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Hocking Hills in Winter: Frozen Falls, the January Winter Hike and Where to Stay

Justin Henry

October 23, 2026

5 min read

Most people see Hocking Hills in October, when the leaves turn and the trails are busy. Winter is quieter, and in a cold snap it is the most dramatic season of the year. Waterfalls slow and freeze into columns of ice, the hemlocks stay green against the snow, and the gorges are close to empty.

This guide covers what to see, the January Winter Hike, and where to stay. Every home here is booked directly with its owner, with no platform fees added at checkout.

Why go in winter

Hocking Hills State Park stays open all year. In winter you get the same sandstone gorges, recess caves and waterfalls as in autumn, with far fewer people on the trails.

Ice at the falls. After a run of freezing nights, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls and the falls at Old Man's Cave can turn to curtains of ice.
Quiet trails. You may have a gorge to yourself on a weekday morning.
Long evenings. Early dark is a good excuse for a hot tub, a fire and a long dinner.

Conditions change quickly. Some trails close when they are icy, so check Ohio State Parks before you go.

The Annual Winter Hike

The Hocking Hills Winter Hike is held every year on the third Saturday of January. In 2027 that is Saturday, January 16.

According to the Hocking Hills events calendar, it is free and guided. The route is about six miles, from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and on to Ash Cave. Hikers start between 9 and 11 a.m., and there is soup and cornbread at the halfway point. Confirm the date and details with Ohio State Parks closer to the day.

It is one of the busiest weekends of the winter, so book your cabin well ahead.

Where to stay: three cabins built by one family

Jami and Scott Jenkins built EcoLuxe on 32 wooded acres of ravines, creeks and private trails. Jami designed the interiors and Scott did much of the building himself. There are three homes, each made for a different kind of trip. Read the full EcoLuxe story.

The GloCabin is a 450-square-foot cabin for two, wrapped on three sides by a wooded ravine. It has a queen canopy bed, three private decks, hanging chairs over the ravine, a fire pit and a two-person hot tub. At night the warm lighting makes the whole cabin glow, which is where the name comes from. From $235 a night.

Twelve34 House is a single-story, mid-century-inspired home cantilevered over the ravine, with floor-to-ceiling glass. From the bedrooms you see treetops and stars rather than neighbors. It has a chef's kitchen, a private hot tub and an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven. It is accessible, sleeps four, and is the family's most booked home. From $365 a night.

The Carpenter's Cabin was the first, built for Jami and Scott's own family and named for Jami's father, a carpenter. It has five bedrooms across four levels, with a conversation pit, a library loft and a screened deck. It is the one for a family or a group of friends. From $450 a night.

[Host quote to add: Jami or Scott Jenkins on what the property is like after a snowfall.]

Or stay in a treehouse

The Library is one of three treehouses at Among The Trees Lodging, set across 80 acres of hardwood forest. You reach it by a cable bridge over a ravine. Inside, knotty pine and charcoal walls, shelves of books and records, and a bedroom with brass sconces make it feel like a small, well-read house in the air. It has two bedrooms and sleeps four. Hocking Hills State Park is about 20 to 25 minutes away by car. From $363 a night.

Beyond the trails

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway runs a decorated Santa Train in November and December, and a New Year's Eve Train on December 31 that stops at midnight for fireworks. Reservations are required for both.

Between hikes, the region has wineries, breweries and the small town of Logan for shops and dinner. Many cabins, including the EcoLuxe homes, are far enough from town to make for very dark nights, so look up on a clear evening.

Hiking in winter: what to bring

Traction for your boots. Stone steps and gorge floors ice over. Slip-on traction devices make a real difference.
Layers. The gorges are colder and damper than the parking lot.
An early start. Daylight is short in January. Plan to be off the trails well before dark.
Respect closures. Stay on marked trails and away from the edges of frozen falls.

The homes at a glance

The GloCabin, Laurelville. Sleeps 2. Two-person hot tub, canopy bed, three decks. From $235 a night.
Twelve34 House, Laurelville. Sleeps 4. Cantilevered over a ravine, private hot tub, accessible. From $365 a night.
The Carpenter's Cabin, Laurelville. Five bedrooms for a family or group. From $450 a night.
The Library, Hocking Hills. Sleeps 4. A treehouse reached by a cable bridge. From $363 a night.

About Locèlle, and why these homes are booked direct

Locèlle is a curated collection of design-led vacation homes. We do not process bookings or add fees. We introduce you to the owner, and you book with them.

Jorge and I started Locèlle in 2025. We host a farmhouse in Kennebunkport, Maine, and we built Locèlle because the most considered homes, like the ones Jami and Scott built by hand, were getting lost on the big platforms. Every home here is chosen by hand and presented with its story.

Booking direct matters in winter. You can ask the owner how the driveway is cleared after snow, whether the hot tub is running, and which trails are open that week. The price you agree is the price you pay. For more winter cabins, see Northern Lights and Deep Winter.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hocking Hills open in winter?

Yes. Hocking Hills State Park is open all year. Individual trails may close when they are icy or unsafe, so check Ohio State Parks before you set out.

When is the Hocking Hills Winter Hike in 2027?

The Winter Hike is held on the third Saturday of January, which in 2027 is January 16. It is a free, guided hike of about six miles from Old Man's Cave to Ash Cave. Confirm the date with Ohio State Parks.

Do the waterfalls freeze in Hocking Hills?

They often do after several days below freezing. Ash Cave, Cedar Falls and the falls at Old Man's Cave can form large ice columns. How much ice forms depends on the weather each winter.