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.
Popular:
  • 117parks & forests
  • 64ancient mounds
  • 34waterfalls
  • 40historic sites
  • 33road trips

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

Explore by type

What are you in the mood for?

See every place →

Plan a trip

Explore Ohio

One map for every park, mound, historic site, beach, cave, waterfall and oddity in the app.

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

Tap a symbol for a preview, or search for a place. Open the key to show or hide categories.

Parks, forests & wildlife areas

Find a park

117 parks in 7 regions

Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave

Logan · Hocking County
Broad curtain falls over a sandstone ledge at the head of the gorge
15 ftheight
Easywalk
Yesaccessible overlook

The first waterfall in the gorge, viewable from an accessible ramp and deck just steps from the parking lot.

Height
About 15 feet
Trail
A few hundred feet from the main lot; ramp accessible
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible ramp and observation deck
Managed by
ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft
Best time
Spring and after rain; slows in late summer
On route
Grandma Gatewood Trail and the Buckeye Trail

When it flows

Best in spring and after rain. Flow slows noticeably by late summer, though it rarely stops completely this close to the trailhead.

The story

The Old Man's Cave gorge was cut through Blackhand sandstone by the creek that still runs through it, deepened by glacial meltwater as regional drainage patterns shifted after the last ice age. That erosion left a series of stepped ledges, including the one Upper Falls drops over right at the head of the gorge, along with recess caves and formations like the Sphinx Head and Devil's Bathtub farther downstream.

The gorge is named for Richard Rowe, a hermit and trader said to have lived in the main recess cave with his hounds from around 1796 until his death in the early 1800s; he is believed to be buried near the cave along with earlier settlers Nathaniel and Pat Rayon. The area became part of Hocking Hills State Park in the 1920s, and Civilian Conservation Corps crews built many of the stone steps, bridges and walls along the gorge trail in the 1930s.

The app already tells Old Man's Cave's Richard Rowe hermit story in more depth; this entry keeps that history brief and focuses on the falls itself.

Stay behind railings and on marked trails. Wet rock at the top and base of a falls is slick in every season, and most Ohio falls do not allow swimming, wading or climbing. Flow depends on rain: many falls are a trickle in late summer and at their best after a wet spell, in spring, or frozen in a hard winter.

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 or trailhead
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures

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.

Getting to the falls

A short walk of a few hundred feet from the main parking area, including a wheelchair accessible ramp and observation deck overlooking the falls.

Status
Open to the public
Hours
Half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, daily
Cost
Free
Phone
(740) 385-6842
Managed by
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Watercraft
Please note
Stay on the marked trail; No swimming or wading in the falls or creek; Pets allowed on leash.
Address
State Route 664, Logan, OH 43138 (Old Man's Cave main parking and visitor center)
Official page →DirectionsShow on the map

The pin on the map is approximate; use the address or the park's own directions to find the trailhead.

Trails close for repairs, ice and high water. Check the official page before a long drive.

More falls nearby

Lower Falls at Old Man's Cave
About 1 mile · 25 ft
Open
Whispering Falls
About 1 mile · 100 to 105 ft
Open
Cedar Falls
About 1 mile · 50 ft
Open
Conkle's Hollow Falls
About 2 miles · 20 to 25 ft
Open

Parks nearby

Hocking Hills State Park
The falls is inside this park
Open
Hocking State Forest
About 2 miles · Surrounds the state park units
Open
Lake Logan State Park
About 8 miles · Nearby state park with a lake
Open

Caves

Old Man's Cave
Recess cave (sandstone)
Open

Road trips

Hocking Hills Scenic Byway
A road trip that passes near this falls
Open

Buckeye Trail

Old Man's Cave Section
On or near the Buckeye Trail
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.