The Rock House in Hocking Hills is a fascinating place to explore. This tunnel-like cave was created through many years of erosion and is located midway up a 150-foot cliff made of Black Hand Sandstone. It’s also the only true cave in the Hocking Hills State Park. This natural wonder in our area is the perfect place for guests to explore and admire Mother Nature’s creations. Through the cave’s gothic-like windows, guests will have a spectacular view of the lush, green valley below. The mesmerizing beauty of the Rock House in Hocking Hills is just minutes from the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls. For more recommendations on how to best explore the Hocking Hills, request a copy of our complimentary Hocking Hills State Park Guide.
Explore Hocking Hills State Park
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Rock House in Hocking Hills
History of the Rock House in Hocking Hills
The Rock House in Hocking Hills encompasses mesmerizing beauty and wonder. Even more alluring is the rock formation’s mysterious past that dates back hundreds of years. The small recesses in the rear wall of the Rock House once served as baking ovens for Native Americans using the cave.
Years later, the house was said to have been a hideout for bandits, murderers, and even bootleggers and was known as “Robbers Roost”. In 1935, a 16-room hotel with a ballroom, post office, and stable stood where the picnic shelter is now located, and numerous carvings in the rock are evidence of the area’s many visitors.
Hike to the Rock House
Hocking Hills State Park offers more than 25 miles of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy. Many of these trailheads lead to deep caves, rugged cliffs, and even waterfalls. The Rock House Trail is one of seven popular hiking areas in Hocking Hills State Park.
On this trail, guests can enjoy a scenic, quarter-mile hike that features rocky steps, breathtaking views, and several cliff faces. This particular trail takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete and is open from dawn to dusk all year long. Once you arrive, walk around the park’s only true cave and gaze in awe at its allure. Look around you to see fabulous rock formations. Then, turn your gaze upward at the 25-foot tall ceilings. Snap a photo to commemorate your visit to this popular Hocking Hills State Park attraction.
Other Great Places to Explore in the Hocking Hills
The Rock House Trail is only a quarter-mile long. Hiking there, exploring, and hiking back can take just over an hour. If you’re looking for more ways to explore the park’s natural wonders, consider the recommendations below as well as these Hocking Hills waterfalls.
Conkle’s Hollow
Conkle’s Hollow is a rugged, rocky gorge that is one of the deepest in Ohio. The valley floor is covered with ferns and wildflowers, and sky-high birch and hardwood trees tower overhead. Guests can take an easy one-mile hike to this area via a lower trail, or take on the challenging 2.5-mile upper trail.
Old Man’s Cave
Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park is a popular area that was once inhabited by a hermit named Richard Rowe. Today, guests can hike a one-mile trail to the large recess cave and admire breathtaking rock formations and bridges along the way. Be sure to walk to the end of the trail where you’ll find flowing waterfalls and the famous Devil’s Bathtub, a bubbling pool of water that spills into a creek.
Make Yourself at Home at The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
No matter where you choose to hike, our Hocking Hills resort is the ideal homestead. Our Hocking Hills resort feature accommodations for every type of traveler. Choose from cabins, yurts, cottages, geodomes, and Hocking Hills lodges. For optimal privacy and quiet with nature, select one of our Hocking Hills lodges. These luxe lodges have several bedrooms, full kitchens, private decks, and, most importantly, situate you near all of the best things to do in the park.
Browse all of our Hocking Hills accommodations and reserve your favorite!