.

The first settlers in the Hocking Hills arrived in the late 1790’s and by 1820 Iron and other natural resources had brought more then 2,000 residents to live in Hocking County permanently. The park itself was established in 1924 and by the 1930’s the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) created trails and steps to improve access to the rock formations. The CCC and department of forestry helped with planting many of the trees seen today at the park. Today reforestation and Forest Stewardship practices help maintain and preserve Hocking Hills State park, making sure the habitat stays intact for everyone to enjoy!

Hocking Hills Itinerary Day 1

Whether you’ve checked in to your accommodations or set up camp, its a good idea to get familiar with the area and what you’d like to do. I recommend going to the visitor center first.

Visitor Center
unique history

Stop in at the Visitor Center

If you’ve never been to the Hocking Hills before, it’s a good to stop by the Visitor Center first to get some info on the area and possibly where you’d like to go. Opening in 2019 the building is pretty awesome with a handful of exhibits, a gift shop, and a front desk to answer any questions you might have. The visitor Center is also right next to the trailhead for Old Mans Cave if you feel like checking that out on the first day as well.

Going to Ash Cave

Ash Cave

There’s 6 main hikes in the Hocking Hills and I feel like Ash Cave is a perfect one to do first. You can either do the loop or go out and back on the paved path. The path takes you through green forests and then you’ll eventually reach a 700 foot wide and 100 foot high Rock Overhang with a waterfall! The name Ash Cave comes from a pile of ashes discovered by early settlers. Although no one knows what the ashes are from, Archeologists suspect it to be from Campfires from Native Americans for centuries. This hike in my opinion is one of coolest in the area.

Waterfalls
Lots of green

Trail Stats

  • Free Parking

  • Restrooms on site

  • Dogs allowed, but on leash

  • .5 mIles

  • April-October is the best time to visit.

A scenic waterfall

Conkles Hollow

End your first day at this awesome hike. There’s two different trails the upper rim trail and the lower gorge trail. For families with young kids I recommend doing the lower trail because there are steep drop offs on the upper trail. You can either start on the east side of the trail or the west side. I like doing this hike in the evening because you get golden hour views at the top. I’m sure it’s also a good sunrise hike too!

Hiking through the woods
A scenic walkway

If you start on the east side of the trail, you’ll get to the lookout area first. There’s a little bit of elevation gain with this trail and I recommend having a good pair of hiking boots when doing it as the trail can get muddy as well as rocky. You’ll walk through green forests (depending on the time of year) until you reach the tallest part of the trail, overlooking the Hocking Forest along with Conkels Hollow. Birch and Hemlock are a couple of the types of trees you will come across as you hike. The trail itself is a loop around the entire gorge area and your close to 200 feet above the valley floor in areas.

The overlook at Conkels Hollow

The name is derived from W.J. Conkle who carved his name into the West Wall along with with the date 1797.

Wearing a North Face hiking shirt

Trail Stats

  • Free Parking

  • April through October are the best times to hike

  • Loop

  • 2.1 Miles with 387 feet of elevation gain

  • No pets allowed

  • No bathrooms

Hocking Hills Day 2 Itinerary

Now that you’ve settled in, for day two I recommend starting it off at Old’s Man’s Cave. This area will be the most popular spot in the State Park. The name comes from a settler who live in the cave in the mid 1700’s and eventually passed away in the cave.

Old Man’s Cave

This trail has 5 different sections; upper falls, middle gorge, middle falls, Lower Falls and Lower Gorge. This area also connects to a newish trail, Whispering Cave. So if you want to hike to that, it is a little over two miles. Just follow the signage when you reach the end of Old man’s cave. Make sure to stay on the trail at all times!

The upper falls

Start at the Buckeye Trail, near the visitor center and the upper falls will be your first stop. You’ll get a look of the waterfall from above before walking down to the lower part of the falls. This is a good area to grab a photo. As you continue walking you’ll notice Devils Bath Tub on your left. It was shaped from weak layers of black sandstone being eroded over a long time and is only a few feet deep. The tub continues to get larger from erosion.

Devils bath tub
hiking around Old Man's cave

As you walk by Devil’s Bathtub you are now walking through the Black Sandstone Gorge, which in total is about 3/4 of a mile. You’ll walk past a small group of waterfalls right before the stairs up to Old Man’s cave. The Cave is 200 feet long and 50 feet high! You can take the stairs back to the visitor center or turn around and keep walking towards the Sphinx head (I recommend this!) The Sphinx head is where the Gorge really opens up. Look to the right and you’ll see a cut out in the Blackstone that looks like a face, this is the Sphinx head.

Old man's cave Sphinx head

The last part to end your hike at Old Man’s cave is the Lower Falls. The best time to see these waterfalls is in the spring when there typically is more rain in Ohio. Follow the stairs back up to the nature center to eat lunch!

