Hocking Hills Outdoor Activities

Canoe the Hocking River

Canoeing down the Hocking River is a great way to gain a new perspective of Hocking County. The view from a canoe, kayak or raft is a peaceful way to spend a hot summer afternoon or a beautiful fall day. I always experience tranquility on the water that I find is hard to describe.

My kids love to “park” along the river and go for a quick and cooling dip in the water. It always reminds me of the kids who used to go swimming in the local “swimming hole”.

The Hocking County is a “lazy” river. There are no dangerous rapids to worry about. I always take the shortest route because it is just long enough to be fun.

At the present time there are two different canoe liveries in Hocking County.

Fox’s Hocking Hills Canoe Livery – 12789 State Route 664 S, Logan, Ohio 740-385-0523 or 1-800-634-6820.  www.hockingriver.com  

Hocking Hills Adventures -31251 Chieftain Drive, Logan,  -740-385-8685 or 800-686-0386   www.hockinghillscanoeing.com

I highly recommend a trip down the river. It’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in the Hocking Hills.

Ride a Horse Through the Hills

Forty miles of trails through the Hocking State Forest are designed as bridle trails. From the Hocking State Forest’s Horseman’s Camp, trails blazed in orange, red and purple guide riders through the surrounding woodlands and hills.

Privately owned liveries are available for those who do not own their own mount and want to ride a horse in the Hocking Hills.

Spotted Horse Ranch

Take your own horse or ride one of theirs. They have guided trail rides by reservation. They also have cabins with hot tubs and fireplace or campsites with or without electric hookups.

Covered stalls are available if you bring your own horse. There is a party hall with a full kitchen and wedding facilities. Call them at 740-332-7433 or 1-877-992-7433. They are located at 17325 Deffenbaugh Rd. at Laurelville, Ohio.

Visit them on the web at  http://tinyurl.com/pphokp9.

Equestrian Ridge Farm

They have guided trails and instruction for you or your small group and children. Reservations required. They are located at 26711 Pumpkin Ridge Road, New Plymouth. Phone 740-603-2523. Visit them at www.equestrianridge.com.

Happy Trails Horseback Rides

They offer scenic guided horseback rides and a gift shop. They are located at 25851 Big Pine Road, Rockbridge. Phone 740-380-6372. Visit them at www.hthorsebackrides.com.

Uncle Buck’s Stable

Uncle Buck’s is a Riding Stable and Dance Barn. They have guided horseback rides and live music and great food at their saloon. They are located near Lake Hope State Park.

Reservations are recommended. Call them at 800-221-1122 or 740-664-2428. They are located at 73930 Buck Lane, New Marshfield, Ohio, 45766. Visit their on the internet at: www.unclebucksstable.com.

Smoke Rise Ranch Resort

Experience the West in Southeast Ohio. They have horse rental and lessons, cattle round up and gatherings, trail rides, team pennings and sortings, and penning and roping clinics.

They offer 2000 private acres with 100 miles of trails to ride. They have scheduled Fun Days and BBQ’s. There is a Club House to rent for business outings, corporate retreats and family events.

You can stay in a rustic cabin, full hookup campsite, or private ranch house with hot tub. Call them at 740-767-2624 or visit them on the web at:  www.smokeriseranch.com and for more information on Smoke Rise Ranch check out my blog post about Smoke Rise Ranch.

Smoke Rise is located at 6751 Hunterdon Road, Glouster, Ohio.

Blue Moon Acres

Blue Moon is unique in that they rent out their own horses. They are more of a customized stable catering to what the rider wants. They specialize in couples and families.

Blue Moon is located at 18920 Keifel Road, Laurelville. Call them at 740-380-6230 to make a reservation to ride one of their horses. The number is 740-385-3799. Or visit them on the internet at:  www.bluemoonacresstable.com.

