Lexington Hiking Club

Hocking Hills is the crown jewel of the Ohio State Park system. A trusted friend and fellow outdoorsman said " Hocking Hills is more beautiful than Gatlinburg." There is a lot to see including waterfalls, a cave, recess caves including the largest recess cave in the eastern US., rock formations, gorges, overlooks, and towering hemlocks. There are 7 hiking areas. All these areas are concentrated in 2000 acres. We are going to hike through the Grandma Gatewood trail which is 6 miles long. There are spur trails which add on additional miles.

spur trail: Broken Rock Falls 1/2 mile
Whispering Cave 1 mile
Cedar Falls 1 mile
Ash Cave 9/10 mile
Total Miles 9.4 miles

The plan is to do two of these spurs Friday Night. We'll meet at Ash cave parking lot at 6:00 pm May 16th. We'll see both Ash Cave and Cedar Falls Friday night. If we see these two spurs on Friday night, the hike distance is 7.5 miles on Saturday.

Saturday: Meet at Ash Cave parking lot at 6:30 in the morning. Leave half the cars here at Ash Cave and shuttle the remaining cars to Old Man's cave/Visitors Center parking lot. Start on the trail by 7:00 am Saturday morning. Bring a sack lunch and at least three flasks of water.
Go through Old Man's cave and go through Whispering Cave and be on the way out of whispering Cave by 11:00 AM. Parking lots start filling up at 10:30 am. There is no parking at Whispering Cave. So anyone visiting Whispering Cave must walk from either Old Man Cave or Cedar Falls. Most trails are one way, but a ranger told me this is a guideline and not a rule or law. We'll need to backtrack on the same trail used to get to Whispering Cave from the Grandma Gatewood Trail. We'll Hike the remainder of the Grandma Gatewood Trail until we reach the Ash Cave Parking Lot. I was told the Grandma Gatewood Trail is little used. Take our time and finish by 4:00 pm. Eat back at our cabins or a restaurant on the way back.

Sunday: We have time to go to at least two of the three hiking areas which remain. Bring a sack lunch with at least two flasks of water.

Conkles Hollow: 25 miles from Lake Hope on OH-374 East. Address is 24858 Big Pine Road, Rockbridge Ohio 43149. Hike is .5 miles bottom of gorge and 1.9 miles along the rim of the gorge.

Rock House: State Route OH-374, Logan, Ohio. Rockhouse is 29.9 miles from Lake Hope State Park. Gorge Trail is 1 mile. Rim Trail is also 1 mile.
If enough time, Cantwell Cliffs: Gorge trail and Rim trail start at the parking lot. 1-1.5 miles.

Cantwell Cliffs is 30.9 miles from Lake Logan State Park. The address is OH-374 Rockbridge, OH. We are going to stop at 1:30 at the latest.

Hocking Hills is 3 hours and 30 minutes from Lexington and 179 miles.
Hocking Hills State Park is 19852 St. Route 644 South Logan, OH 43138.
Ash Cave is State Route 56, Logan, OH. 43138.
I'm staying at Lake Hope state park. Lake Hope is 25 minutes from Hocking Hills. Lake Hope has both cabins and campsites. Hocking Hills has campsites. There are Airbnbs in the area. For State Park reservations phone 1-866-644-6727 or www.reserveohio.com. Lake Hope phone number is 1-740-596-4938. Information on Hocking Hills is explorehockinghills.com.

WIFI is only available at the park lodges, gift shops, or restaurants. Lake Hope restaurant is open from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm. Hocking Hills has a restaurant. There are a number of area restaurants. See explorehockinghills. There is a Walmart about 25 minutes from Lake Hope State Park. The closer we get to the start date the more quickly accomodations will fill up. For extra energy on Saturday morning backpacking meals are calorie dense. Hocking Hills is consistently rated as a top ten state park out of all state parks in America.

Questions ?

