Hocking County boasts a mix of some 60 zipline and canopy tours led by three companies that allow you to see eye-to-eye with the birds, no matter your experience. There’s no need to spend all your time on the ground looking up at the abundant and lush trees hereabouts. On weekend evenings spring through fall, docents offer guided tours of the stars and planets through an impressive 28-inch telescope in a small observatory programs are offered on clear nights only, so if conditions appear iffy, call ahead to check. The park is designed around a main plaza that, like Stonehenge, focuses the sun’s rays on a central point on the first day of each season. The John Glenn Astronomy Park, located within Hocking Hills State Park, celebrates the beloved astronaut and first Ohioan in space with this compact park-within-a-park created to draw your attention to the heavens above. The horseshoe-shaped shelter runs 700 feet from end to end and is named after a large pile of ashes discovered there by early settlers. Another highlight of the park is Ash Cave, which is accessed through a narrow gorge studded with hemlocks and beech trees. Newly renovated and able to sleep up to 18 guests, this Hocking Hills waterfall cabin truly is the ultimate.

Among the more popular destinations is the roughly hour-long hike to Old Man’s Cave, and the short but pleasant footpath to Whispering Cave, a 300-foot recessed cave with a waterfall. Living in a treehouse while vacationing is a unique experience that can be enjoyed at the Hocking Hills location. Hiding in one of the most scenic regions of Ohio, The Cliffs at Hocking Hills is a luxury cabin getaway that features a heated waterfall swimming hole, secret passageways, sweeping views, a massive hot tub and so much more. Pet-friendly trails lead hikers to waterfalls (although swimming is forbidden) and small caves. This well-forested 2,000-acre state park offers plenty to enthrall outdoor lovers.

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