Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave
Hocking Hills, Ohio · 852 ft
Typical peak
Oct 14 – Oct 22
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
A chute drops through a slot in Blackhand sandstone at the head of the Old Man's Cave gorge, with hemlock roots hanging over both walls. Shoot from the stone bridge or the stairs below, where wet rock and fallen maple leaves hold color under cloud.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
extreme
Expect heavy peak-weekend traffic; consider a weekday or arrive before dawn.
Getting there
Park at the Hocking Hills Visitor Center lot on OH-664 just south of OH-374 and walk 200 yards to the bridge over Upper Falls.
What turns here
- eastern hemlock
- sugar maple
- tulip poplar
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 18Typical color progression for Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave. No change from Sep 10 to Sep 27. First color from Sep 27 to Oct 6. Approaching peak from Oct 6 to Oct 14. Peak from Oct 14 to Oct 22. Past peak from Oct 22 to Nov 1. Bare from Nov 1 to Nov 15.
Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
69°F / 41°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave on October 18, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:15 AM |
| Sunrise Rises ESE · 102° | 7:43 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 8:19 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:15 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 6:11 PM |
| Sunset Sets WSW · 258° | 6:47 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:14 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 5m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises ESE, sets WSW.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.