Arguably the best hike in Tennessee, Backpacker magazine rates the Fiery Gizzard as one of the top 25 hiking/backpacking trails in the nation. The "Gizz" features cascading streams, numerous waterfalls, breathtaking panoramic overlooks, extremely rocky gorges, gentle slopes, lush woodlands, and multiple hemlocks over 200 years old. Comparing the Fiery Gizzard to many outstanding trails in the west says a lot about this trail. The trail does have sections with significant and steep elevation changes. Up through May, wildflowers are in full display, creeks are full and waterfalls can be spectacular. The "Gizz" has a little bit of everything for the hiker or backpacker looking for a true wilderness experience. Speaking with a park ranger, "completing the Fiery Gizzard gives a real sense of accomplishment". If you have hiked or backpacked at least ten miles or 11 miles in either the gorge or another rugged area, this might be the adventure trail for you.

A hike is doable at an estimated 14.7 miles.

A backpack itinerary is as follows:

Saturday May 24th, meet at the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead. Backpack estimated distance 1.5 miles on the Grundy day loop, staying at Hemlock Grove/Grundy Forest Campsite. We'll see the following.
Schoolhouse Falls
Cave Spring Rock Shelter
Old Growth Hemlocks
Smiling Tree
Blue Hole Falls
Dog Hole Mines
Zenner Falls
Confluence of the Fiery Gizzard and Little Gizzard Creeks
Hanes Hole Falls

Sunday May 25th: Staying at the Small Wild Campground estimated distance 10.4 to 10.9 miles
Hanes Hole Falls
Confluence of the Fiery Gizzard and the little Gizzard Creek
Black Cascade Falls
Hemlock Nursery
Boulder/Skree Field
Chimney Rock Formations
Sycamore Falls
Dog Hole Mines
Yellow Pine Falls (seasonal)
Northern Gizzard Overlook
Ravens Point Overlook (270 Degree View)
Anderson Gorge
Anderson Falls
Mid-Gizzard Overlook
Laurel Gorge
Chain Link Falls
Small Wild Overlook

Sunday: Foster Falls (60 Foot Forest Falls) Estimated distance 2.6 Miles

Foster Falls Overlook
Foster Falls Base
Go Home or day trip to Falls Creek Falls before going home

Park offers free map with GPS using Avenza

Swimming Holes are Bluehole Falls, Sycamore Falls and Foster Falls

Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead address: 131 Fiery Gizzard Road, Tracy City Tennessee 37387
Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead address: 498 Foster Falls Road, Sequatchie, Tennessee 37374.
Route:
Grundy Day Loop to Fiery Gizzard to Dog Hole Bypass to Fiery Gizzard to Ravens Trail to Fiery Gizzard Trail ending at Foster Falls

Strenuous Areas:
Hemlock Grove to Bridge Crossing and Bridge Crossing to Dog Hole Trail, estimated 1.5 miles
Fiery Gizzard to Ravens Trail to Fiery Gizzard past Chain Link Falls, estimated 1.5 miles. Overall, this is considered a moderate to strenuous hike.

SCPS Welcome Center phone: 931-924-2980 address: 11745 US 41 Monteagle, TN. 37356

Savage Gulf east Ranger Station 931-692-3887
1183 Stone Door Road, Beersheba Springs, TN. 37305

We can either shuttle cars between Fiery Gizzard North and South or there is a pay for Shuttle Service going back and forth. Using the shuttle service, it is best to make a reservation.

Elevation Gain: Fiery Gizzard Trail to Ravens Point 464 feet
Ravens Point to Foster Falls 1240 Feet

Trip to trailhead from Lexington is 250 miles or 4 hours and 37 minutes of travel.

You are responsible for your own meals.

I have reserved two camping areas. For safety, Id like to see a minimum of 3 backpackers. Campsites hold 6 people. I think a maximum of 12 can go. We can always reserve another campsite while available. Each campsite has a fire ring.