The last stairway at Old Man's cave
Really cool cave dwellings at the park

Trail Stats

  • .6 Miles

  • Dogs welcome, but must be on a leash

  • Out and back trail

  • Restrooms in the Visitor Center

  • Free Parking

Pack a lunch and eat outside near the Nature Center

There’s a good amount of areas where you can eat a packed lunch either on the top deck of the Nature center (great for if it rains) or at one of the picnic tables near the parking lot.

packing snacks
Cool info at the nature center

Cedar Fall’s

The last hike that I would recommend doing at the end of your second day as it’s a pretty easy loop that will take you to the most abundant waterfall in the entire state park. Especially if you’re starting to get tired as it’s a pretty relaxing trail.

Hiking to Cedar Fall's
A wet spring day at Cedar's Falls

You’ll walk down some steps and walk through tall Oak Trees as well as Eastern Hemlock until you reach the waterfall. Again, you’ll walk through a black sandstone gorge when going back to the parking lot. Lot’s of green and cool lighting in this area, perfect for photography!

Trail Stats

  • .4 miles

  • Dogs welcome, but on leash

  • Loop

  • Free Parking

  • Bathrooms at the trailhead

A mossy log in the forest

Dinner at Kindred Spirits

End your evening at this awesome restaurant right up the road from Cedar Falls. The menu options are simple and the food has a home cooked flavor to it. It’s a popular spot and books up quick for its size, so make sure to book a reservation way ahead of time. They are also open for breakfast and seasonally for lunch.

Best restaurant at the Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills Day 3 Itinerary

Butterfly Ridge

Butterfly's watching at the Hocking Hills

Admission is $6 and they are open everyday except Tuesday. If you have kids, this is a cool activity as well. The walk is unguided and you’ll walk through a forest area that then opens up into a small field. Summer will be the best time for this when the flowers are in full bloom. However, we still saw a number of butterflies (Mid May) as we walked the path, especially towards the end in the field. If you’re lucky you might even see a Monarch or a Tiger Swallow Tail.

Rockhouse

Lots of green at the Hocking Hills in the Spring
Walking through unique rock structures

This is the only true cave in the park standing at 25 feet tall, 200 feet long and 20-30 feet wide. Carved out steps will allow you to step into this tunnel like structure. Evidence shows that people inhabited the cave for 1000’s of years, including Native Americans would would cook food with ovens built into the rock walls. In the 1800’s Bank Robbers would hide out in the cave and you can see carvings on the walls from these time periods.

The trail will lead you back to the parking lot and there is also a small area of picnic tables and a shelter for eating lunch. This is also where the Rockhouse Hotel use to be. A 16 room hotel that was built in the Mid 1800’s that was torn down.

Walking through a cave
An old historic hotel sign

Trail Stats

  • .8 Miles

  • Loop

  • Dogs allowed, but on leash

  • Parking at the trailhead

  • Restrooms at the trailhead

Jack Pines Glass Blowing

On the way to Cantwell Cliffs, stop by Jack Pines glass blowing facility and art gallery. Inside you’ll be able to witness employees blowing glass, that sells as artwork once finished. It’s free to watch, but the studio also offers workshops where you can learn how to blow glass and create a piece of your own artwork.

Make sure to walk through the art studio as well as there is a number of cool art pieces for sale.

Glass Blowing
unique art
Glass blowing tours

Cantwell Cliffs

looking up at the cliffs
Tall cliffs in the park

A little farther away, 17 miles from Old Man’s Cave, this trail tends to be less crowded! The starting point will be Fat Woman’s Squeeze at the beginning of the trail and then you can either stay up top on the rim trail or take the gorge trail. I recommend going through the gorge to see all the cliffs from below! The beginning part is really cool in the afternoon when the light starts to get that golden color and shines on the black sandstone walls. We followed the valley floor part of the trail that loops back up to the top of the gorge and then the parking lot, But you can also do the valley floor and entire rim trail (top part).

Trail Stats

  • .9 Mile Loop

  • 249 Feet of elevation gain

  • Dogs allowed, but on leash

  • Free parking

  • Bathrooms at the trailhead

More restaurants to check out

  • Millstone BBQ

  • Oasis Coffee Shop

  • Ridge Inn Restaurant

Looking for more activities? Check out these below

  • Moonshine tour

  • Canoe/Kayak rentals

  • Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve

  • Ziplining

That’s it for a trip to the Hocking Hills, if you have and questions or any information to add for a trip to this unique Ohio destination, leave a comment below! Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.

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Meet Jeremiah

Growing up, I loved being outside. I took a lot of cool trips with my family, whether it was camping, going to the beach, road trips, and national parks. Even though I didn’t fully appreciate those experiences at the time, as I got older I started getting more into the outdoors and traveling, reconnecting with my past. The feeling of traveling or going somewhere new always seems to give a sense of excitement or adventure.

Snowboarding and boardsports in general have been a passion of mine for over 20 years. I always loved the culture that came with it; from local retail shops to magazines and videos, to riding with friends as well as geeking out on the latest gear, it’s all part of the experience. After working in snowboard/outdoor gear shops for the past decade along with traveling to different outdoor places, I decided to put all of that experience in digital form to inspire and connect with other people.