Rock House

The hiking the rock house is relatively straightforward it's a one-way Trail starting from the upper parking lot looping around to the lower parking lot. The cave itself is nice and protected out of the weather which is why the rock pigeons live here. It's best to not go in large groups into the cave as you will spook the birds and they will fly away. There are certain sections of the trail on the second half that are quite Steep and rough.

Very very beautiful! There were however at least three spots along the trail where people had left poop bags from their dogs along the trail (if you're too lazy and terrible of a person to throw your bagged up dog poop away, don't take your dog on the trail in the first place! Or even leaving it unbagged at that point is better than leaving a plastic bag on the ground!). There was also a fair amount of litter around the trail, mostly by the entrance and exit. I don't fault any park employee for the above reasons for the 4 stars, it was just very sad to see how people have been treating this otherwise beautiful trail.

Totally awesome! The first park of the yellow hike is mostly downhill. Then after reaching the rock house cave, you head back uphill. The walk is not terribly long and the footing is mostly steady, but some parts are a little sandy. Coming uphill is a little strenuous but there's room to stop. The sights through out are beautiful!!

Wonderful trail to a covered cave. Really neat experience to be in the cave and imagine what has happened in the cave over the last couple of hundred years. Pigeons and pigeon poop inside of the cave so be extra careful where you place your hands. Parts of the trail were challenging to walk, so be extra careful. I would recommend a sturdy walking stick to help with your balance. The last quarter mile or so back to the parking lot is a steady uphill walk on a dirt path . You made need to take a couple of short breaks to catch your breath. Also take a small flashlight with you to help see inside and walk around while inside the cave. The camera flashlight was ok but it was not bright enough. The walk and time spent in the cave took about 1.5 to 2 hours which was well worth it to be able to see some of the amazing works of our Creator.

Love this hike! The rock house itself is really cool to walk through and explore. I took my 8, 6, and 4 year old and they loved it too. The last part of the trail is a steep incline up but my kids were able to do it, just had to go slow. Went on a Monday and pretty much had the trail to ourselves.

A visit to Hocking Hills is incomplete without experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Rock House. This natural tunnel, carved into a Blackhand sandstone cliff, is an awe-inspiring spectacle. The cavernous opening, with its seven gothic-like archways, feels like entering a hidden world. Sunlight filters through the trees above, casting an ethereal glow on the moss-covered rocks and creating a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere. The sheer scale and intricate details of the rock formations are a testament to the power of nature. Standing inside, you feel small and humbled by the ancient geology surrounding you. It's a truly amazing and beautiful stop, a must-see for anyone exploring the wonders of Hocking Hills.

Beautiful hike. There are steep stairs just past the cave and then stairs and a steep hill back up. It was doable for our group of adults and 2 large dogs. However it could be a challenge for many. I would suggest it be listed on the higher end of moderate.

This was a unique experience! Our family had a lot of fun visiting Rock Bridge. I have older children, they seemed to get around on this trail very well. However, there are a few spots you should take caution ⚠️ too, especially with younger children under the age of ten. Overall, this was a great sight to see. We will be going back again.

Incredible! The hike in and out isn't that hard but be prepared to sweat a little on the way back to the parking garage lot. Once you get to the Rock House you will be captivated by the views looking out the windows. I could spend all day here. Spectacular!

I would highly suggest going early. About an hour before sunrise so you have time to get there and watch the sun rise from inside the cave. You'll find the sunbeams coming in during some foggy morning during the fall if you're lucky. Bring a hoodie in the fall, but wear a long sleeve during summer because you'll be cold inside the cave. You'll enjoy it.

Most beautiful, yet least favorite hike at Hocking Hills due to the mass amount of people (specifically children) running around unattended in a dangerous location. Not the parks fault, but just something to consider. We had my dog, and I was anxious the entire time we were there. This was the most treacherous (high/rocky) hike, so I was shocked to see the amount of small children and dogs there! It meant that we didn't really get to enjoy our hike or the rock formations because we were just trying to get around everyone. There was a large tree down due to a storm but we were able to walk around. I think most people thought this trail was closed due to the down tree, so I couldn't imagine this place with even more people.

First time hiking rock house and absolutely loved it! Very stunning with great picture opportunities and very easy to follow! Only downfall was the bathroom wasn't the greatest and would recommend using the restroom if needed prior to coming to this trail.

Oh what a beautiful park! The walks weren't difficult, but on a sunny June Saturday, it was pretty packed with people. Spring greens were vibrant and the water gorgeous jade colors. I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Convenient parking. Quick hike to the beautiful rock house. Lovely views and not super crowded on this date. Would recommend to go check it out. Wear good hiking shoes and mosquito repellent. Round trip approximately 1 hour. Not lots to do but to go see it and turn around. It was still worth it though.

