Old Man's Cave: Upper and Lower Falls trail guide
Two waterfalls share one gorge at Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills State Park. Upper Falls drops about 20 feet a short walk from the trailhead; Lower Falls, closer to 25 feet, waits farther along the 1.5-mile loop, with stone steps, footbridges and a recess cave between them. Entry is free, no permit needed, and the trailhead area is paved with restrooms on site.
Our waterfalls in Ohio guide covers it alongside Ash Cave and Cedar Falls, the other two stops on the same trail system.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | Upper Falls about 20 feet, Lower Falls about 25 feet, per Ohio DNR's Hocking Hills State Park trail data |
| Nearest town | South Bloomingville, Ohio |
| Access | Paved trailhead area, 1.5-mile loop connecting both falls via stone steps, bridges and a recess cave |
| Fee | Free, no permit |
| Legal status | Ohio state park, public land |
| Flow reliability | Moderate; the gorge holds water better than some Hocking Hills falls, though flow still drops in dry stretches |
| Crowds | The busiest single section of Hocking Hills State Park, especially on weekends |
Trail and access
The loop starts at a paved trailhead with restrooms near the Upper Falls, where a short walk leads to the first overlook and a set of stairs down into the gorge. From there, the trail follows the streambed through the Devil's Bathtub, a churning pothole carved into the rock, then continues over stone steps and footbridges to the recess cave that gives the place its name, and on to the Lower Falls before looping back. The full loop runs about 1.5 miles, with the elevation change managed mostly by built stairs rather than a steep natural grade. No fee or permit applies anywhere on the route.
The falls
Upper Falls sits close enough to the trailhead that visitors after a quick look can see it and leave within fifteen minutes. Lower Falls demands the fuller walk, and rewards it: the gorge narrows into sandstone corridors on the way down, and the cave partway through offers shade on a hot day. This is the most visited section of Hocking Hills, so both falls draw company on weekends and holidays. In a dry stretch the flow thins, though the gorge holds water better than the park's smaller drainages.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Ohio Department of Natural Resources data for Hocking Hills State Park, the USGS Geographic Names Information System, and published trail reports. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees, trail conditions and crowd levels vary with season; verify current conditions with Hocking Hills State Park before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
How long is the Old Man's Cave loop trail?
About 1.5 miles round trip, connecting Upper Falls, the recess cave and Lower Falls through the gorge.
Are Upper and Lower Falls the same waterfall?
No, they're two separate drops on the same gorge trail: Upper Falls at about 20 feet near the trailhead, Lower Falls at about 25 feet farther down the loop.
Is Old Man's Cave free?
Yes. It's part of Hocking Hills State Park, with no entrance fee or permit for the trail.
Is the Old Man's Cave trail difficult?
The loop is rated moderate, not strenuous, but includes stone steps and narrow, often slick ledges rather than a flat path, so it's less accessible than Ash Cave's paved approach.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.