The gorge's walls
consist of Black Hand Sandstone. Sandstone
is a very porous substance and much more
susceptible to erosion than many other types
of rocks. The stream slowly eroded away
portions of the sandstone, resulting in the
ravine. Hemlock trees thrive in the gorge.
Early white settlers mistook the hemlock
trees for cedar trees and incorrectly named
the falls. At the top of the falls, the
remains of a gristmill still stand. Early
settlers built the structure in the 1830s,
using the stream to power the mill.
Some of the things
visitors will see along a half mile section
of the trail at Cedar Falls include a gorge
and moss covered sandstone cliff. Remains
from a gristmill from the 1800’s can still
be seen by Hikers. Access to other Trails
from Cedar Falls are the Buckeye
Trail, Ash Cave and Old Man’s cave. This
part of the Buckeye Trail is also known as
the Grandma Gatewood Trail and features a
6-mile section for Hiking. This Trail is
part of two national trials: The North
Country Scenic Trail and the American
Discovery Trail..
Cedar Falls Hours
Day-use
areas of Hocking Hills State Park open half
an hour before sunrise and close half an
hour after sunset. The park is available for
recreational use year-round including the
Cedar Falls area.