Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Southeast Getaway

Plan your autumn weekend getaway to Southeast Ohio

With its impressive rock cliffs, stunning waterfalls and massive rock shelter caves, Hocking Hills State Park is one of Ohio’s premier destinations any time of year. 

Lake Hope State Park also offers a good, centrally located home base to explore the area.  Both parks offer campgrounds and rustic getaway rentals, along with comfortable vacation cottages.

Nature Preserve

Among the scenic natural attractions at Hocking Hills is Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve, which offers miles of hiking trails on the rocky rim trail 200 feet above the forest floor, and down in the shady gorge. The gorge trail is accessible. Plan your trip for the fall foliage festive, October 18-19.

Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, which features a natural arch that is the namesake for the nearby town, is right on the way to Hocking Hills for visitors coming to the area from the west on Route 33.

Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve, located in the rich Appalachian forest, harbors the state’s largest and finest populations of both bigleaf and umbrella magnolia trees. The focal point of this preserve is a clear water lake surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs.

Scenic River

Paddle down the Muskingum River or down the Hocking River, two of Ohio’s “Water Trails.”

Wildlife Area

Wolf Creek Wildlife Area offers a shooting range, and good fishing The drive to Wolf Creek along state Route 78 is considered one of the most scenic in the state.

Waterloo Wildlife Research Station bordering the park, the Lake Hope area delivers some of the best wildlife viewing and wilderness experiences Ohio has to offer.

Trimble Wildlife Area offers many opportunities for bird watching, hunting and hiking. The Ohio Buckeye Trail passes through the area and is excellent for hiking.

Forest

Zaleski State Forest is the second largest forest in the system. The Zaleski State Forest Backpack Trail was established on the forest to provide backpacking opportunities as well as to introduce some scenic and historic aspects of the forest.

The rock-climbing and rappelling area at Hocking State Forest offers a unique perspective on fall color,

New zipline tours offered by local outdoor recreation providers also give adventure seekers a bird’s eye view of the colorful fall canopy.

If you are more interesting in viewing birds’ eyes from the ground, you can enjoy your favorite activity anywhere along the Hocking Valley Birding Trail.