Legend-ary Travel: Hocking Hills State Park

Our last Ohio State Park Campground for the 2024 camping season was Hocking Hills State Park near Logan, Ohio during the last weekend of September. This Ohio’s most popular park with international claim as a top place to visit. Many people are surprised when we admit that we have never been to the park in southeast Ohio, including our own children. We have been looking forward to our full hook up site since making reservations in March. The campground, as do most of the Ohio State Park campgrounds, books up fast when the reservation window opens 6 months prior. We actually debated cancelling as the weather forecast was predicted to be rainy for our 3 night stay. The addition to the remnants of the fast moving category 4 hurricane, Helene that hit Florida the day before was adding to the rainy forecast. The storm brought devastating flooding to the Carolina's and much of the eastern states. We discussed it and decided if we could find a full hook up site in clearer weather at a different state park, we would rebook. I checked at 7:30 a.m. four days prior and found no spots available at any campgrounds within a 3 hour drive from our home in Novelty. I was measuring the "worth" of the trip for me and decided to pose the question to “the people”. I posted on the Ohio State Parks Camping group on Facebook. I explained“ The great debate. We have reservations for Hocking Hills for the first time this weekend (Fri. -Mon.). A combination of seeing our site posted 2 years ago on YouTube and the weather, we were debating. We don't mind the fire ban that was issued due to the drought conditions in many counties in Ohio or the rain since our trailer is completely contained, but I am not physically comfortable and safe hiking in the rain.  Site #34 looked tiny and a bit odd in the video being wedged in and at an odd angle among the other sites. We were thinking it might not be a good first impression of the park. We still wanted to camp with the amenity of full hook up. For non-campers full hook up means that we have electric, water and sewer making our trailer like a fully equipped tiny house. It was our last trip of the season and we wanted to choose wisely to end the season on a high note. If another campground opens up, do we switch or stick with Hocking Hills? So hard to decide since we have never been there. And if we decide to move, we could look for better weather locations, understanding it is Ohio, so weather is never a guarantee. Decisions, decisions with only 4 days to go.” My plea gathered over 60 comments All of which were encouraging and informative. Someone actually sent me a video of our actual camp site. We decided to go for it. even if it rained all weekend the trailer is warm, dry and has everything we need from a restroom, shower, cooking and entertainment. We reset our expectations and were prepared to spend the weekend binging the movies I downloaded to my tablet.

My view driving to Hocking Hills

Suffering from a bout of insomnia the night before, we took our time loading up for the 4 hour drive. Other than groceries, the packing was easy. We were under a drought so there was a fire ban which meant no campfire so we didn’t need to load firewood. With the expected raindrops, we were leaving the kayaks and bikes at home and even unloaded the hammock.  As always Kenobi was the first in the truck as we hooked up the camper. Kenobi was on the tail end of kennel cough, so it was the first time he had been away from the house in 10 days. The frozen Kong I brought him did not effect his excited whining for the majority of the four hour drive. Driving to a campground for the first time is always a bit daunting. We are not so concerned for getting lost as we are for the road conditions, narrow roads, low hanging branches and potholes. The majority of the trip was on highways on Rt 77, but a few road closures for construction and damage from the high winds from the impending weather, took us off the highway onto back roads. While on one back road, we encountered fire trucks blocking the road ahead to discover that the road had been closed for storm damage with several large trees falling onto the road. One of the trees fell on an occupied car, but luckily the man was ok. We were directed to a narrower road that twisted through the back hills near Somerset, Ohio. Even though our drive only took an additional 15 minutes, it seemed like it took another hour. My husband handled the truck and trailer wonderfully. I have not ventured into the driving realm of our travel adventures yet.

Our site #34 was small, but it didn’t matter as we didn’t expect to be hanging out outside. Camping in a campground built in or around natural wonders in the environment the expectation of perfectly level sites is not reasonable. We were not surprised, as our Facebook group had warned us about the unlevel sites. Bruce brought extra lumber to assist in the leveling process. It was a necessity. We had to roll the trailer tires almost to the tip top of our leveling ramps on the driver's side. Our back stabilizer legs were also placed on a combination of wood block and leveling blocks at a height of a foot. It only took us 10 minutes to set up and level and ready to camp. Well almost. On purpose, we tipped Su to the back driver side so that the rain could drip off the back side gutter into the woods instead of pooling around the trailer. It was only noticeable when we closed the rolling doors inside the trailer for the bathroom or bedroom. If we didn’t fully engage the door with the closing doorway magnet the doors would slowly roll open. Once we were settled, we heated up the loaded bake potato soup I made the night before  and made some grilled cheese sandwiches in the cast iron skillet on the stove, we snuggled in for a night of downloaded tv shows.

