A Real Itinerary for Mixed-Ability Groups
Planning Hocking Hills when someone in your group uses a wheelchair, walker, or power chair takes more than a standard travel guide. Most trail guides gloss over accessibility — we don't. Every stop here is either on Ohio DNR's accessible trails list or clearly flagged as partial. Where access rests on a business's own statement rather than a state listing, this page says so and tells you to call ahead. Anything that requires stone stairs or steep gorge terrain is left off entirely.
All four evenings return to Pool House Lodge — an accessible cabin on 22 private wooded acres with a heated indoor pool, step-free ramps at every entrance, a roll-in shower, and room for up to 20 guests. It's a base camp, not just a place to sleep.
Your Base
Pool House Lodge
- Step-free ramps — all entrances
- Accessible bedroom suite + roll-in shower
- Heated indoor pool, 82–84°F year-round
- Private outdoor hot tub
- Sleeps up to 20 guests
- 22 private wooded acres
Which Trails Are Actually Accessible
Most Hocking Hills gorge trails involve stone staircases and narrow passages. Here's the honest breakdown before you pack the car.
| Trail / Area | Accessible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Cave | ✓ Yes | Paved asphalt. On ODNR's accessible trails list. Sandy at the cave itself. Ohio's largest recess cave. ~20 min round trip. Best accessible trail in the park. |
| Conkle's Hollow — Gorge Trail | ~ Partial | Flat and accessible at entrance with 200-ft cliff wall views. Path gets rougher further in. No dogs. |
| Old Man's Cave — Upper Falls Deck | ~ Viewpoint only | Visitor reports describe a ramped viewing area near Upper Falls. Not on ODNR's accessible list — confirm by phone. ~0.5 mile. |
| Cedar Falls / Old Man's Cave gorge loop | ✗ No | Stone stairs throughout. Skip these. |
| Cantwell Cliffs / Rock House trail | ✗ No | Steep stairs and uneven rock. Not accessible. |
Call Hocking Hills State Park at (740) 385-6842 to confirm current trail conditions before your visit.
Hocking Hills State Park — Ash Cave, Conkle's Hollow, and Old Man's Cave are all within about 15 minutes of each other. Old Man's Cave is on SR 664, Ash Cave on SR 56, and Conkle's Hollow off SR 374 on Big Pine Road
Day One
Arrive, Settle In, Unwind
On the Way In — Weaver's Market & Deli
♿ Step-free entrance · No stairsStop at Weaver's Market & Deli on SR-664 before pulling into the cabin. Pick up Holmes County Amish deli meats, cheeses, snacks, and anything you need to stock the kitchen. A local institution — far better than a grocery run.
Weaver's Market & Deli — SR-664, Logan
Amish meats & cheeses · Holmes County deli · Local specialty foods
Learn More →4 PM — Check In
♿ Step-free ramps · Roll-in shower · Accessible suitePull in, unload, and let the trip start the right way — no agenda, no driving around. Get everyone settled into their rooms, then head straight to the heated indoor pool. Day one is purely about the lodge.
Pool House Lodge — Private Indoor Pool
82–84°F year-round · Accessible pool deck · Sleeps up to 20
Check Availability →Night — Fire Pit & Hot Tub
Gather around the outdoor fire pit on the property. The 22 wooded acres sit well away from town lights — once the fire dies down, the stars come out fully. Hot tub on the lower covered patio to close out the night.
Fire Pit & Hot Tub — Pool House Lodge
22 private wooded acres · Outdoor hot tub · Dark-sky stargazing
Check Availability →
Weaver's Market stop on the way in, then check in, private heated pool, fire pit, and hot tub.
Day Two
Trails, Town, Grill Dinner
Morning — Conkle's Hollow
~ Partial Access — Gorge Trail EntranceStart the day at Conkle's Hollow while energy is high. The gorge floor entrance is flat and open — 200-foot sandstone cliff walls right from the start. Go as far as comfortable and turn back when the path gets rougher. No dogs allowed inside the preserve.
Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve
Flat at entrance · Dramatic cliff walls · No dogs · Free admission
Park Info →Lunch — 58 West
~ Call Ahead About SeatingDrive into Logan for lunch at 58 West — a winery, brewery, distillery, and restaurant under one roof. Accessible seating, relaxed pace. Try a wine flight or local craft beer while the group recharges before the afternoon trail.
58 West — Logan, OH
58 W 2nd St · (740) 216-5360 · Closed Tuesdays · Call ahead about accessible seating
Visit Website →Afternoon — Ash Cave
✓ Fully Accessible TrailThe one trail here that Ohio DNR lists as wheelchair accessible. Paved and relatively flat. One thing to know: the asphalt ends at the cave and the last stretch turns sandy. A quarter mile from parking to Ohio's largest recess cave: 700 feet wide, over 90 feet tall. Round trip takes about 20 minutes. A great afternoon pace after lunch.
Ash Cave — Hocking Hills State Park
Paved · Relatively flat · Free · ~20 min round trip · Sandy at the cave
Trail Guide →Evening — Back at the Lodge
Head back to Pool House Lodge. Afternoon swim, then fire up the grill. Burgers, steaks — whatever the group votes on. Dinner at the lodge means no one drives, no one waits. Hot tub to close out the night.
Pool House Lodge — Evening
Grill dinner · Private hot tub · Chef's kitchen · Covered porches
Check Availability →
Ohio's largest recess cave. Fully paved, flat, free. The best accessible trail in Hocking Hills State Park.
Day Three
Views, Lunch Out, In-Lodge Massage
Morning — Old Man's Cave Upper Falls Deck
~ Call the Park FirstSkip the gorge loop — it's not accessible. Instead, take the route near Upper Falls that visitors describe as accessible. It is not on Ohio DNR's accessible trails list, so confirm it with the park at (740) 385-6842 before planning around it to an observation deck with a ramp and clear view of the Upper Falls. About half a mile, no stone stairs.
