LOGAN, OH - Five hundred years of regional history will beckon visitors to Hocking Hills State Park during the Frontier Trail Hike, set for noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. The annual hike attracts thousands of visitors to the park and is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Guides will lead groups of hikers along the wheelchair-accessible Ash Cave Trail. Costumed interpreters, portraying historic characters from the region, will greet visitors along the way. Interpreters portraying Shawnee Indians will talk of their experiences and reveal why they thought of this area as a magical and mythical place. The colorful character of Richard Roe, the "Old Man" of Old Man's Cave, will explain why he lived out his life as a hermit in the cave. Actors dressed as young men from the federal Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s will describe how they carved trails through solid rock to create the park as it is known today.
The Ash Cave Trail is approximately one-half mile in length. Groups will depart from the parking area approximately every 15 minutes. The trail hike will be held rain or shine, so visitors are urged to come dressed for the weather.
Ash Cave is located on State Route 56, approximately 20 miles southwest of Logan. For additional information, contact the park at 740-385-6841 or visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources web site at ohiodnr.com .