[4] History of the Park More than 330 million years ago, the area was relatively level and covered by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

After millions of years, the ocean receded, and the sandy layers bonded with silica to form the Black Hand Sandstone that underlies the area.

When the Wisconsin Glacier began melting back to the north about 10,000 years ago, the landscape would undergo dramatic changes.

When the glacial torrents found cracks in the hard capstone, the water poured through to flush out the soft middle layer.

In just a few centuries, the rushing waters of the glacier carved the soft middle layer of sandstone into the myriad dimples and wrinkles that decorate the cliffs and grottos today.

Early settlers in Muskingum County found an ancient black human handprint on a cliff that is part of this same sandstone formation.

[8] The campground is close to all of the hiking trails in the area and has flush toilets, shower houses with hot water, vending machines, a camp store, a pool, and other amenities.

[9] A full-service resort lodge, Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center, opened in the state park in autumn 2022 and offers 81 guest rooms as well as a full-service restaurant, fitness room, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

It features many private inns, campgrounds, cabins, restaurants, and other related businesses, including a recently developed zipline.

[30] Some trails[31] in Hocking Hills State Park include: Many of the adventures in Jeff Smith's comic book series Bone take place in Old Man's Cave, a place inspired by the Hocking Hills State Park, which Smith enjoyed since he was a child.

The waterfalls of the park also influenced Smith's frequent use of water as a recurring visual element in Bone, calling it "an age-old storytelling symbol".

On the south side, Camp Oti-Okwa, owned by Big Brothers-Big Sisters, is also a sizeable protected area.