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| - Yosemite it's not, but for beauty in the midst of the Akron-Cleveland area it cannot be beat. There are great ledges, a couple of very respectable waterfalls for the mideast, lots of wildlife (coyotes, wild turkeys, pheasants, vultures, hawks, the occasional eagle, etc), lots of great hiking trails, and some great facilities.
The only downside is the lack of camping; there are only three (!) camping spaces (not three campgrounds--three SPACES) in the entire park, and those are reserved for people passing through on the towpath bike trail and are really just places to pitch a tent. I would not want to see an RV park plopped down in this beautiful countryside, but a small, decent tent-camping area (or three) for ANY biker or hiker would be a great addition. Also MIA: nice lodging (chain motels are close-by, but nothing lodge-like). There is Stanford House, which is fine if you like skipping TV and sleeping in mostly bunk beds in a warren of small unadorned rooms in a historic farmhouse that last served as a hostel (with mostly shared bathrooms to boot). It will work for bikers and bohemians, but a lodge it isn't.
Last gripe: before it was a park, a few blights had a chance to spring up to mar the scenery: a couple highway bridges cross the valley, and the Weathervane area business strip and the Botzum Sewage Treatment plant can give riders on the towpath a "WTF" moment for sure. But they are small blips in an otherwise beautiful area, and you're through them in 10 minutes. Considering that the park cleared out all the vintage junkyards and other intrusions of civilization, it's much improved over its pre-park days, and it will now be preserved for all to enjoy.
Don't overlook assets such as charming villages (Peninsula is my favorite), and Hale Farm and Village (a re-created early 19th century village next door to the original, restored Hale Farmstead of that same vintage). Start in Akron at the Mustill Store trailhead and ride north into the valley--it's great. Or start at the north end in Valley View and head south. Getting tired? Flag down the train in selected areas (hours vary, plan ahead) and get a lift back for only $3. The visitors centers every few miles are free and very worthwhile as well. Rangers and townsfolk are friendly as can be. As noted in another review, a few of the bikers riding on the roads can be clods, acting as if they own the road rather than getting along with the vehicles, but again, it's a small blip on an otherwise good time in a great location.
I give Hocking Hills an edge in terms of wild canyon/ledge/forest scenery, but given that this park is in the much-more developed NE Ohio area vs the rural Hocking Hills area, this is still worth exploring--you wont be disappointed!
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