Squashcarver, LLC

View Original

Hocking Hills State Park: Hiking Old Man’s Cave trail & Whispering Cave/Hemlock swinging bridge

Hocking Hills State Park Hemlock swinging bridge Logan, Ohio

I have have had the unique opportunity as an engineer to bring art into other parts of my life. I try to add a little fun and pleasing aesthetic to my work when I can. Here are a few of my favorite bridges that I have designed/built and can be found in Caesar Creek State Park Waynesville, Ohio and Hocking Hills State Park Logan, Ohio.

Old Man’s Cave trail & Whispering Cave/Hemlock swinging bridge

Hocking Hills is a known for its challenging hiking trails, cliffs, and gorges. It is one of my favorite places to see in Ohio and I love to take the family whenever I can. I have been very happy to contribute to this beautiful park. Here are a few of my bridges to check out. Photos of the Hemlock swinging bridge, curved staircase bridge, and the A-frame bridge are below.

The park is free and open to the public. I recommend getting there in the morning since is very popular area and parking can fill up on the weekends. The trail has lots of steps and inclines. Some of the steps are carved into the stone on the sides of the gorge. Watch out for slippery spots since water is everywhere.

Hocking Hills State Park A-frame bridge during winter. Located by the Visitor Center. Logan, Ohio

  • The A-frame bridge and curved staircase bridge can be found at the Old Man’s Cave trail. The trail starts next to the visitor center where bathrooms and parking is located. There are lots of steps and hills along the way. The hike takes about one hour round trip from Visitor Center.

  • The Hemlock swinging bridge is on the new Whispering cave trail. It is the newest trail in the park and worth the hike. I marked it on the map. You can also hike to it from the visitor center for about a two hour round trip hike. There are lots of steps and hills along the way. The hike takes about two hours round trip from Visitor Center.

*You use to be able to park and hike to Whispering Cave from the old Lodge site but it is closed temporally and under construction this year 2021*

Hocking Hills State Park curved staircase bridge by Old Man’s Cave Logan, Ohio

Here is a list of what I recommend so everyone can be comfortable and safe on the hike:

Comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers, be ready for lots of steps.
Snacks
Water
Sunglasses
Hat
Sunscreen
Comfortable clothing depending on the weather, layers if it a little chilly. It can be a little cooler in the gorge. You might want to take layers off once you warm up.


Having trouble finding the bridges at Hocking Hills? I have marked Hemlock swinging bridge, curved staircase bridge, and the A-frame bridge on the Hocking Hills State Park map. Click to see bridge locations.

Hocking Hills State Park curved staircase bridge Logan, Ohio


See this gallery in the original post