Explore Ash Cave
Ohio › Ash Cave
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Activities:
Photography, Running, Hiking
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Skill Level:
Beginner
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Season:
Year Round
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Trail Type:
Out-and-Back
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RT Distance:
0.5 Miles
At 700 ft. long and 100 ft. deep, Ash Cave is a massive recess cave tucked away in the southern hills and forests of Ohio.
Getting to Ash Cave is extremely easy with a short quarter-mile hike from the parking area; there's also a rim trail above the cave that adds 90 feet of elevation and some extra distance. The cave is great for relaxing in the shade during a hot day, enjoying a spring picnic, or grabbing some images during the morning/evening. There's a waterfall from the rim of the cave that typically has good flow in the spring or after a large rain event. Peak fall colors are incredible here but the waterfall is rarely more than a trickle then. If you're visiting in the winter a large pile of ice usually forms at the mouth of the cave.
Pack List
- Camera
- Wide-angle Lens
- Tripod
- Batteries
- Memory Card
- Hiking Shoes
I've been to Ash Cave in just about every season, but its perhaps at its most picturesque in the winter when the waterfall freezes and creates a gigantic mound of ice that looks less like a frozen blob and more like fragile stalagmites. The path to get to the waterfall and overhang is relatively easy, with a section of it that's actually paved with asphalt. Just be certain to stay on the trail, I had a friend who got off the trail by about 15 feet and a park ranger caught him and actually charged him with a misdemeanor trespassing charge!
about 1 year ago
Jason HatfieldExplorer
Adventure and travel photographer based out of Denver, Colorado. I teach photography workshops and offer private guiding around the west. More at jasonjhatfield.com
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