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Ohio offers a remarkable range of hiking landscapes shaped by sandstone cliffs, forested gorges, waterfalls, glacial features, Appalachian foothills, and the shoreline of Lake Erie. Southeastern Ohio contains the state's most dramatic terrain, where streams have carved deep passages through Black Hand Sandstone around Hocking Hills and Clear Creek. Farther north, Cuyahoga Valley combines waterfalls, ledges, river valleys, and mature forest, while other regions reveal limestone gorges, rugged state forests, wetlands, and sandy oak savannas. From short family walks to demanding backpacking routes, Ohio provides far more hiking variety than its relatively gentle elevations might suggest.
This collection highlights 20 of Ohio's most memorable and popular hikes across state parks, national park lands, state forests, nature preserves, and regional park systems. Several trails explore the famous recess caves and waterfalls of Hocking Hills, while others climb through Appalachian forest, follow deep river gorges, cross unusual rock formations, or reach expansive overlooks. Northern Ohio adds glacial landscapes and Lake Erie shoreline, while the southern forests contain some of the state's most challenging hiking and backpacking terrain. Together these trails reveal a surprisingly rugged and diverse side of the Buckeye State.
1. OLD MAN'S CAVE LOOP (HOCKING HILLS SP)
Difficulty: Moderate. Old Man's Cave is Ohio's signature hiking destination and the centerpiece of Hocking Hills State Park. The trail descends through a spectacular sandstone gorge past Upper Falls, Devil's Bathtub, stone bridges, tunnels, the namesake recess cave, and Lower Falls. Narrow passages and stairways wind beneath towering cliffs as the route repeatedly crosses the creek through one of the state's most photographed landscapes. The combination of waterfalls, enormous rock formations, and historic stonework makes this an essential Ohio hike.
2. CONKLE'S HOLLOW GORGE & RIM TRAILS (CONKLE'S HOLLOW SNP)
Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous. Conkle's Hollow gives hikers two completely different ways to experience one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in Hocking County. The lower trail follows the shaded gorge floor beneath towering sandstone walls, hemlocks, waterfalls, and enormous rock formations, while the upper route climbs to exposed viewpoints along the rim. Portions of the cliffs rise nearly 200 feet above the valley below, making the upper trail considerably more demanding. Hiking both routes reveals the scale of the gorge better than almost anywhere else in Ohio.
3. ASH CAVE GORGE & RIM TRAIL (HOCKING HILLS SP)
Difficulty: Easy. Ash Cave provides one of the biggest scenic rewards for the least effort in Hocking Hills. A gentle paved path travels through a narrow gorge beneath hemlocks and hardwoods before opening beneath an enormous horseshoe-shaped recess cave, where a seasonal waterfall drops from the rim above. Visitors can return along the accessible gorge route or climb stairs and follow the rim trail back toward the parking area. Its immense scale and easy approach make Ash Cave one of Ohio's best family-friendly hikes.
4. CEDAR FALLS TRAIL (HOCKING HILLS SP)
Difficulty: Moderate. Cedar Falls combines a relatively short hike with one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Hocking Hills region. Stone steps, bridges, hemlock forest, and sandstone walls lead hikers into a gorge where Queer Creek cascades through a narrow rock channel. Water levels vary with rainfall, but the surrounding gorge remains beautiful even when the falls are running lightly. The trail can also be connected with the longer Grandma Gatewood Trail toward Old Man's Cave or Ash Cave.
5. ROCK HOUSE LOOP (HOCKING HILLS SP)
Difficulty: Moderate. Rock House is unlike the other major formations at Hocking Hills because hikers can actually walk through a long chamber carved horizontally into the sandstone cliff. Openings in the rock create window-like views across the surrounding gorge while dark passages, steep stairs, and narrow ledges add a sense of adventure. The surrounding loop climbs through forest and beneath additional sandstone formations before returning to the trailhead. It is one of the shortest hikes on this list but also one of Ohio's most unusual geological experiences.
6. CANTWELL CLIFFS LOOP (HOCKING HILLS SP)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Cantwell Cliffs occupies a quieter northern section of Hocking Hills and offers some of the park's most rugged short-distance hiking. The route descends through narrow sandstone passages before winding beneath enormous cliff walls and climbing onto the surrounding rim. Steep stairs, uneven terrain, and repeated elevation changes make the trail more challenging than its mileage suggests. Because it sits away from the main Old Man's Cave corridor, Cantwell Cliffs also provides a somewhat wilder Hocking Hills experience.