Wow. That's all I can say. Moderate hike with a beautiful cave. We absolutely enjoyed ourselves. Some rogue pigeons call it home. Tons of photo pops.

The hike to Rock House within Hocking Hills State Park is beautiful. We visited during the early spring, so green buds were just emerging on the branches, and the birds were chirping and the sun was shining through the rock crevasses. The hike takes you down rock staircases and close to waterfalls. It's gorgeous and showcases Ohio at its very best. I think I would have appreciated all of this beauty more if I didn't have children with me. Don't get me wrong: I love hiking with my children, but the hike to Rock House is no joke. It's not super strenuous, but it takes you very close to the edge of cliffs that drop many (many, many) feet down. There are multiple large signs with red lettering at the beginning of the hike saying that you need to keep children close to you, and pets on a short leash. And then the sign gives you a phone number to call in case of emergency. The red signs advise, nay demand, that you stay on the path for your own safety. When I saw those signs, I almost told my family that we were heading back to the car. But we pressed on, and I'm glad that we did because we were treated to some amazing scenery. But please be aware: If you have children who like to just dash away willy-nilly (so, uh, most young kids) or children who don't listen when you tell them to just stay on the path, then you might want to skip this hike. Because it will cause you more stress than necessary. The Rock House area can get crowded, because people want to take pictures in it. The trail is one-way, so once you start, you need to continue until you get to the end. But it's not a very long trail -- a little more than a mile, which took us about 30 minutes to complete.

I'm a huge fan of Hocking Hills and I have tell you a little secret... Rock House is one of my favorite trails in the region. I can't even tell you how many times I've hiked it over the past decade but I can tell you that if you go now, it's a lot more restricted than it used to be. Rock House is exactly as it sounds. A natural cave-like structure on the side of a gorge. There are two ways to get there but due to COVID-19 its currently set up for one-way traffic. I always park in the lower lot so my car is close by once I finish the trail. That means you need to hike up to the second parking lot to get to the main entrance. From there you travel down a very steep staircase and pop out about half way down the gorge, right alongside the tall rock structure. Back in the day there weren't any barricades or anything but there sure is now. You can enter the "rock house" from a couple different entry points, all rather narrow. Once inside it is extremely dark and the temperature is certainly lower. It echoes really loud too. Once friends and I brought a djembe and guitar and made music inside. If you continue the trail beyond the caves you'll discover an old bridge and a few other neat places you can climb to. It's fun to imagine just how old this area is and I do like to read about it whenever I come across any signage. At the end of the day, I'd love to keep this spot my little secret but honestly, it's out. While it's never as busy as Old Man's Cave, it's still at the top of spots to visit while in Hocking Hills. Five stars all the way!

This is a nice area for a hike! It seems like it definitely can get pretty busy here on a nice day. The bathrooms at the beginning of the trail are what you'd expect them to be in a park...if that says anything. I wouldn't recommend bringing kids on this trail but that's just me! Very pretty all around.

Hocking Hills is without a doubt the most impressive place to visit in Ohio in my opinion. I've lived in Ohio all my life and highly recommend hocking hills if you are physically up for it. It is Hilly ... lots of stairs and hills so if you are unsteady it might not be your place. It's different at every season ... spring better for waterfalls ... fall the colors are lovely but the falls might be dried up. I'd recommend wearing comfortable shoes that aren't slippery. I'd bring water and snacks .. and the phone reception .. might be nonexistent. Our phones didn't work but the old GPS did .. so if you have a GPS bring it. If it's rained recently expect some mud and the stairs can be slippery. rock house is one of the main stops and easiest to reach ...very short walk. it's neat cave and rock formations. the colors of the rocks are lovely. bring a camera!!

Awesome little hike! The trail to Rock House is well taken care of, steep at times but should be easily handled for most people. The forest is beautiful that you walk through to get there. The cliffs are multi colored and that rock formations are great. Rock house is so cool, the history of people living in it from the local Indians on was very interesting. People have carved their names in to the rock over the years.

A great hike with some hills to get your blood pumping. Crowded on a beautiful day as expected but not too crowded and we we able to hike at our own pace.

The cave, the Rock House, is the highlight of the trail, but everything else was just as gorgeous. I loved the rock staircase. It was bordered by a rock wall and, well, a cliff. But it was very easy to descend and was very stable. There are a few different climbs of this type throughout the park. A recent trip took me on a .7 mile journey with an elevation gain of 171 feet. The current open trail is not a perfect loop and I was let out at a parking lot different than the one I started in. Honestly finding the correct parking lot was the hardest part. Following the trail in the woods was easy. It was well marked both with color blocks on the tree trunks and with one-way signs at ground level.