Ash Cave is the largest, most impressive recess cave in the state.
Used as a shelter by Native Americans for centuries, we were told that it got
its name from the abundant ashes on the cave floor. After we had swallowed
that story, a local hiker said that they told that to tourists; the real
reason is because the ceiling of the cave was so blackened from fires in the
cave. (My grandson said, later, "I could think up a better story than
those!") Whatever the reason, standing in the cave behind the waterfall
is a "very cool" experience (literally).
A fairly good flow
drops off the cliff and plummets into a small pool. The sound is what you
might imagine a giant bathtub being filled with water might sound like
(observation of our grandson). cascades and
plunges to a Black Hand sandstone shelf 40 or 50 feet below, slides on over
the shelf and plunges again 10 or 12 feet, slamming against some more Black
Hand and finally cascades into the dark pool at the bottom of the gorge, - the ultimate scene for an artist's landscape.
How to get there:
From Columbus, take US-33 south toward Lancaster. Continue through Lancaster on US-33 another 18 miles to OH-664, exit and turn right (southbound) on OH-664. Follow OH-664 to the junction of OH-374 and turn
left following it to its end at OH-56. Turn left, again, and Ash Cave State
Park will be on your right just a few hundred yards from the intersection.
For photos
of Ash Cave Falls, see:
"The Hocking Hills region is home to 9 state parks, over
9,000 acres of state forest land, part of the Wayne National Forest, contains 4 nature preserves and one of the largest metro parks in the state. Hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, canoeing, rappelling, and bird watching are just a few of the activities visitors to the area enjoy."
For more information about the area: Hocking Hills Tourism Assoc.
