First Trip
On January 20, around 4pm, Luna and I pulled into the Cantwell Cliffs trailhead inside Hocking Hills State Park. This is a place known for deep sandstone gorges, rugged terrain, and a waterfall that peeks over the cliff edge in wetter seasons. Cantwell Cliffs sits in a more remote and quieter area of Hocking Hills. It is no less dramatic in its geology and vibes though.
This trail is carved by the erosion of water through Blackhand sandstone, forming towering cliffs up to 150. And of course my favorite type: unique narrow passages like Fat Woman’s Squeeze.
Winter had settled in hard this week. The stone steps that lead down toward the waterfall, steps that usually give way to moss, soil, and leaf litter, now completely glazed in ice. Around 0.4 miles in, with Luna leashed and alert but feeling my unsure cues, we turned back. I have to listen then instinct speaks, my instincts told me we had gone far enough. The air was cold, the footing slick, and every step demanded focus. I don’t take dangerous risks in this manner. We turned back at the top of the frozen steps, crocs crunching ice on the trail and silence surrounding us.
Return Trip: January 23 with Company and Better Eyes on the Trail
A few days later, on January 23, I returned with my partner and our friend Kylie, a perfect team for winter hiking. Sharp eyes, quick laughs, and an easy readiness to pivot plans when conditions demand it. The trail, a loop with both rim and canyon routes, was still icy, our confidence grew as we descended beyond the first switchback.
We made it farther this time, to where the waterfall usually tumbles over the cliff’s edge. Today the water wasn’t exactly falling, it was frozen. The rest of the trail simply impassable without traction devices. The ice was thick, smooth, and unyielding, a reminder that winter beauty can be equal parts breathtaking and brutal. So we called it there, admired the frozen gorge and soaked in the steep walls rising around us.
Comment and share a time you knew you should turn around. What was the moment you knew the risk was not one you needed to take? How did you prepare better for your next visit?
Trail Realities
Cantwell Cliffs’ trails are moderate to strenuous. They are a mix of rim views and valley floor loops that can take one to two miles to complete. The stairs and rock steps that are fun in spring and fall become tricky in winter without gear. This hike is one where maps matter, muddy or frozen conditions demand caution, and everyone, dogs included, need attentive footing.
The park allows well-behaved pets on leash, so Luna’s presence was completely in line with trail etiquette. But winter on ice makes most four-legged friends slower and more cautious.
Gear on the Way: Poles, Headlamps, Spikes
I already ordered hiking poles and a couple of headlamps. Incoming night hikes? DUH! Those poles will add balance and support on uneven rock steps to say the least. Next on the list is spikes. Microspikes or traction devices that bite into ice and make icy slopes climbable rather than perilous. On the next order, spikes are a priority. We may save the full trail for spring melt. Water flow will return to the falls and the trail will soften underfoot.
Cantwell Cliffs in Context: History, Geology & What Makes It Worth It
Cantwell Cliffs is not just a destination for waterfall views. It’s a State Nature Preserve with history dating from its conservation roots in the early 1900s. Formal preserve designation happened here in the 1970s. Remarkable and remaining still one of the less visited, more rugged parts of Hocking Hills. The gorge and cliff walls were formed over millions of years as Blackhand sandstone eroded. Thus creating deep box canyons, overhangs, and passages that feel alive with time.
That raw geology is what makes winter hikes like this one special. The trees are bare so contours pop in the light. You can almost read layers of stone like a palimpsest. Waterfalls turn to glassy ice sculptures waiting for a safer season to sing again.
Looking Ahead: When the Water Really Falls
If you wait for spring snowmelt and seasonal rain, Cantwell Cliffs often contains a beautiful fall. Though modest yet lovely it cascade over the rock shelter that feels earned after the descent.
Winter is beautiful, but spring may be our comeback. Poles, daylight stretching, and warmer ground.
Cantwell Cliffs reminded us of what winter hiking really asks: patience, respect for conditions, humility, and the willingness to turn back. When instincts give you blessings rather than push forward you listen to the warning, and you come back. Luna was safe, we were safe, and the cliffs still stand ready for the next chapter.
Share with someone who you think appreciates following natural instincts when outdoors.
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