The Legend of the Old Man and His Baying Hound
Nestled within the stunning landscapes of Hocking Hills, Old Man’s Cave captivates visitors with its dramatic deep gorge and enchanting waterfalls, making it one of the most cherished destinations that adventurers return to time and again. Amid the towering cliffs and vibrant greenery, a lesser-known legend adds an air of mystery to this beloved site: local folklore whisper of a mysterious recess cave now deemed Old Man’s Cave that was used as a somber cemetery. In this quiet resting place once lay the remains of an old trapper named Retzler, who died in the late 1700s. He was buried there alongside his faithful dog, adding a touching story of friendship and adventure to this special place. Locals have long claimed that on moonless nights, the grave rumbles and opens wide as if to yawn. It awakens the ghost of the old man’s dog, which then rises and races deep into the dark gorge, howling at something unsettling.
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Parking/Trailhead
Old Man’s Cave Parking/Trailhead
State Route 664
Logan, Ohio 43138
(39.436394, -82.539169)
The Hike: The one-way loop trail is 1.0 to 1.5 miles long and begins at the wooden kiosk at Upper Falls and ends at the Visitor Center. Hikers must stay on the trail. Exit at Old Man’s Cave, which ends at the Naturalist Cabin and Visitor Center. The trail takes about 60 minutes.
Unique finds along the trail:
Devil’s Bathtub-a churning tub of water cascading along Clear Creek.
Sphinx Head-Just before taking the steps up to Old Man’s Cave, there is a rock formation that takes the form of a sphinx head.
Length: One-way loop trail – 1 to 1.5 miles long and begins at the kiosk at Upper Falls. Hikers have a choice of 2 exits:
Exit 1—Exit at Old Man’s Cave (ending at the Naturalist Cabin and Visitor Center.) The trail is 1 mile and takes about 60 minutes.
Exit 2— Exit past Old Man’s Cave to Lower Falls which ends at the Naturalist Cabin and Visitor Center. 1.5 miles and takes about 1.5 hours.
Hiking the Trail to Old Man’s Cave
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Hocking Hills State Park offers many hiking trails, including
- Ash Cave Gorge – 0.3 miles. The parking area is conveniently situated across the road from the trailhead. Hikers are required to park their vehicles and safely cross the state route at a designated crossing point. This trail features a one-way system for a seamless hiking experience.
- Cantwell Cliffs – 2.0 miles. Difficult. There are over two miles of trail with two loops. Each is one mile. It takes approximately 60 to 80 minutes to hike each loop of the trail.
- Cedar Falls – 0.5-1 mile – Has steps. It is a one-way trail system with a waterfall, bridges, and unique rock formations.
- Old Man’s Cave – 1 mile – Moderate. Has steps. One-way loop trail – 1 to 1.5 miles long and begins at the kiosk at Upper Falls. Hikers have a choice of 2 exits.
- Rock House – 1 mile – Moderate Trail is 1 mile loop trail. Hikers enter from the upper or lower parking lot, but both trails will come together and will exit at the shelter house (at the very top).
- Whispering Cave Trail 3.8 to 4.5 miles – Difficult. Parking is located at Old Man’s Cave to access trail (it is a 5-mile, one-way loop. To hike this trail, you must go the entire 5 mile loop as it is one way).
- There are two starting points:
- 1) Visitor Center at steps near the parking lot kiosk
- 2) Upper Falls at Old Man’s Cave at kiosk.
- Buckeye Trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail)-Difficult