Fall Foliage Tours in the Hocking Hills of Ohio

The Hocking Hills, in Hocking County, Ohio, offer some of the most spectacular Fall colors, along with great (and often free) tours to see those colors. For Fall foliage in the Midwest, you can't beat it. If you're looking for spectacular Fall foliage in the Midwest, Hocking County, Ohio is the place to be. Nestled in the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio, the Hocking Hills area offers a spectacular view of Fall colors at their finest. Along with Athens' Ohio University, the area is dotted with small towns that thrive on Fall-season tourism. Consequently, there exists an abundance of events for each and every type of Fall foliage enthusiast, from the hardy hiker to the easy-going lounger.

For those who would rather not work very hard to enjoy the many colors of Fall foliage, Lake Hope State Park offers horse-drawn wagon rides every 20 minutes for four Saturdays in October, beginning on October 10^th and ending October 31. These rides are free, and begin at the Nature Center, running continuously from 2-5pm. Lake Hope State Park is located at 27331 St. Rd. 278, in McArthur, OH. Contact them at 740-598-3030.

Also at Lake Hope State Park is the annual Fall Hike. Beginning at 10am on October 17 at the shelterhouse, this traditional tour of colorful fall foliage is free of charge. The three-mile hike ends at Hope Furnace, where hikers will enjoy bean soup and corn bread before being shuttled back to their cars.

More adventurous hikers can visit the Hocking Hills State Park for Grandma Gatewood's Fall Colors Hike. This 6-mile hike is free, beginning at 1pm on October 17. Be warned! This is an extremely strenuous hike through Hocking Hills' beautiful Fall foliage. The Hocking Hills State Park is located along State Route 664 South. Contact them at 740-385-6841.

Finally, for those who wish to not only enjoy Fall's colors, but capture the beauty for others, the Old Bear's Den Center offers an 8 hour Fall Color Tour Photography Workshop on October 17. For the price of $129 per person, participants experience a full day of touring Hocking Hills' colorful Fall foliage, hands-on photography experience, and lunch. The Old Bear's Den Center is located at 16961 Harble-Griffeth Road in Logan. Contact them at 740-380-2039.

The Hocking Hills area compliments these tours with many craft fairs, festivals, and canoe trips down the Hocking River. For more information about Fall foliage in the Hocking Hills, or about other events and activities in the area, I recommend the Hocking Hills website.