Sugar Grove is the first taste of Hocking Hills country for visitors coming from Columbus on US-33. This small Fairfield County village of about 430 people sits just south of Lancaster and punches well above its weight — two state nature preserves, a growing winery scene, zip-line and canopy tour operators, and a cabin rental market that's expanded rapidly. It's close enough to Columbus for a spontaneous weekend trip and close enough to the main trailheads (Old Man's Cave is about 20 minutes south) to be a legitimate home base.
A 68-acre preserve managed by Ohio History Connection with trails through fern-rich forest, a boardwalk over a pond, and over 30 documented fern species.
A state nature preserve featuring sandstone cliffs and rare rhododendron blooms in late spring — a hidden gem with stunning ridge-top views.
A Hocking Hills winery with wine flights, flatbread pizzas, and desserts. Popular with couples and groups. Happy hour specials on Thursdays.
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours and Valley Zipline Tours operate nearby — some of the most popular adventure activities in the region.
Sugar Grove is about 45 minutes from Columbus and 15 minutes from Lancaster, making it the easiest Hocking Hills base for day-trippers or anyone who wants quick access to full-service grocery stores and restaurants.
Dates, guests, total budget, pets and must-haves are enough. Instead of sending you back to an OTA map, we’ll route the request to a small number of relevant participating Hocking Hills lodging operators.
Request cabin matches →Free for travelers. Not a reservation. Your request is shared only with up to 3 participating local operators that appear to match your trip; they may contact you directly.