THRILLS AWAIT IN HOCKING HILLS
It would be impossible to catalog every activity, big and small, that is available to visitors in the Hocking Hills area. Please know that the opportunities for fun and adventure are practically endless and ever growing. Also, if you are looking for an overview of the best hiking and sightseeing, start here. We are happy to assist guests in developing an itinerary that suits their needs and interests, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you decide to book a stay!
That said, here’s an incomplete overview of Hocking Hills activities for massive fun and adventure:
One of the most popular activities in the area is zip lining through the Hocking Hills forest and there’s a couple great options. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours has several tours (including a nighttime tour for those wanting to take it up a notch) and a reputation for providing memorable adventure. It’s located over in Rockbridge and can be combine with hiking the Rockbridge Nature Preserve trail, if you’ve got the energy for both. Another option is Ultimate Zipline Adventures, which is a bit closer to the main hiking trails.
Neville Billie Adventure Park presents a different sort of adventure. Their claim to fame is the world’s largest ropes course, but they also offer on and off road rentals of Polaris suped up vehicles.
Hocking Hills is famous for its incredible rock formations and High Rock Adventures and Ecotours gives you the chance to climb them. For the naturalist adventurer, they offer exciting rock challenges (climbing and rappelling) as well as more serene guided nature tours.
Hocking Hills has some awesome rivers and lakes for visitors wanting to explore the waters. The Hocking Hills Canoe Livery will let you rent canoes, kayaks, and rafts to take down the Hocking River to see the gorgeous scenery from a unique vantage. You can also take kayak tours from Adventure Pro Rentals down in Nelsonville (plus they offer ATV rentals with trails through Wayne National Forest). If lake life is more your thing, the Lake Logan Marina has some great options for you, including pontoon boat rentals, kayaks, pedal boats, and paddle boards.
If you’re a cyclist or interest in taking in beautiful scenery while getting some fresh air and exercise, consider traveling the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. It’s a 21 mile path that takes you through Athens and Nelsonville and lots of lovely scenes in between. There are also paths through Wayne National Forest. Don’t have a bike? No worries, Hocking Hills Bike Rentals will meet you at the trailhead and provide the necessary rides.
Another fun way to explore the area is on horseback and there are several area businesses who specialize in this experience. Blue Moon Acres offers trail riding adventures May through June. Another outfit is Spotted Horse Ranch, which has guided tours, including some that include a cowboy cookout. Both businesses operate out of the Laurelville area.
Many of the aforementioned activities can be great for kids, but there’s also some that the kids might admittedly enjoy a bit more than the adults. Fox’s High Rock Farm has a petting zoo, wagon rides, and an area for kids to do some old-fashioned gem mining.
If you have little ones that you’re needing to entertain on a rainy day, The Fun Barn, located in Nelsonville, might be exactly what your kids are craving. It has inexpensive movies (10 theaters) that can keep them occupied for a couple hours and an arcade for some extra entertainment. Hocking Hills Laser Tag might also do the trick if you’re wanting them to burn off a little energy.
