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

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

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Rockbridge Falls

Rockbridge · Hocking County
Seasonal falls flowing beneath Ohio's longest natural bridge
40 ftheight
Easywalk

A little known seasonal waterfall that drops beneath Ohio's longest natural stone bridge, away from Hocking Hills' crowds.

Height
About 40 feet
Trail
About 1 mile loop
Managed by
ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Best time
April and after heavy rain; often dry by midsummer
Natural bridge
About 90 feet long and 40 feet high, Ohio's longest
Also nearby
A second seasonal falls on the Rock Shelter Loop

When it flows

Light flow most of the year. Runs best in April and after heavy rain, and can dry up completely by midsummer.

The story

Rockbridge State Nature Preserve protects a large natural stone arch, formed as groundwater and frost wedged apart weaker layers within Blackhand sandstone above the Hocking River. The same freeze thaw and seep erosion that hollowed out the arch also cut the narrow ravine just downstream, where the falls drops.

The site was set aside as a state nature preserve to protect the bridge and gorge. Unlike the crowded Hocking Hills units nearby, it draws relatively few visitors, and the waterfall itself is a minor, little publicized feature that most guidebooks mention only in passing next to the natural bridge.

Height and flow details come from a single detailed hiker trip report rather than an official ODNR source; treat the 40 foot figure as an estimate. This is one of the up to four additional southeast Ohio falls added beyond the core Hocking Hills list.

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

About a 1 mile loop across former farmland and wooded hills to the falls, with a side trail, the Rock Shelter Loop, leading to a second seasonal waterfall and a Hocking River overlook.

Status
Open to the public
Hours
Half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset, daily
Cost
Free
Phone
(614) 799-9538
Managed by
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Please note
Stay on designated trails; No pets; No public restrooms on site.
Address
11475 Dalton Road, Rockbridge, OH 43149
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

Buck Run Falls at Cantwell Cliffs
About 4 miles · Up to 150 ft
Open
Robinson Falls
About 6 miles · 12 ft
Open
Conkle's Hollow Falls
About 9 miles · 20 to 25 ft
Open
Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave
About 9 miles · 15 ft
Open

Parks nearby

Lake Logan State Park
About 3 miles · Nearby state park with a lake
Open
Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve
About 6 miles · Nature preserve nearby
Open
Hocking Hills State Park
About 9 miles · State park units to the south
Open
Hocking State Forest
About 9 miles · State forest land nearby
Open

Road trips

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

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

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