Whispering Cave is a spectacular geologic formation. It is approximately 300 ft. wide and 100 ft tall. The cave is located within Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio. It opened for more public access in 2017 with the Hemlock Bridge Trail system. It is considered the second-largest recess cave in the Hocking Hills region behind Ash Cave. A seasonal waterfall cascades from the ledge above the cave — around 100+ feet tall when it’s flowing.
We noticed a bunch of cairns in the cave. Obviously, the cairns are not directional and were constructed by hikers for enjoyment only.
Man made stacked rocks on a trail is called a cairn. The term cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic word càrn, which translates in English as ‘heap of stone’.
Stacks of rocks have been used since ancient times and serve as navigational aids to make sure that you are following the correct path. Rock cairns are often located in areas of the trail where the path might fork, and hikers would potentially be unsure which direction to walk. Historically, they were also used to mark the location of a cache of supplies like food and water. It can provide a leave-no-trace way of keeping hikers on a trail.
However, directional cairns are discouraged by Park Rangers as it may lead hikers a wrong direction.
Also, never touch or add or remove rocks from a cairn. It may hold spiritual significance to the person that assembled it.
The Spiritual Significance
As well as being stacked for practical reasons, found in Japanese Zen gardens, or stacked as an art form, the practice can hold spiritual meaning.
Some people also make stacked stones to mark “vortexes,” which are areas where they believe that the energies of the universe are in complete harmony and balance.
Stacked rocks are also present throughout some Native American cultures. These hold a wide variety of meanings, including being a symbol of strength, a physical representation of prayer, or a sign about the location of food or water.
In Mongolia, stacked rocks are placed atop of burial sites and in cemeteries to honor the deceased.
In some Buddhist traditions, stacking stones has a spiritual meaning of a form of meditation or worship and an offering to Buddha.
Other people are known to stack rocks as a way to bring them good luck to the stacker and their family.
History of Whispering Cave
Whispering Cave is a recess cave formed in the Hocking Hills region’s characteristic “Black Hand” sandstone by erosion of the softer middle layer, leaving the over-hanging ledge and cave space beneath. It lies within the broader Hocking Hills region whose park lands began state acquisition in the 1920s.
The cave and its trails were previously inaccessible. It only recently opened for public use. The Hemlock Bridge trail and Whispering Cave access opened in May 2017.
The name “Whispering Cave” comes from the acoustic effect: a whisper at one end could be heard across the recessed cave span.
Location
The cave is located near the central area of Hocking Hills State Park, in Hocking County, Ohio.
Coordinates are approximately 39.425878, -82.551861.
From Columbus: about 1 hour.
Hiking Trails
The Hemlock Bridge Trail which opened 2017 provides the most direct access to the cave. There is a short spur called the “Whispering Cave Trail”. The trailhead is located near the Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center. There is plenty of parking and signage explaining how to access the trail.
From the parking lot it is about 0.7 to 0.9 miles to the cave.
A longer loop option: The “Whispering Cave Loop” is about 5 miles (one-way loop) starting near the visitor center / Old Man’s Cave area. It is considered strenuous.
It includes a swinging rope/bridge (on Hemlock Bridge Trail) over a ravine, sections with stairs and steeper terrain, hemlock forest canopy, and then the cave itself with its overhang and waterfall.
The area is open year-round from dawn to dusk, and trails are marked with blazes. The terrain is challenging as it is steep in some places and narrow.
It’s an alternative to the more crowded, most famous Hocking Hills spots, making it a great option if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path.
Conclusion
I actually noticed the Whispering Cave signage several years ago but never had a chance to hike it until this year. We came in from the Lodge, which is opened in 2022. My Dad had taken me in the early 70's to the original Hocking Hills Lodge which opened in 1970. It burned to the ground in 2016. We found out that they kept the original flagpole, a memorial stone, and a plaque commemorate the 1970 lodge. Also, pieces of retaining wall from the preexisting lodge, along with other significant geological and historical stones were preserved in the structure of the fireplaces. I was really upset that the Lodge had burned in 2016 because it was a sweet memory of my Dad who died in 1978, so I was very happy to see the new Lodge was fantastic. We really enjoyed the hike. The beginning was downhill a bunch of steps and then a gradual downhill to the cave. It made a long uphill climb back to the car. But it was worth the trip. I highly suggest you visit it. I plan to return to do the long loop of 5 miles soon.
