Despite the name (an early settler mistook the hemlocks for cedars), Cedar Falls is the highest-volume waterfall in Hocking Hills — the most actual water you’ll see fall anywhere in the park. A short but steep trail drops you to the base of the falls and Queer Creek.
Cedar Falls sits midway between Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave, and the three are linked by the 6-mile Grandma Gatewood Trail (named for the Ohio grandmother who became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail). Hiking even one segment of it is a quieter way to experience the park.
Cedar Falls carries more water than any other waterfall in Hocking Hills, tumbling over a sandstone ledge on Queer Creek into a pool below. The name is a historical mistake — early settlers took the gorge’s towering hemlocks for cedars — but it stuck.
A short, steep trail switchbacks down to the base, where the falls are at eye level. Cedar Falls sits at the midpoint of the 6-mile Grandma Gatewood Trail linking Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave, named for the Ohio grandmother who became the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.
Pro tip: Spring snowmelt and post-storm days are when Cedar Falls roars. In a dry late summer it can slow to a trickle — check recent rain before you make it the centerpiece of your trip.
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
- • Highest-volume falls in the park — best after spring snowmelt or heavy rain; it can thin out in late summer.
- • The descent to the base is steeper than Ash Cave; good footwear helps.
- • Parking and restrooms at the trailhead; leashed dogs are welcome.
- • Connects on foot to Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave via the Grandma Gatewood Trail.
- Is Cedar Falls worth visiting?
- Yes — it’s the highest-volume waterfall in Hocking Hills, so on a good-flow day it’s the most impressive falling water in the park. It’s best after rain or spring melt.
- How hard is the hike to Cedar Falls?
- Short but moderately steep — roughly a half-mile down-and-back with a stair descent to the base of the falls. Most visitors do it in 45–90 minutes.
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