Field NotesOhio
Upper Falls in the Old Man's Cave gorge, Hocking Hills, with visitors on the rocks

An independent field guide · 365 places

The field guide to outdoor Ohio

Parks and forests, ancient mounds, caves, waterfalls and back roads, with the story behind each place and where to eat and fuel up nearby.
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  • 117parks & forests
  • 64ancient mounds
  • 34waterfalls
  • 40historic sites
  • 33road trips

Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills · Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

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State parks & forests117 places, with cabins, campsites and trails117 places Waterfalls34 falls, with trail notes34 falls Mounds & earthworks64 ancient sites, from Serpent Mound to Newark64 ancient sites Caves & caverns12 show caverns, recess caves and rock shelters12 caves Lake Erie beaches20 public beaches, Conneaut to Toledo20 beaches Historic sites40 places, from the frontier to the Civil War40 places Road trips33 drives, from the Lincoln Highway to the Morgan Heritage Trail33 drives Oddities19 giants, ghosts and folk-art stops19 roadside stops The Buckeye TrailA 1,444-mile loop, all 26 sections1,444 miles

New to the guide?

Six places to start

One from every corner of the state, each with its full story inside.

01Old Man's CaveHocking Hills · SoutheastA gorge of waterfalls and recess caves where a hermit is said to have lived, with the park's visitor center. 02Great Serpent MoundAdams County · SouthwestA gigantic earthen snake on a hilltop over Ohio Brush Creek, built by a people whose name is still argued over. 03Brandywine FallsCuyahoga Valley · NortheastThe tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, reached by an easy boardwalk with an accessible upper overlook. 04Marblehead LighthouseMarblehead · Lake ErieThe oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, lit since 1821, on nine acres of limestone shoreline. 05Zoar VillageTuscarawas County · EasternA well-preserved communal village founded by German separatists in 1817, on the Ohio & Erie Canal. 06Longaberger Basket BuildingNewark · CentralA seven-story office building shaped like a picnic basket, with handles that are heated in winter.

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Lake ErieWest Virginia36 places368 places813 places135 places523 places2321 places2124 places2416 places1613 places134 places418 places182 places217 places1710 places1014 places142 places27 places76 places613 places133 places34 places414 places143 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places22 places22 places26 places64 places4

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Parks, forests & wildlife areas

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117 parks in 7 regions

Olentangy Caverns

Delaware · Delaware County
Show cavern (limestone)
Directions →Official source →

A self-guided audio tour through a limestone cavern on three levels, with Native American and settler history.

Type
A limestone cavern with a self-guided audio tour
Tour style
Self-guided, with seven audio stations, about 20 to 30 minutes if you listen to every station
Levels
Three levels, 55, 75 and 105 feet underground; a fourth level with an underground stream has been partly explored but is not open
Temperature
54°F all year
Season
The 2026 season runs March 19 through November 1, open daily including holidays
Steps and access
Reached only by one stairwell of 58 steps, which is the entrance and exit. Not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for those with mobility issues
Conditions
Stairs and cave floor are cemented, but rainwater seeps through and passages can be damp; sturdy closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles are required. Flash flooding above ground means flooding below, and the cave may close for one to three hours
Also on site
Above-ground activities, a rock and gem shop and picnic areas

The story

The caverns were formed over millions of years by water cutting through limestone. The Wyandot may have used them as a haven from the weather and from their enemies, the Delaware, and artifacts found in the Council Room suggest they may have made arrows and stone tools there until as late as 1810. The site's own account frames this as possible, not proved. The first settler believed to have entered was J. M. Adams, of a westbound wagon train that camped nearby in 1821 after an ox strayed and was found dead at the entrance; he carved his name and the date on the wall, and the carving is still there, partly covered by flowstone.

In the mid-to-late 1800s the caverns were considered a safety hazard and the entrance was filled with dirt, which damaged many of the formations — part of why the caverns are not known for exceptional formations today. In the 1930s two local families bought the land and excavated the cave, and it first opened for public tours on July 4, 1935. The concrete stairs lead down to Battleship Rock and the Crystal Room on the second level, and to Cathedral Hall and the Bell Tower room, 105 feet down.

Check the official site for closures after heavy rain. The map pin is approximate.

Stay on the marked trails and official tours. Caves are fragile and can be dangerous, and entering any cave or crevice that is closed, unmarked or not open to the public is unsafe and unauthorized.

Visiting information you can trust

Check before driving — this site is seasonal, approximate, privately run, or otherwise uncertain. Confirm hours and access with the official source above.
Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
Official page
Location confidence
Approximate — boundary or exact point not confirmed
Approximate location, use the address
Seasonal access
The 2026 season runs March 19 to November 1; see the official site for current hours. Last entry is 30 minutes before close.
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Reservations or tickets
Tickets or admission info

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

Visiting

Status
Open seasonally
Season and hours
The 2026 season runs March 19 to November 1; see the official site for current hours. Last entry is 30 minutes before close.
Cost
See the official site.
Phone
740-548-7917
Please note
The cave may close briefly for flash flooding. Children must be actively monitored.
Address
1779 Home Rd, Delaware, OH 43015
More information →DirectionsShow on the map

The pin on the map is approximate; use the address or the operator's directions.

Seasons, tours and access can change. Confirm with the operator or park before a long drive; where a closure alert applies, check current conditions.

Parks nearby

Delaware State Park
About 6 miles · A lake and fort-history park to the south.
Open
Alum Creek State Park
About 12 miles · A big lake park near Columbus.
Open

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.

Know a place that belongs here, or spotted something out of date? Email hello@fieldnotesohio.com.