OLD MAN'S CAVE

Hocking Hills is filled with history and mystery. It is no wonder people love to come visit the hills and see all the splendor and fun activities it has to offer. Curious adventurers will enjoy exploring trails and caves like Old Man’s Cave. This one mile long trail is short which makes it great for families and people who just want a quick trip through history. Find out why people love coming from near and far to hike Old Man’s Cave.

Old Man’s Cave History

Nothing beats the geological and anthropological history of the recess caves in Hocking Hills. During the last ice age, the northern half of Ohio was covered by a mile-high glacier which flattened the land. The southern part of Ohio rests on the Allegheny Plateau, a large plateau spanning from central New York to the north, through Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, to West Virginia in the south. Since this plateau wasn’t flattened by the ice, there are more natural hills and valleys in the region and Hocking County is considered to rest in the Appalachian Basin, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains region which extend to the south.

As glaciers melted, the water that flowed down from the northern melt and carved into the soft Blackhand Sandstone in the region with centuries of gradual erosion, forming the natural rock outcroppings and unique rock sculptures we appreciate today. The soft sandstone sediment is named Blackhand Sandstone in honor of a black handprint found in the caves around what is now Newark, Ohio, likely left by some of the earliest humans in the area several thousand years ago.

The Old Man

Once known as Retzler’s Cave, Old Man’s Cave was thus named by travelers who wanted to see the bones of an old man found in the cave in the late 1800s laying with an old flintlock rifle. The stories began in the 1870s to 1880s about the body of a man and dog found in a cave near Cedar Grove, Ohio, presumably a trapper. By 1907, the legends had grown to include the trapper’s name as Retzler and his loyal dog, Harper. By the 1960s, the name Retzler had been all but forgotten and the fictitious legal name of Richard Roe was mistakenly given to the trapper of Old Man’s Cave. He had migrated to Ohio with his family from the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee. He eventually settled in the Hocking Hills, and he is purportedly buried in the cave.

According to local historians, someone lived at least briefly in the cave beginning in 1796, either our Retzler-Rowe character or two brothers documented in the area at the time named Nathaniel and Pat Rayon. They built a cabin near Old Man’s Cave, and it is rumored that they are buried either in the cave or nearby. This legend of the cave was almost forgotten but some still find it an interesting piece of lore about Old Man’s Cave, which remains one of the most popular trails in Hocking Hills. It is said that the ghost of the old man and his dog still hang around the creek in the gorge.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that various indigenous groups occupied Old Man’s Cave well before Mr. Rowe arrived. Archaeologists have documented American Indians visiting and inhabiting the region perhaps as far back as 7,000 years ago. The Shawnee, the Wyandot, and the Lenape (Delaware) Indian tribes all occupied the area at various times in the 1600s and 1700s. Evidence at Ash Cave, another feature of Hocking Hills State Park, suggests that these early tribes lived and hunted in and around the Old Man’s Cave region for centuries before European settlers arrived.

In 1924, the State of Ohio purchased 146 acres of land in the Hocking Hills. This purchase included Old Man’s Cave and the other notable landmarks and trails of the area. First owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Forestry, in 1949, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Division of Parks assumed control of Old Man’s Cave.

Trekking the Trail

Old Man Cave is heavily trafficked because it is a short and popular trail. Located near South Bloomingville, Ohio, there is a waterfall that kids and families love to visit. All skill levels will enjoy this easy going trail experience. Hiking and walking are encouraged from April until October and dogs are welcome, as long as they’re leashed. The trail elevation is 42 feet and loops around so people can easily navigate in and back out again. Some people might enjoy taking the trail from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar falls and Ash Cave, part of the Grandma Gatewood Trail that is six miles long. The trail is also part of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail, part of two national systems – the North Country Scenic Trail and America’s Discovery Trail. Those who love longer hikes might consider adding Old Man’s Cave to their walk along with these other amazingly scenic trails.

Five Fun Sections

What people may not realize when they come hiking Old Man’s Cave trail is all the different varieties of scenery they will find. Because of its geological history, there are deep gorges and waterfalls that make it fun for everyone to enjoy. Check them out:

Upper Falls: a famous spot in the cave with a beautiful waterfall and bridge over the top to see it. A great place for a photo or to enjoy the breathtaking scenery

Devil’s Bathtub: where the water goes down, as legend says, all the way to Hades. Signs tell visitors and explorers not to go down because they may not get out

A-Frame Bridge: man-made path under the A-Frame Bridge makes it fun for everyone to explore the trail and views

Sphinx Head: rock formation that is named appropriately (according to some). View it from a distance for the best perspective. There is a trail marker that alerts visitors to this beautiful, natural rock formation

Lower Falls: one of the most famous sites on the trail. The bridge looks so ancient, it could be from the prehistoric age. Adventurous trail hikers are welcome to cross and head down to the water where Lower Falls run over the rocks

Finishing the Trail

Near the end of a hiker’s walk through Old Man’s Cave, there will be a wonderful surprise: a Naturalist Cabin! And who doesn’t love a little cabin after wandering through the woods. At certain times of the day, a naturalist will be there to help answer questions or offer information on the trail. This signals the end of the trail. Congratulations! Welcome back to the Old Man’s Cave Visitor’s Center for special events and exhibits everyone can enjoy.