Fall Color by Car: The Spine Road and the Side Roads of Hocking Hills

You do not have to hike to see Hocking Hills in October. The region's main roads thread directly through the gorges and along the ridges, and the winding two-lane that connects the park's major areas is one of the most photographed drives in Ohio. Here's how the roads fit together, where to pull off, and where to go when the main route turns into a parade.

The spine: State Route 374

SR 374 is the road that strings the park together. From north to south it passes the turnoffs for Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and finally Ash Cave near its junction with SR 56. It's narrow, it curves constantly, and for long stretches the canopy closes over the road — the section between Rockbridge and Laurelville is the famous "maple tunnel" that peaks in mid-October. Drive it slowly, expect cyclists and Jeeps, and don't stop in the lane for a photo; there are pull-offs and trailhead lots for that.

The trade-off: on a peak Saturday, SR 374 near Old Man's Cave is where the traffic is. If you're on it between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on October 17 or 24, you'll be crawling. Drive it early or on a weekday and it's the best road in the state.

The approach: State Route 664 from Logan

SR 664 is how most visitors arrive — south out of Logan, through farmland that turns gold early, then into the woods as it climbs toward the Old Man's Cave area and the park lodge. The color arrives on 664 a little before the gorges because more of it is open ridge and field edge. It's also the road with the most services (gas, the grocery run, the park visitor center), so it's the natural first leg of any loop.

The south side: State Route 56

SR 56 runs east–west along the southern edge of the park through South Bloomingville, past the Ash Cave entrance and on toward Laurelville. It's straighter and faster than 374, with wide farm views and long sightlines across the hills — a different kind of color from the tunnel-of-trees experience. Ash Cave's flat, paved half-mile trail is the easiest stop on any driving loop and the one that works for grandparents and strollers.

The connectors: US 33 and SR 180

US 33 is the four-lane corridor from Columbus through Logan to Nelsonville and Athens. It's the fast way in and out, and the drive along the Hocking River south of Logan toward Nelsonville has surprisingly good color from the highway. SR 180 links Laurelville back toward Logan, which lets you close a loop without backtracking on 374. The scenic byway guide on our rentals site walks the official route in more detail.

When the byway backs up: the quiet roads

The trick locals use on peak weekends is to skip the park's core and drive the township and forest roads around it. Big Pine Road, which runs from near Rockbridge down toward Old Man's Cave through the state forest, is the classic alternative: narrow, partly gravel, canopy overhead, almost no traffic. The gravel roads around Lake Hope and Zaleski State Forest south of the park do the same thing with a longer drive. Go slow, watch for ruts, and don't rely on your phone — cell service drops out in the hollows.

A half-day loop that works

• Start in Logan with coffee and a full tank. Head south on SR 664.
• Turn onto SR 374 and drive north first — against the flow — to Conkle's Hollow and Rock House while the crowd is heading south to Old Man's Cave.
• Come back down 374 past Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls in the early afternoon when the morning rush has parked and is on the trails.
• Stop at Ash Cave for the flat walk, then pick up SR 56 west toward Laurelville with the sun behind you.
• Return via SR 180 to Logan for dinner. Total driving: under two hours, plus stops.

On a weekday this loop is a pleasure. On a peak Saturday, reverse it — do Ash Cave and SR 56 first thing, and save 374 for after 4 p.m. when the day-trippers head home. The foliage guide covers what's turning where, and the week-by-week calendar tells you which weekend to aim for.