Green Days and Golden Evenings

As summer draws toward its golden finale, Ohio’s Hocking Hills offers a sweet spot for vacationers, warm enough for all the classic outdoor adventures, yet beginning to hint at the crispness of autumn ahead. This lush, forested region in southeastern Ohio brims with natural wonders, charming small towns and endless ways to savor the season’s last long days.

At the heart of the experience is Hocking Hills State Park, a patchwork of rugged cliffs, cascading waterfalls, recessed caves and dense hardwood forests. Visitors will find serenity hiking the less-visited regions of the park. Rock House and Cantwell Cliffs offer spectacular scenery and fewer crowded trails.

Ash Cave, the largest recessed cave in Ohio, offers an accessible trail with a dramatic payoff. Its wide, horseshoe-shaped rim is framed by Eastern hemlocks, and the cooler mornings make for especially peaceful walks. For those chasing a more active thrill, Conkles Hollow Rim Trail delivers panoramic views of the rolling Appalachian foothills.

Water-based activities shine in late summer. The Hocking River invites kayaking, canoeing and tubing. Drop a line in Lake Logan for the catch of the day. If you’re up for something unique, try a UTV ride for an off-road tour in the Wayne National Forest.

The area’s zip line canopy tours are also at their peak, with the sun filtering through dense leaves to create dappled green light below. For a more grounded but equally scenic journey, horseback riding trails wind through shaded woods, offering a slower, more intimate connection with the landscape.

Pump up the adrenaline with fully guided natural rock climbing, rappelling and rock challenge tours.

Hocking Hills is famed for its unique lodging, and late summer is the perfect time to make the most of it. Choose a cabin with a wraparound porch to enjoy warm evenings or book a glamping tiny house or treehouse for a truly immersive nature experience. Most cabins come with hot tubs and fire pits, making this an ideal spot for stargazing followed by s’mores while nights are still comfortably mild.

Don’t miss the John Glenn Astronomy Park, where late summer skies offer spectacular views of the Milky Way and meteor showers without the chill of fall.

The region’s small towns, like Logan and Laurelville, are brimming with late summer delights. As the peak summer pace slows, local business owners take the time to tell visitors their story. Shops and restaurants reflect the local culture and cuisine, while wineries and breweries in the area offer live music on weekends, allowing visitors to pair tunes with an adult beverage.

Late summer also means fewer crowds than peak midsummer, giving you more room to explore both nature and the local culture at your own pace.

Vacationing in Hocking Hills during late summer offers the best of both worlds: lush summer scenery and activities without the heavy crowds, as well as a whisper of the fall beauty to come. Whether you’re hiking a quiet trail, flying through the tree canopy or simply watching fireflies from a cabin deck, it’s the perfect season to slow down and savor the moment.

For more information, visit Visit Hocking Hills’s website.