The next morning, we woke up and decided to try beat the rain and get some hiking in. We hiked from the visitor center to Old Man’s Cave and the lower falls. I wore my new light weight boots from Columbia and took my trekking poles. I only needed them on the uneven rock stairs in different sections of the trail. The area was beautiful, but I felt a bit crowded on the one way trail. It reminded me of some of the hiking we did in Rocky National Park. I did not expect so many people on a dreary rainy day.  I often felt that some of the other hikers were in a race to get passed me and not taking in their awe inspired surroundings.  I only slipped once or twice and never fell. I can't say the same for the gentleman who barreled passed me to reach the rock stairs leading to the falls.  His ego was bruised when he fell a few steps, but he seemed to be fine when he stood up.  In all Bruce, Kenobi and I hiked 2 1/2 miles. We weren’t tired, but kept an eye to the sky and didn’t want to have the same experience we had had hiking in Cuyahoga National Park. (I just realized I never posted about that adventure.) The cusp of that story is that we hiked 2 1/2 miles into the national park when the rain unexpectedly arrived 2 hours early. We had to hike another 2 1/2 miles in a downpour with flooding trails and rushing water cascading down the natural rock stairs. On this hiking trip in Hocking Hills, we avoided rain and welcomed the small sprinkle that greeted us once we were off the trail. After dropping Kenobi in the truck, we made our way back to the visitor center so that I could get my passport book stamped. Then it was a 5 minute drive back to the campground for a hearty breakfast.

The weekend wasn't a complete wash out.  We were able to take Kenobi for a few walks and took a scenic drive around the area, but we stayed off the trails after Saturday morning's hike.  I was surprised how relaxing it was to not be on the go when camping.  I wrote a bit, did some cross stitch, watched a documentary and finished a book. Bruce watched football and tinkered with a few things in the camper.  We played several games together and watch a movie or two.  It was really simple and very nice. One thing we did discover was that the jack-knife sofa isn't very comfortable to sit on, snuggle and watch tv.  It is interesting that after a year, we have never noticed that.  This is probably because were rarely have sat on it since we were blessed with great weather on our trips this year.  That jack-knife sofa maybe replaced by next season with more comfortable seating.

We woke on Monday morning and started the process of pulling out and heading home.  This packing was a little more thought out than our typical trips.  I was planning Su for her winter hibernation by packing items into plastic bins and bagging our pantry up to return to our home kitchen.  Our drive home was an easy drive as we took a different route which was mainly highways.  Upon our return, we unloaded and I began the process of washing and drying towels and sheets that were packed into their plastic bins and placed back in the trailer for storage.  We returned the trailer to the storage lot in town.  Camping so often this was the fist time since July that she was back at the lot.  We had kept her in the driveway the majority of the summer.  Bruce admitted he was glad to have his driveway back, but sad that we had no other camp trips on the calendar. I am still not convinced that if we have a mild weather week, that we won't take her on another trip before April 15th somewhere down south.

Bruce packing up the hook ups

Our campsite visitors 

My new light weight hiking boots

Reflection:  It has been a fun crazy busy time traveling in 2024. Camping offers this homebody an opportunity to get out and explore new things.  Bruce and I joke that it has been a "Dam Summer".  No not a spelling error, we have seen at  least four dams at our camping locations this year - Pymatuning, Findley Lake, Letchworth State Park and Hocking Hills (Logan Lake).  When we first bought the trailer, I hoped we would use it a lot, but this summer exceeded my expectations. I already have the calendar marked for the 6 month reservations for next year.  Our goal - 14 trips including the newest National Park - New River Gorge, the Finger Lakes, Michigan, Alleghany Forrest and 5 new to us Ohio State Parks.  It is a lofty goal.