Hocking Hills is most often described through its trails, waterfalls, and caves — but the same wooded terrain that makes it extraordinary on foot makes it remarkable on horseback. Two operations in the region offer guided trail rides that give riders a way to experience the Hocking Hills forest at a completely different pace and height. For groups with any interest in horses, this is one of the more distinctive activities available in the area.
Rose Moon Ranch — The Closest Option to Old Man’s Cave
Rose Moon Ranch is located approximately 15 minutes from Old Man’s Cave, making it one of the most conveniently positioned equestrian operations relative to the main cabin areas. The facility sits on over 50 acres of private trail land and offers guided horseback trail rides, lessons, and pony rides for younger children.
The guided trail format means no riding experience is required — guides lead the ride and manage the horses, so first-timers are fully accommodated. The trail terrain reflects the character of the broader Hocking Hills region: wooded, hilly, and genuinely beautiful in a way that doesn’t feel staged.
For families with young children, the combination of trail rides for adults and pony rides for smaller kids makes Rose Moon Ranch a workable single stop. Rose Moon also offers rehabilitation services for horses, which is a quieter detail worth knowing — it reflects a level of seriousness about the animals that tends to correlate with how well operations like this are run.
Uncle Buck’s — Choose Your Trail Length
Uncle Buck’s operates in Zaleski State Forest near Lake Hope State Park — a slightly longer drive from the main Hocking Hills cabin area but worth it for groups who want a longer or more varied riding experience.
Three trail options let groups choose based on time and energy:
Coal Bucket Trail (1 hour) — the entry option, appropriate for anyone trying horseback riding for the first time or groups with limited time.
Lookout Rock Trail (2 hours) — the most popular option, balancing a meaningful ride with a manageable time commitment. The Zaleski State Forest terrain is wild and open, with the kind of forest depth that rewards a longer ride.
Moonville Tunnel Trail (2.5 hours) — the longest option, worth knowing about because the Moonville Tunnel itself is genuinely interesting: an abandoned 19th-century railroad tunnel through a hillside, now a local landmark. Adding it to a horseback ride makes the excursion more than just a trail ride — it’s a piece of regional history. 
Fitting Horseback Riding Into a Hocking Hills Trip
Horseback riding works best as a half-day activity — morning or afternoon — built around the cabin stay rather than treated as a full-day excursion. A morning trail at Hocking Hills State Park followed by an afternoon ride at Rose Moon Ranch makes for a satisfying two-trail day that uses genuinely different muscles and offers meaningfully different views.
For groups where some members are enthusiastic riders and others aren’t, this is also a natural split activity — the riders book their horses while others stay at the cabin, do a shorter trail, or visit a local winery.
Book ahead at both operations, especially for weekend visits in peak season. Group bookings benefit from early communication about group size and any rider experience considerations.
Use Reflections Hocking Hills as your base for the full trip — trails, horses, hot tub, fire. Book direct for up to 18% savings versus Airbnb.