'Like Disneyland in February crowded': The worst bad reviews of Hocking Hills State Park

Erin Couch, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Hocking Hills State Park receives approximately 3 million visitors each year, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Many visitors complain of crowded trails and limited parking.
Hocking Hills State Park receives approximately 3 million visitors each year, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Many visitors complain of crowded trails and limited parking.

Three million people flock to Hocking Hills State Park each year to experience the natural beauty of southeast Ohio. Not all of the park's campers are happy ones, however.

The 10,000-acre park boasts a trail system, rock formations, waterfalls, recess caves and other natural features that become a draw to outdoorsy individuals. Hikers trek through miles of trails to find the park's signature sights, like Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls.

Hocking Hills is a popular trip for Ohioans and beyond. But some visitors are ready to leave Hocking County in the rearview mirror forever, citing overcrowded trails, dirty campgrounds and excessive citations from park rangers.

Here's are some of the worst bad reviews we found about Hocking Hills online:

Reviewers complain of overcrowding, poor campgrounds, strict rangers at Hocking Hills State Park

Among Hocking Hills' worst Google reviews:

  • "I'm going to tell you how awful this place is so maybe it will be less crowded the next time we go."

  • "Crowded. Reeked of cigarette smoke. No control of children. No respect for nature amongst guests."

  • "Used to be a quiet place to go and enjoy nature and get away from the chaos. Now its become a major tourist attraction full of idiotic wokies, snowflakes, and liberals."

  • "(The ranger) then wrote THREE citations for $135 EACH. One for myself, another for my teenage son, and another for the car being in the parking lot" after dusk.

  • "Horrible no directions and walked in circles for hours walked over 10 miles would not repeat."

  • "I did not like how there were no hills or raccoons I could fry in my skillet. I would not suggest this area for frying raccoons."

  • "Bad trip cabin smelled like a dead animal it was spooky trail was no fun lots of bugs hot tub dirty."

  • "There was nothing 'getaway' about this getaway we took. There were screaming children everywhere all over the main part of the park, unhealthy, overweight individuals walking through the trails in SANDALS."

  • "Time. Waste."

  • "Scenery is nice. Campground facilities were terrible. Campsites were terribly unlevel, the sewage treatment facility smelled horrible and the bathhouse/toilets were constantly wet and dirty."

  • "Beautiful scenery, but so crowded. Like Disneyland in February crowded."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The worst bad reviews of Hocking Hills State Park