If you've yet to explore the Rock House, you need to.
Within the Hocking Hills State Park near Laurelville, Ohio, you'll find a .5 mile trail to the beloved Rock House, an above ground cave with a 25 ft. high ceiling and massive window-like openings that hikers are free to explore---and it will seriously make you feel like Indiana Jones.
Monroe County is a little place on the eastern edge of Ohio, where the state line with West Virginia lies. Nestled in this little county are countless recreational opportunities, including some truly awe-inspiring Ohio hiking trails that I'm sure you'll fall head over heels in love with (just like I did).
advertisement
Take, for example, the Lamping Homestead Recreation Area, which was established and tended to in the 19th century by a family known as the Lampings, perhaps unsurprisingly. A cemetery within the grounds of the area tells a story about the extreme challenges of living life back then—it was rough, and the numerous family graves certainly illustrate the matter.
The Lamping Homestead Trail is a short-and-sweet hike within the Rec area that comes in at just under two miles in length. It's easy enough for even smaller children to enjoy, and it's open year-round. My favorite times of year to visit this amazing hiking trail in Ohio are spring and autumn; there's just something about the transitional seasons that's particularly magical. But, goodness, when it's covered in greenery, it's outrageous in its beauty.
The Lamping Homestead Trail is a wondrous example of the beauty of Ohio. This state is tragically underrated, with plenty of absolutely jaw-dropping things to see, do, and experience, and I think all it really takes to truly appreciate it is to go experience it.
This hike is just the beginning; the entire Homestead is worthy of a day trip (or longer) and offers plenty of camping, fishing, picnicking, and canoeing opportunities. This park is very popular among wildlife watchers thanks to the vast array of critters one can typically spot here; the Lamping Homestead Trail is an awesome way to immerse yourself in it entirely.
This little trail is one of two you can do at the park - and if you're camping here (or spending the day!), you'll find that doing both is quite a delight.
For more information about this astonishingly lovely hike in Ohio's beautiful wilderness, check out its official AllTrails listing. And for those about to rock (er, hike), we salute you: check out AllTrails Plus if you want to crank your hiking game up to 11.
If you find you can't personally get enough of the incredible landscape of Ohio, check out the 15 most incredible places in Ohio you must see before you die.
While fall foliage is always a treat to see, certain plants have a particular appeal once they're boldly lit up in bright colors. One of my favorite color-changing autumn plants is the fern, an ancient plant that has been around for some 400-million years but truly took over in the Cretaceous period. Lake and Ferns Loop at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Swanton is one of the best places to embrace this unique fall foliage in Ohio, and it's a true indulgence of a hike on warm, sunny days.
advertisement
Alan Schafer/AllTrails
If you've never been to Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, you're in for a treat. Located in the Toledo area, this park is home to an oak savanna. In this type of ecosystem, oaks are the dominant tree, and wide, grassy areas are common. Oak Openings also has quite a few wetlands, but its biggest claim to fame is the 50 miles of hiking trails in the park.
As you may have guessed, this park is massive. With 5,000 acres to explore, there's no shortage of things to see. The park is part of the greater Oak Openings Region of Ohio, and this 1,300-square-mile corridor is considered to have comparable ecological importance to the Florida Everglades, and over 180 rare species flourish there. Out of all the rare species in Ohio, some 33 percent of them exist right in this region.
That's not the only rarity in the park, though: it's also home to the nation's only public treehouse village, and two of the treehouses are ADA accessible. Of course, we're here to talk about hiking rather than camping, so you'll have to dig into the treehouse village on your own.
Before you head to the park, you'll want to make sure you have good hiking boots ready to go. The loop trail gets a bit muddy after it rains, so it's best to come prepared.
Emily B/AllTrails
Visitors love this trail in the fall months, and it's plain to see why. With ferns blazing in brilliant shades of orange and gold under a rusty canopy, it's a landscape worthy of a Claude Monet painting. The woods are home to species like barred owls and kinglets, and you might even spot the occasional mink scurrying by. They love the area's abundant ponds and streams, which add some movement and song to the landscape.
And, believe it or not, ponds can be the perfect accessory for a fall photoshoot. Take a look at this:
Melissa Waterfield/AllTrails
Tell me Morticia Addams wouldn't think this spot is beautiful! Interestingly, though there's no shortage of swampy landscapes in the area; early visitors called the region "Oak Openings" because it was easy to travel across compared to the swamps they'd previously endured. It's amazing to consider that pioneers and early settlers might have stopped to admire the very landscape we're in awe over today.
All in all, you can expect to spend about an hour hiking on this loop trail. You might want to budget more, though, as each visit is a bit like a scavenger hunt. You never know what critters and fascinating plants you'll see, so bring some binoculars and be prepared to leave nothing but footprints.
