Ziplining
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours runs the marquee zip operation in the region — 10 lines and 5 sky bridges over caves and cliffs. The X-Tour is the long version for adrenaline seekers; the Dragonfly Tour is built for kids ages 5 to 12; the SuperZip is a dual-racing line off an 85-foot tower.
Book ahead in fall — weekends sell out 4–6 weeks in advance during peak color.
Canoe, Kayak, Tube
The Hocking River runs lazy and shallow most of the year — the perfect class-1 paddle. Hocking Hills Adventures and Hocking River Rentals both run liveries with shuttle service. Two-hour floats, half-day kayak runs, and family raft trips with coolers strapped on.
Special note: the moonlight canoe trips on full-moon nights are unreasonably good. Book those well in advance.
Horseback Riding
Several stables run guided trail rides through the hardwood ridges around the park — an hour to a half-day, mostly walk-pace, suitable for first-timers. Best in fall when the canopy is on fire and the trails are quiet.
Rock Climbing & Rappelling
The sandstone is technically too soft for traditional climbing inside the state park, but guided climbing and rappelling is permitted in Hocking State Forest — a 9,000-acre adjacent area with designated climbing zones. Beginners welcome with a guide.
Stargazing & Dark Skies
John Glenn Astronomy Park sits inside the state park, named for the Ohio-born astronaut. Open to the public on most clear weekend nights with telescopes, talks, and a retractable-roof observatory. The Milky Way is unambiguously visible — rare in Ohio.
