Hocking Hills Ash Cave Shelter
The campground is currently open for reservations and accepting overnight stays. Reservations are available up to 6 months in advance through ReserveOhio. Note that the restrooms near the Ash Cave parking area are closed indefinitely as of March 2026, though pit latrines across the road remain available.
Flood Warning issued August 11 at 12:35PM EDT until August 13 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
...The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers... Hocking River at Enterprise. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/iln. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Hocking River at Enterprise. * WHEN...From this evening to late Wednesday night. * IMPACTS...At 14.0 feet, Water spills into Kachemacher Park in Logan and onto low-lying roads near Haydenville Road at some locations along the river. Also, water will be across State Route 93 just south of Logan. Lowland flooding also occurs in Rockbridge. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:00 PM EDT Tuesday the stage was 8.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage this evening to a crest of 14.0 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage tomorrow evening. - Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
Flood Watch issued August 11 at 12:05PM EDT until August 12 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Indiana, including the following counties, Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland, Union and Wayne, Kentucky, including the following counties, Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Owen, Pendleton and Robertson, and Ohio, including the following counties, Adams, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Darke, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Hocking, Licking, Logan, Madison, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Shelby, Union and Warren. * WHEN...Through Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Several rounds of thunderstorms are expected into Wednesday morning. Locally heavy rainfall can be expected with the potential for storms to repeatedly track over the same locations. This will result in the potential for flash flooding.
Flood Advisory issued August 11 at 10:50AM EDT until August 11 at 1:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...Fairfield County in central Ohio... Eastern Franklin County in central Ohio... Hocking County in central Ohio... Licking County in central Ohio... Eastern Pickaway County in central Ohio... Northeastern Ross County in south central Ohio... * WHEN...Until 145 PM EDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Water over roadways. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1050 AM EDT, radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches are possible. - Some locations that may experience flooding include... Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington, Circleville, Bexley, Heath, Logan, Granville, Pataskala, Canal Winchester, Groveport and Ashville.
About
Hocking Hills Ash Cave Shelter provides one of Ohio's most unique camping experiences, allowing overnight stays in an actual rock shelter formation near the park's famous Ash Cave. The shelter features a built-in fireplace and basic toilet facilities, offering weather protection from the natural sandstone structure while maintaining a primitive camping atmosphere. This is a single-site accommodation that requires advance reservation through ReserveOhio. Ash Cave itself is the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi River, measuring 700 feet from end to end, 100 feet deep, and 90 feet from floor to ceiling. A seasonal waterfall cascades 90 feet into the cave from above. The area has historical significance as an Indigenous gathering place, with the cave's name derived from the large quantities of ash found by early settlers from centuries of campfires. The nearby trail to the cave is wheelchair accessible and approximately half a mile long. This shelter camping option is ideal for campers seeking a bucket-list experience prioritizing a unique natural setting over modern conveniences. Maximum stay is 7 nights, and due to extremely limited availability, significant advance planning is recommended.
Directions
From Logan, Ohio, head south on State Route 664 for approximately 10 miles, then turn west onto State Route 56. The Ash Cave parking area is located off State Route 56 in the southernmost section of Hocking Hills State Park.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $50 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 52ft |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (866) 644-6727 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Community Posts
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