More Activities

Adventure Treks of Ohio

Professionally guided naturalist-led hikes, guided rock climbing, rappelling, belly boat fishing and storytellers. Phone 740-777-2579.     www.hockinghillsadventuretrek.com

Earth, Water, Rock:  Outdoor Adventures

Guided Adventures and instruction in rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Reservations required. No experience necessary. All equipment and instructions provided.  Phone 740-664-5220.  Find them on the internet at www.ewroutdoors.com.

Swimming, Fishing and Boating in the Hocking Hills

There is a public pool with diving tubes at the Hocking Hills Lodge near Old Man’s Cave State Park. Admission prices are very reasonable. It is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

There is a 527 foot public swimming beach at Lake Logan State Park on the North Shore of Lake Logan Road. Sailboats and powerboats with a maximum of 10-horsepower motors are popular on the lake. The Pine

Vista hiking trail is popular with hikers and is located across from the beach.

You can rent a pontoon, rowboat, canoe or paddle boat at the Lake Logan Marina. Their phone number is 740-380-2956. They are open daily at 9 am and are located at 30443 Lake Logan Road in Logan, Ohio.

One of the best fishing lakes in Ohio is at Lake Logan. The lake has northern pike, bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish and saugeye. Contact www.ohiodnr.com for fishing license information.

Fisherman will find good catches of bluegill, catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass at Lake Hope State Park with a valid fishing license. There is also a 600 foot swimming beach with a beach house and sun deck located near the dam. They also have a changing area and shelter. Boating is allowed on the 120 acre lake with canoes, kayaks, and rowboats for rent on location. Lake Hope State Park is located 27331 State Route 278 in McArthur, Ohio .

Tar Hollow State Park has a 500 feet swimming beach on Pine Lake with a diving platform. You can rent a paddle boat to explore Pine Lake and fisherman will find bluegill and other panfish. Tar Hollow is located at 16396 Tar Hollow Road close to Laurelville, Ohio. The Park Office phone number is 740-887-4818.

Rose Lake is a beautiful 17-acre spring fed lake accessible from State Route 374. A 1/2 mile trail to Rose Lake will take you to the lake. It is stocked with fish by the state every year in the spring of the year.

The city of Logan has a public swimming pool and Nelsonville, Ohio has a water park.

Ohio Belly Boat Fishing

Year-round belly boat fishing treks for bass, crappie and bluegill. Complete packages include guide and equipment. Ages 8+. Hocking Hills area. Phone 740-777-2579.     www.ohiobellyboatfishing.com

Touch the Earth Adventures

Guided local kayaking trips and instruction, weekend and week-long kayaking and hiking retreats.  Athens county. Phone 740-591-9064.. Click here.

Hocking Hills Scenic Byway Driving Tour

For those who have never been to the Hocking Hills the Scenic Byway Tour is a great way to see the area on a guided driving tour. This tour is great during any season of the year! Complete mile by mile directions are given at my blog post.

Hocking Hills Convertible Tours

For those who prefer to let someone else do the driving, the Hocking Hills now has another option:  you can ride in the open air of a convertible and let someone else drive you to your destination or you can let them show you around. Call them at 740-274-2949 to reserve your personal driver or visit them on the internet:  www.hockinghillsconvertibletours.com.

Mountain Bike Trail in the Hocking Hills

There are two continuous loops that can be ridden separately or together in the Hocking Hills. It can be accessed from State Route 374. There are additional mountain bike trails at Lake Hope State Park and Tar Hollow State Park.

Archery Range and Trail

There is an archery range that is free to the public very close to the entrance of Old Man’s Cave State Park. It also has a 3D trail with various three dimensional targets for you to practice your archery skills. Read more here.

Hocking Hills Laser Tag

Hocking Hills Laser Tag is played outdoors and at two different locations. One is near Old Man’s Cave State Park off of State Route 664 and the other is at Mingo Park. You can plan a birthday party, reunion activity, corporate event, or group fun day. One of their locations is at 867 Karshner Avenue. Call them at 740-422-9824 or visit them on the internet at www.hockinghillslasertag.com.

