Come take a winter train ride on The Nelsonville Scenic Railway. Hop aboard the collection of historic diesels from the 1950s and 1970s, while the coaches range from 1917 to the 1960s!
Along the route, you’ll be able to take in the view of the historic Hocking River Valley between Nelsonville and Logan. Also included on the route is the historic company town of Haydenville, remnants of the once-prosperous Hocking Canal, the remaining brick kilns of the Nelsonville Brick Company, and the Hocking River itself as it meanders through the valley.
Christmas in Ash Cave December 13th 5:00-7:00pm
Step away from the hectic holiday season and come bundled for the weather while enjoying a lighted stroll back to Ash Cave. Once you arrive at the cave warm with refreshments by an open fire, you may listen to or join with our carolers and have the kids visit with an old fashion Santa or help to decorate our Christmas tree for wildlife.
This year’s winner for a fantastic winter evening with the family! This holiday program begins with an unguided lantern walk along the paved trail to Ash Cave. Once in the cave, families can visit with Santa, sit around the campfire, listen to carolers or music, sip hot chocolate and munch on cookies.
The candlelight dancing off the roof of Ash Cave along with the cascading waterfall deeper in the gorge makes this a must-see hike for families. You can even take a stroller or wheelchair all the way to the edge of the cave.
Old Man’s Cave Winter Hike January 17, 2015 9:00-11:00 am
Outdoor enthusiasts will head into the Hocking Hills this January 17, 2015 hoping for a repeat performance by Mother Nature, who last year delivered some spectacular scenery for the annual Winter Hike. Last January, some 5,600 hikers were treated to the awesome beauty of the sun sparkling on icy waterfalls, and sandstone rock formations covered with newly fallen snow. This year’s hikers will hope for the same wintry weather, but will not be disappointed, no matter what the forecast. The rugged beauty of this region is a delight all by itself, and in any season.
Hocking Hills State Park is home not only to Ohio’s tallest tree, but also to Ohio’s largest cave. As you continue on after lunch, the trail takes you right to Ash Cave, where the east fork of Queer Creek cascades in spectacular fashion over the rim to a pool below. Like Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave was important as shelter to the area’s earliest inhabitants. This roomy recess served a stopover along the main trail that connected the West Virginia villages of the Shawnee Indians with their villages along the Scioto River at Chillicothe.
Hikers should assemble at Hocking Hills State Park Campground at any time from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 17. The Winter Hike and all pre-hike and post-hike activities are free. Donations are encouraged for the refreshments, and for the return ride to Old Man’s Cave. Commemorative patches and hiking stick medallions are available for purchase.
