Ohio Caverns
West Liberty, OH, 54°F inside, from $25
A huge sandstone recess cave in a deep gorge in Hocking Hills State Park, reached on a roughly one-mile trail past waterfalls. It's a scenic hike rather than an underground tour.
The story
The cave is named after a hermit traditionally identified as Richard Rowe, said to have lived in the recess in the 1800s; the details of his life have blended into local legend. Indigenous peoples used the Hocking Hills long before European settlement. Ohio bought its first 146 acres here in 1924 to protect the scenery, and Civilian Conservation Corps crews built steps and tunnels in 1934–1937.
History source: ohiodnr.gov and Ohio Memory.
Tickets and timing
- Hours
- Trails open from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
- Booking
- Free; no tickets.
Getting around underground
- The walk
- The main trail is about a mile, moderate, with many steps. Stay on marked trails.
Getting there
Old Man's Cave (Hocking Hills State Park) is in or near Logan, OH.
- Columbusabout 44 miles
- Daytonabout 91 miles
- Cincinnatiabout 108 miles
Distances are straight-line from each city center.
Questions people ask
Do you need to book Old Man's Cave (Hocking Hills State Park) in advance?
Free; no tickets.
Checked on 2026-10-23 against ohiodnr.gov (Hocking Hills State Park and New Deal era sites). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.