Rock House, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

© Kenneth Keifer/Getty Image

Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

The beautiful and cavernous Rock House is Hocking Hills State Park's only true cave and one of the Ohio park's seven main hiking paths. The cave is so named because it was used as a shelter by various dwellers in different periods. It also holds a fortified position, halfway up a cliff, thus making it look like a mighty stronghold. Long before European settlers arrived, the area's Native American occupants are believed to have used the Rock House as a refuge and for ceremonial purposes.

The walls of Rock House have seven openings that were formed by erosion. These 'windows' create an intriguing visual effect and allow sunlight to filter through, casting beautiful patterns inside the cave. Archaeological evidence indicates that the tiny recesses in the rock walls were used by the dwellers as baking ovens, while troughs gouged in the cave's floor helped them collect water.