Ash cave is the largest recess cave in Ohio. The horseshoe shaped recess cave is 700 feet long, 100 feet deep, and 90 feet high. The cave is named after the large piles of ashes left behind by the Native Americans, who used the large rock shelter for a meeting place and a resting place.
Later, the first European settlers used the cave as a place to hold church services as they were building their first church.
Today the cave can be reserved for weddings , and the park occasionally holds outdoor events here.
It is the most easily accessed of all the caves and waterfalls in Hocking Hills with a handicap accessible 1/4 mile paved trail in the gorge leading up to the waterfall. There is also a rim trail that is slightly more rugged--at least in the winter when some of the steps are covered with ice!
At 90 feet high, the waterfall that plunges over rim of the cave is the tallest waterfall in Hocking Hills.
Two views of the stream below the falls--in some parts it winds slowly through the hemlock forest...
...and in other places it turns into miniature waterfalls that cascade down the rocky stream bed.
From what I have read, if you want to see a lot of water, the best time to visit the cave is in April and May. Some summers the stream dries up completely. And I am told that if the winter is especially cold, the waterfall has been know to freeze completely from top to bottom.
Next Hocking Hills post (coming up when I get the photos sorted out for it!) will take you up the road to Rock Bridge and waterfall.
Linked to Watery Wednesday.
Beautiful pictures and very interesting commentary. It makes me want to go travel.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I moved to the Colorado Rockies from Ohio two years ago. Hocking Hills was a favorite place for retreat. Have spent many happy hours there. Your post made me a little homesick to go back and stay in the little cabin we used to rent. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI can see how it would be hard to leave a place like this behind, Nancy. I wish we were closer. We are about five hours away, I think we are going to make this a yearly event. I would love to go back in the spring. My husband and I were there for 3 days and barely scratched the surface of all the beauty of the park.
ReplyDeleteTeresa, I feel the same way--we really hope to go back, sooner than later. :)
What a beautiful park that is! Interesting history, too.
ReplyDeleteI love nature pictures. They are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Columbus with my late husband, an hour away, and felt so blessed to have Hocking Hills in our backyard. We stayed in a couple of different cabins until we found the one that always brought us back. The Agape Ridge Lakehouse: http://www.agaperidge.com/lakehouse.html
ReplyDeleteIt is tucked away on a private lake. A very pretty spot. Of course, there are many other great places too. Glenlaurel Inn is kind of expensive, but a place you should at least go and see. Quaint. Beautiful. Unique. The grounds are lovely. Has a Scottish flavor: http://www.glenlaurel.com As for natural wonders: Cedar Falls, Conkle's Hollow, Lake Logan. Really, anywhere you hike or drive you will see beautiful landscape. Just the drive to Agape Ridge from the main highway was breathtaking. Hocking has its own special beauty. Just like Northern Colorado Rockies where I live now. God bless and enjoy many more visits to Hocking Hills. (I will be spending more time on your blog. Very interesting lifestyle.)
Beautiful, beautiful! How cool would it be to get married in such a setting! :)
ReplyDeleteWow - such gorgeous shots of this amazing cave!
ReplyDeleteThat is rather impressive!
ReplyDeleteFantastic series of photos. I do love all of them.
ReplyDeleteWow what lovely photos of this beautiful place. Your post made me feel as if I was there.
ReplyDeleteAsh Cave is just the tip of the iceburg of beauty in Hills--stay tuned for much much more in future blog posts. :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your next round of Hocking Hills photos, Kateri. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteit looks beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteif i EVER get up that way...that would be a definite stop!!
Loving your visit to the park.
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