7. LEDGES TRAIL (CUYAHOGA VALLEY NP)
Difficulty: Moderate. The Ledges Trail circles a plateau surrounded by massive sandstone and conglomerate formations in one of Cuyahoga Valley National Park's most popular hiking areas. Moss-covered walls, narrow passages, stone stairways, and enormous blocks of rock create scenery that feels surprisingly rugged for northern Ohio. The route eventually reaches an overlook with broad views across the Cuyahoga Valley, particularly beautiful near sunset. Its manageable distance and dramatic geology make this one of the national park's defining hikes.
8. BRANDYWINE GORGE LOOP (CUYAHOGA VALLEY NP)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Brandywine Falls drops roughly 65 feet through a rocky gorge and is one of the most visited natural attractions in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Rather than stopping at the boardwalk overlook, hikers can continue around the Brandywine Gorge Loop to explore the surrounding forest and creek valley. Stairs and rolling terrain add enough climbing to turn the waterfall visit into a genuine hike while several viewpoints reveal different perspectives on the gorge. Spring runoff and autumn foliage make the route especially scenic.
9. BLUE HEN FALLS VIA BUCKEYE TRAIL (CUYAHOGA VALLEY NP)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Blue Hen Falls requires more effort than Cuyahoga Valley's easily reached waterfall overlooks and rewards hikers with a quieter forest destination. Beginning near Boston, the Buckeye Trail climbs and descends through rolling terrain before reaching the small waterfall spilling over a layered rock ledge. The surrounding forest and ravine create an intimate setting that contrasts with the crowds around Brandywine Falls. Sustained hills make the route a surprisingly substantial workout despite being located near the center of the national park.
10. LYONS FALLS TRAIL (MOHICAN SP)
Difficulty: Moderate. Mohican State Park surrounds the dramatic Clear Fork Gorge with steep wooded hills and some of north-central Ohio's most rugged forest scenery. The Lyons Falls Trail travels beneath towering trees toward Big and Little Lyons Falls while passing sandstone formations, creek valleys, and sections near the Clear Fork Mohican River. Hikers can extend the outing toward the covered bridge or combine nearby trails for a longer loop through the park. Deep forest and steep gorge walls give Mohican a distinctly Appalachian character.
11. CLIFTON GORGE TRAILS (CLIFTON GORGE SNP)
Difficulty: Moderate. The Little Miami River cuts through a narrow limestone and dolomite gorge at Clifton, creating one of southwestern Ohio's most impressive natural landscapes. Trails follow both the upper rim and lower portions of the gorge past rushing water, steep rock walls, enormous slump blocks, and formations such as the Narrows and Steamboat Rock. Connections into neighboring John Bryan State Park allow hikers to turn a short preserve walk into a substantially longer outing. The powerful river and tight canyon scenery make Clifton Gorge especially dramatic after periods of rain.
12. NELSON-KENNEDY LEDGES LOOP (NELSON-KENNEDY LEDGES SP)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Nelson-Kennedy Ledges packs waterfalls, narrow rock passages, caves, and enormous sandstone formations into a surprisingly small state park. A combination of the park's colored trails reaches Cascade Falls, Minnehaha Falls, Dwarf's Pass, the Narrows, Devil's Icebox, and several tight passages between the cliffs. Certain sections involve scrambling and squeezing between rocks, while easier alternatives allow visitors to avoid the most technical terrain. Few short hikes in Ohio deliver such a concentrated collection of geological features.
13. BUZZARDROOST ROCK TRAIL (EDGE OF APPALACHIA PRESERVE)
Difficulty: Moderate. Buzzardroost Rock provides one of the great panoramic views in southern Ohio and is the most popular hike within the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System. The trail travels through forest and rare prairie communities before following a high ridge toward an overlook roughly 300 feet above the Ohio Brush Creek valley. From the platform, rolling Appalachian foothills stretch across an enormous forested landscape with very little development in sight. Autumn transforms the valley into one of Ohio's finest displays of fall color.
