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Grandma Gatewood Memorial Trail (Buckeye Trail)

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.5 (33)
  1. Areas
  2. OH
  3. …Southeast Ohio
  4. …Logan
  5. Hocking Hills State Park
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“A series of gorge and rim trails with waterfalls and stunning rock formations, ranging from easy to challenging. ”

Laura Priest
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Map Key

5.6

Miles

9.0

KM

Point to Point

1,080' 329 m

High

732' 223 m

Low

440' 134 m

Up

540' 165 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly There are some steep drops, so be mindful with small children.

Need to Know

When coming up the staircase at mile 2.76 (you exit onto a road loop with a pavilion in front of you and restrooms to your right), the trail continues directly uphill just to the left of the pavilion in the center of the road loop—there is one solitary blaze post in the middle of the picnic area, but otherwise no markings until hiking across the top part of the loop. It is easy to lose the trail here.

Description

Along the Buckeye Trail at Hocking Hills Old Man's Cave State Park, choose from the easy Gorge Overlook Trail with views of the gorge, or opt for the steeper Grandma Gatewood Trail that allows you to explore the Devil's Bathtub and Upper Falls to the north and the stunning "Old Man's Cave" hermit's cave and Lower Falls to the south. The trail rises and falls steeply with the gorge terrain and comes alive with numerous waterfalls and weeping cliff faces after a good rain. The flora of the gorge, lush ferns, mosses, mushrooms and hemlocks, are remnants of an earlier time.

If you have time, from Old Man's Cave, continue southeast along the Buckeye Trail to another worthwhile destination, Cedar Falls, named for the misidentified hemlock trees which hang down over the rim. Going further south along the Buckeye Trail takes you to the massive amphitheater-shaped Ash Cave. It has a sandy floor and domed ceiling high overhead where waterfalls trickle or pour down from above. Nearby is a boulder field left behind by retreating glaciers. You can choose to hike the Gorge Trail or the Rim Trail. Take care with small children as there are no railings along the edge.

These distinct destinations, along with the Rock House, Cantwell Cliffs, and Conkle's Hollow, also in the Hocking Hills area, can all be reached by car and taken individually. The steep terrain of Grandma Gatewood, Cantwell Cliffs, and the Rock House trails are a good cardio workout. The easier hikes at Conkle's Hollow, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls can accommodate most anyone.

Flora & Fauna

Wildflowers, butterflies, mushrooms, mosses, ferns, hemlocks and deciduous trees line the path.

Contacts

Land Manager: Ohio State Parks

Shared By:

Laura Priest
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 33 votes

#1

in Hocking Hills State Park

#104

Overall
  4.5 from 33 votes
5 Star
61%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
3%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Hocking Hills State Park

#3

in Ohio

#104

Overall
30 Views Last Month
13,291 Since Oct 27, 2016
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

Kharma is standing on the stump. She loved the walk, except she was not allowed in the water.
May 22, 2019 near Logan, OH
Lower Falls - Hocking Falls
Jun 14, 2024 near Logan, OH
Lower Falls - Hocking Falls
Jun 14, 2024 near Logan, OH
Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills.
Oct 28, 2016 near Logan, OH
Ash Cave Waterfall
Jun 3, 2018 near McArthur, OH
Ash Cave with waterfall after the rain. An easy hike in the Hocking Hills along the lovely Ash Cave Gorge Trail.
Oct 28, 2016 near McArthur, OH

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 65 days ago
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Check-Ins

Oct 10, 2024
Anonymous
4.8mi
Oct 10, 2024
Anonymous
5.6mi
Jun 12, 2024
Stewart Carnes
Hiked from Upper Falls to Cedar Falls and back
Apr 28, 2024
Amy Schroeder
Started at visitor's center, hiked Grandma Gatewood Trail to Whispering Cave, and took Whispering Cave trail along road back to visitor's center — 2h 00m
May 6, 2023
Tyler Thieding
Oct 21, 2022
Shane Crosby
2mi
Mar 28, 2022
Sabrina Tavella-Burka
Mar 12, 2022
Amanda Kinzel
Hiked from Upper Falls to the beginning of the Hemlock Bridge Trail & back to the Old Man's Cave exit at Broken Rock Falls. 3.5mi — 2h 16m

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