Hocking Hills Geocache

The Hocking Hills Tourism Association has set up a Geocache for all those who would like to try it. A form can be printed out here.

There is also a geocache set up for Ash Cave State Park and Cedar Falls State Park and also Old Man’s Cave State Park. Just be aware that cell phone GPS may not get reception. Learn about geocaching at Geocache 101.

Canopy Tours and Ziplining

Hocking Hills Canopy Tours

Outdoor adventures for the whole family including ziplines, DragonFly for children and off-road segway tours. Located at 10714 Jackson Street, Rockbridge, Ohio, 43149. Phone them at 740-385-9477 – www.hockinghillscanopytours.com

R Adventure Park

They offer everything from ATV Rentals, a ziprail, paintball, hunger range adult and youth archery, and a family rope course. They also offer daily ATV rentals in the Wayne National Forest. They are located at 15155 Sauerkraut Road, Logan, Ohio. Phone them at 866-985-1202. Visit them on the internet at www.radventurepark.com

Soaring Cliffs

Zip Line course and partial tours for children at 24719 Miller Road, Rockbridge, Ohio 43149, Call the at 855-ZIP4FUN, Email them at soaringcliffs@yahoo.com. Visit them on the internet at www.soaringcliffs.com

Valley Zipline Tours

Over a mile of ziplines with a mini zip for children. They are located at 3465 Duffy Road, Lancaster, Ohio. Phone them at  740-654-3392.  www.valleyziplinetours.com

Golf and Mini-Golf

Adventure Golf at Remple’s Grove

Miniature golf course for the whole family. Located at 12791 State Route 664 South at Logan. Phone them at 740-385-0400. Visit them on the internet at hockingriver.com/mini-golf/

Hocking Hills Golf Club

A challenging 18-hole golf course open to the public with clubhouse and restaurant. They are located at 14405 Country Club Lane in Logan. Phone them at 740-385-3806.      www.hockinghillsgolfclub.com

Hocking Hills Mini Golf

They have a wheelchair-friendly course at the Hocking Hills Market. They are located at U.S. Route 33 at State Route 374 in Rockbridge. You can call them at 740-385-3806.    www.hockinghillsmarket.com/golf

Aerial Tours

Hocking Hills Hot Air Ballooning

Take a ride in a hot air balloon. You can even propose or get married. Located in Fairfield county. Call them at 614-870-2539 or visit them at:  http://tinyurl.com/nhafeoq

Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tours

Scenic air tours are available year round. Don’t forget to bring your camera. 66285 Airport Road, New Plymouth, Vinton County. Phone them at 740-380-2031 or 740-649-2207.    http://tinyurl.com/q6cbrye

Run a Race in the Hocking Hills

Each year in September the Indian Run takes place. There are 5K, 10K, 20K, and 60K races which take the runner through the Hocking Hills State Park and the Hocking Hills State Forest. Call 740-385-2750 for more information.

Additional Help

If you are really busy and want to plan a trip at the last minute and have little time to do it, I have a solution. Use this guide to determine what you want to do then give the Consierge Service a call. They can make your reservations for you.

You can also have firewood, groceries, and gift baskets delivered. All for a fee of course. For those husbands who need help, working mothers who need an extra set of hands, or anyone who likes to delegate, they do offer solutions.

You can give them a call at 740-974-7366 or visit them on the internet at www.welcometothehockinghills.com

PLEASE NOTE: There are more activities listed in the Nelsonville Day Trip and the Lancaster Day Trip posts.

The Lancaster Day Trip has skydiving, scuba diving, geocaching, and learning how to use a jet pack on the water.

The Nelsonville Day Trip has one of my favorite activities: The Hocking Valley Railway

This information is an Excerpt from “Hocking Hills Highlights” for those who don’t have access to the Kindle format.

Copyright Terri Baker 2015