Hocking Hills Fall Foliage: Where to See it Best
When & Where to See Hocking Hills Fall Foliage
Hocking Hills fall foliage draws visitors back to the region year after year, and it’s easy to see why. By late September, sugar maples begin turning a deep red, oaks shift to a slower bronze, and the hemlocks hold their dark green through the season, which makes the surrounding color look even more vivid by contrast. Morning fog settles into the gorges most days this time of year, then burns off into a clear, crisp afternoon.
Glenlaurel sits on 140 acres in Rockbridge, right in the middle of the region’s best color, and our guests plan entire trips around this window. Peak color typically lands in mid-October, though the exact week shifts depending on temperatures and rainfall, so it’s worth checking the state park’s foliage reports before you lock in dates. A visit to Hocking Hills in October rewards planning, but any week in autumn is a beautiful time to visit.
Book Hocking Hills Romantic Cabins as Your Home Base
Our romantic cabins in Hocking Hills put that scenery outside your door instead of down the road. Rooms, suites, and named cabins each carry their own character, and many include a private hot tub, a fireplace, and a jetted or clawfoot soaking tub. Every stay includes a full gourmet breakfast, and guests can walk from their room straight down into Camusfearna Gorge on Glenlaurel’s own private trail, watching the same fall color up close before heading out for the day.
After a day spent climbing rim trails and photographing waterfalls framed in fall color, Glenlaurel’s grounds are built for slowing back down. An eight-hole Scottish links golf course played with hickory clubs comes complimentary with your stay, along with pickleball, bocce, and horseshoes. Evenings center around the fire pits and the nightly Pub Social, followed by a multi-course dinner at Thistle and Stone. Guests arriving in an EV can charge for free during their stay. Book your Hocking Hills romantic cabins getaway today.
Where to Find the Best Color in the Park
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, about a mile and a half from the inn, is home to Ohio’s largest natural bridge, a sandstone arch that stretches more than a hundred feet across a forested ravine. The loop trail circles above the canopy rather than looking up from below, and it’s short enough to work as a first stop before a longer hike.
Conkle’s Hollow cuts two hundred feet deep through sandstone walls, and the rim trail on top opens onto a wide view across the treetops below. It’s a more strenuous walk than most on this list, so plan extra time, but the overlook is hard to match anywhere in the region.
Hocking Hills State Park is one of the most popular places to see the fall colors in Ohio. Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave connect along the Grandma Gatewood Trail and are usually visited together. Old Man’s Cave is the most visited spot in the park, with cliffs above the gorge lined in red and orange by mid-October.
Cedar Falls, the largest waterfall in the county by volume, collects drifting leaves along the creek below it. Ash Cave, the largest recess cave in Ohio, closes out the trail with an easy, mostly flat approach through a hemlock-lined gorge. This stretch draws the biggest crowds during peak weekends, so arriving early or visiting on a weekday makes a real difference.
Rock House, the only true cave in the area, is a shorter, easier walk than Old Man’s Cave or Conkle’s Hollow. Its arched sandstone windows frame some of the best fall photos in Hocking Hills.
Hocking Hills Fall Foliage FAQ
Where is Hocking Hills located in Ohio?
Hocking Hills sits in southeastern Ohio, centered around the town of Logan, about an hour southeast of Columbus.
When is peak fall color in Hocking Hills?
Peak color typically arrives in mid-October, though it can shift a week earlier or later depending on rainfall and temperature that season.
Is Hocking Hills open in the fall?
Yes. The state park trails and nature preserves stay open through autumn, and fall is one of the busiest and most popular seasons to visit.