14. HEMLOCK TRAIL (CLEAR CREEK METRO PARK)
Difficulty: Strenuous. Clear Creek contains some of central Ohio's most surprisingly rugged terrain, with sandstone cliffs and deep ravines hidden inside a vast forest preserve. The Hemlock Trail drops steeply through a shaded ravine before climbing among Canadian hemlocks, ferns, streams, exposed sandstone, and hardwood-covered ridges. Although only about a mile and a half long, repeated elevation changes make the trail feel considerably more substantial. It is an excellent choice for hikers who want a genuine Appalachian-style forest hike close to Columbus.
15. JACOB'S LADDER LOOP (CHRISTMAS ROCKS SNP)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve protects one of the most scenic ridge-and-valley landscapes in central Ohio. Trails climb steadily through hardwood forest toward Jacob's Ladder, a sandstone formation and elevated ridge that provides broad views across the surrounding countryside. Rocky footing and significant climbing make the route more demanding than many trails in the Columbus region. The combination of exposed rock, quiet forest, and panoramic scenery makes this one of Ohio's strongest lesser-known hikes.
16. BLACKHAND GORGE TRAIL (BLACKHAND GORGE SNP)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Blackhand Gorge follows the Licking River through a narrow passage cut between tall sandstone cliffs east of Newark. The main trail occupies a former railroad corridor, providing a relatively gentle route through scenery shaped by river erosion, quarrying, transportation history, and the famous Black Hand Sandstone. Side trails and overlooks allow hikers to leave the broad main path and explore more rugged portions of the preserve. The combination of dramatic geology and easy access makes this one of central Ohio's most popular natural areas.
17. HORSESHOE FALLS & GORGE LOOP (CAESAR CREEK SP)
Difficulty: Moderate. Caesar Creek State Park offers extensive hiking around its large reservoir, but the gorge and Horseshoe Falls area provides some of the most interesting scenery. Trails travel through hardwood forest, cross streams and bridges, and descend toward a small waterfall tucked beneath layered limestone and shale. Combining the Horseshoe Falls and Gorge trails creates a varied outing without requiring hikers to complete the park's much longer perimeter route. Spring wildflowers and autumn color add another dimension to the forested gorge.
18. SELINDE ROOSENBURG MEMORIAL BACKPACK TRAIL (ZALESKI SF)
Difficulty: Strenuous. Zaleski State Forest contains one of Ohio's classic backpacking routes and provides a much more remote experience than the state's popular waterfall parks. The trail crosses long forested ridges, deep hollows, streams, old mining country, and isolated sections of southeastern Ohio woodland. Several loop combinations allow hikers to choose shorter overnight trips or tackle roughly two dozen miles of the main backpacking system. For hikers ready to move beyond day hikes, Zaleski is one of Ohio's best introductions to multi-day backcountry travel.
19. OAK OPENINGS HIKING TRAIL (OAK OPENINGS PRESERVE)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. Northwest Ohio's Oak Openings region contains an extraordinary mixture of oak savanna, sand dunes, pine woods, wetlands, prairie, and floodplain forest. The roughly 15-mile Hiking Trail, often called the Scout Trail, travels through nearly every major habitat within the preserve and can be completed as a long day hike or divided into shorter sections. Elevation gain is minimal, but sandy ground, wet areas, and the distance provide their own challenges. The landscape is unlike the sandstone gorges and Appalachian hills that dominate many of Ohio's better-known hiking destinations.
20. BLUFF & SHORELINE TRAILS (LAKE ERIE BLUFFS)
Difficulty: Easy. Ohio's hiking landscape reaches Lake Erie at this protected stretch of natural shoreline east of Cleveland. Trails cross meadow, woodland, and bluff-top habitat before reaching overlooks above the lake and access points leading down toward the beach. A 50-foot observation tower provides expansive views across Lake Erie while bald eagles and migrating birds are frequently seen around the surrounding habitat. The combination of forest, high bluffs, beach, and open Great Lakes water provides a completely different way to finish a hiking tour of Ohio.
From the sandstone gorges of Hocking Hills to the waterfalls of Cuyahoga Valley, the Appalachian forests of southern Ohio, and the open shoreline of Lake Erie, Ohio offers an impressive variety of hiking terrain. Recess caves, rocky ledges, deep river gorges, forested ridges, waterfalls, wetlands, and glacial landscapes give different parts of the state their own character. Hikers can choose everything from short accessible walks to rugged scrambles and multi-day backpacking adventures. Exploring these trails reveals a wild and scenic side of the Buckeye State that extends far beyond its familiar cities and farmland.