Old Man's Cave — Upper Falls Observation Deck
Reported by visitors, not listed by ODNR · Call (740) 385-6842 to confirm
Park Info →Lunch — Rock House Restaurant at Hocking Hills Park Lodge
✓ Lodge Publishes Access InfoRight on State Route 664. The Hocking Hills Park Lodge publishes an accessibility statement covering an accessible public entrance, accessible parking, and an accessible route from that entrance to at least one of its restaurants. It does not name which restaurant, and it says nothing about accessible restrooms, so confirm both when you call. Call ahead for group seating.
Rock House Restaurant — Hocking Hills Park Lodge
20020 State Route 664 S, Logan · (740) 270-6100 · Lodge publishes access info
Get Directions →Afternoon — In-Lodge Massage
Hocking Hills Massage comes directly to the cabin. Book at least 48 hours ahead — afternoon slots on the last full day fill fast. The therapist sets up at the lodge — if weather permits, ask to have the table set up on the first-floor back deck. You're in the middle of 22 wooded acres; the bird sounds back there are the whole experience. No driving, no waiting room.
Hocking Hills Massage — In-Lodge Service
Comes to Pool House Lodge · Book 48+ hrs ahead · Weekend slots fill fast
Book Massage →Night — Fire Pit, Stargazing & Hot Tub
After the massage, hit the pool, then grill dinner one last time. Move to the fire pit as the light fades — Pool House Lodge sits on 22 private wooded acres, well away from town lights. Once the fire settles to coals, the sky opens up. The Southern Ohio skies away from Logan's light pollution are legitimately dark — on a clear night you'll see the Milky Way. Bring a blanket, grab a drink, and stay out until you're ready to call it. Hot tub on the lower covered patio to close out the final full night.
Pool House Lodge — Last Night
Grill dinner · Fire pit · Dark-sky stargazing · Milky Way visible · Hot tub
Check Availability →
In-lodge massage, then pool, fire pit, and the clearest stars of the trip.
Day Four
Pack Up & Head Home
Morning — Coffee on the Porch
No schedule. The first-floor back deck looks out over the wooded property — grab your coffee and sit outside while the woods wake up. The bird sounds in the morning on those 22 acres are genuinely something. Let the morning happen at whatever pace it happens.
Late Morning — Last Swim
The pool is heated year-round and completely private. One last lap before everyone packs up. Check-out is at 10 AM, so plan accordingly.
Pool House Lodge — Check-Out 10 AM
90 min from Columbus · 2.5 hrs from Cincinnati & Cleveland
Book Your Stay →Departure
Load up and go. The drive out on the Hocking Hills Scenic Byway is worth taking your time on.
Hocking Hills, Ohio · Sleeps 20 · Wheelchair accessible · Private heated indoor pool
Pool House Lodge in Hocking Hills
A private heated indoor pool, step-free access throughout, 22 wooded acres, and room for up to 20 guests — this is your base camp for every day of this itinerary.
Check AvailabilityAccessibility FAQ
Can you visit Hocking Hills in a wheelchair?
Yes. Ash Cave has a fully paved, flat trail accessible for wheelchairs and power chairs. The Conkle's Hollow gorge entrance offers partial access on concrete that ends before the trail does. An accessible viewpoint near Old Man's Cave Upper Falls is described by visitors but is not listed by ODNR, so confirm it by phone. Most other gorge trails involve stone stairs and should be skipped.
Which trail is best for wheelchair users?
Ash Cave, without question. It is the only trail in the park on Ohio DNR's accessible trails list — an asphalt path of about a quarter to a third of a mile to Ohio's largest recess cave. Free admission and no entrance fee. The path is paved and relatively flat, though ODNR publishes no grade figure and no count of accessible parking spaces. Round trip: about 20 minutes.
Is there an accessible cabin in Hocking Hills with an indoor pool?
Yes — Pool House Lodge. Step-free ramps at all entrances, a main-floor accessible bedroom suite, roll-in shower with grab bars, and a private heated indoor pool (82–84°F year-round). Sleeps up to 20. Details at poolhouselodge.com/accessibility.
Are there wheelchair accessible restaurants nearby?
Yes, two confirmed options. 58 West in Logan (58 W 2nd St, (740) 216-5360) — winery, brewery, and restaurant with accessible seating. Rock House Restaurant at Hocking Hills Park Lodge (20020 SR 664 S, (740) 270-6100). The lodge publishes an accessibility statement listing an accessible entrance, accessible parking and an accessible route to at least one restaurant. Restrooms are not covered by it.
How many days should you plan for?
3 to 4 days is ideal. With accessible activities spread across the park, extra time lets the group move at a relaxed pace — mornings at the lodge, one or two trail stops per day, and evenings back at the cabin without feeling rushed.
Is Conkle's Hollow wheelchair accessible?
Partially. The gorge floor entrance is flat with dramatic 200-foot cliff wall views. The path gets rougher further in — go as far as comfortable and turn back. No dogs allowed inside the preserve. Free admission.
Can you get a massage delivered to a Hocking Hills cabin?
Yes. Hocking Hills Massage comes directly to Pool House Lodge. Book at least 48 hours ahead — afternoon slots on the last full day fill fast on weekends. No driving required.
Where exactly is Pool House Lodge?
McArthur, Ohio — in the Hocking Hills region of southeastern Ohio. About 20 minutes from Ash Cave and 25 minutes from Old Man's Cave and Conkle's Hollow. Roughly 90 minutes from Columbus, 2.5 hours from Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Reserve Pool House Lodge
Private heated indoor pool · Wheelchair accessible · Sleeps up to 20 · 22 wooded acres