Speak to Me of Hocking Hills (Or: SE Ohio Trail Recommendations)

[dudders]

Hello all! Recent trip to Big South Fork was fantastic, thanks to all for the tips and recommendations! We stayed at Wild Magnolia, http://wildernessresorts.com/, which was perfect–immediate trail access, little barn with a turnout, and great customer service from the property manager. Trails had enough terrain to be interesting, but we didn’t ever feel like we were endangering ourselves or the horses.

So now we want to go again! This time we’re trying to find a location that’s more central for all participants (Ky and Michigan), so have landed on Hocking Hills as a potential area. Anyone have experience there? Good system for a 2-3 day haul-in, or keep looking? Any cabin recommendations? Good trails to try (or avoid)? Best time of year to go? Is it rocky/muddy/slick?

TIA

[TheOtherHorse]

Hocking Hills is beautiful. It does seem like mud may be an issue during the wet season. There’s enough trails for 2-3 days for the average rider. We couldn’t ride all the trails while we were there due to a lame horse, but I would love to go back and see the rest sometime. The most scenic trails are out by airplane rock and 21 horse cave. Some of the narrower trails off the main path are a bit more technical, but we didn’t encounter anything very challenging.

[imaginique]

I’ve not ridden at Hocking Hills but I’d love to. I’m about 3 hours from there. It was featured on Best of America by Horseback so you might be able to look it up online and watch that program. It’s been at least a couple of years ago though.

[GaitedGloryRider]

Hocking Hills is gorgeous. Beautiful riding. If you like Big South Fork you will definitely enjoy Hocking Hills for a weekend ride.

If you go there get a trail map for sure. The two main trails are the purple trail and the red trail. Mud is a problem if it’s been raining, you can avoid the worst of it by staying off the white (side) trails down along Big Pine Road and Table Rock off the red trail. Some of the trails are rocky and can get quite slick especially the long hill down to the artisian well on purple and some of the stuff around 21 Horse Cave, when I ride there I keep my horses barefoot or if they have to have shoes I have borium put on. For the love of all that is holy DO NOT go off the marked trails…the park rangers get very cranky about that. I’ve never went up there this late in the year so I don’t know how much they would be out and about now but during peak riding season it seems like they are behind every bush.

I’ve been going there about 15 years now and it is a very scenic place to ride. The campground I used to stay in shut down so now I stay in State Camp but I’m sure if you look around you can find cabin rentals. I know there is one place called Spotted Horse Ranch, pretty sure they have cabins, not sure where they tie into the trail system at or if you have to trailer out of there. There is another place called Three Reasons located just above Airplane Rock, they have cabins and bunk houses but I’ve heard people complain about it being tough to get a reservation. I can’t imagine that would be a problem this time of year though.

http://www.hockinghills.com/threereasons/

[Trail_Rider]

The Ohio Horsemen’s Council has a website with all the State and Local Campsites for horses. I don’t think there are any private camps listed though. You should look at their website to see what is there, and Treilmeister website too. There might be a link from OHC to Trailmeister… If you’re a facebook frequenter, there are OHC chapters out there that have info and links. I know both Franklin County and Madison County have postings by Trailmeister. You can follow their link to more trail info. Enjoy! Hocking Hills is amazing!