Scenic Outdoor Activities

Equestrian Ridge offers a number of riding options:

• Meadow Ride- great for families and small kids. An hour long stroll through the rolling meadows.
• Four Seasons Trail Ride-Available year round. No steep drops or  difficult hills, this ride is a scenic ride through the meadows and wooded hillsides. Great for all experience levels.
• Hilltops and Hollers Ride- Variable ride, this ride is adaptable depending on your choice of meadows, hilltops or wooded hillsides. This ride lasts about 90 minutes.
• Caves and Secret Places- this 90 minute ride goes into the hillsides to explore the rocks, caves and waterfalls hidden in the wooded forest. This ride is not for beginners and may not be available after heavy rains.
• Horsing Around Ride- Private ride, perfect for couples or family outtings. This ride will simply be your, your special someone and your guide. Ride lasts 60-90 minutes and can be a variable mixture of wooded trails or rolling meadows, up to you!

• 26711 Pumpkin Ridge Road New Plymouth OH 45654
• The closest option! Only 15 minutes from Cherry Ridge Retreat!

Beginner,  Intermediate and Expert trails available, so you can enjoy at all experience levels!
In addition to a traditional horseback ride, there are a few unique offerings available:

• Breakfast with the Horses
  Bond with and get to know your horse before your ride.  You will feed, brush and saddle the horse with help from the expert guides, plus you get your own breakfast of bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy and a drink! Yum! This package is a bit over 2 hrs, 1 hour to eat and say hello to your horse and 1 hr to ride!
• Picnic with the Horses
  Bring along a lunch to put in your saddle bag! Ride out to a beautiful and scenic area and enjoy your food and the view! This package is 1 hr ride and 1 hr meal time.

• 25851 Big Pine Rd, Rockbridge OH 43149
• 30 minute drive from your Cherry Ridge Retreat cabin!

Located near Lake Hope state park, Uncle Buck’s in a local favorite.

Choose from 3 trail options:

•  Coal Bucket Trail- A 1 hr ride on the coal bucket trail, perfect for families and riders of all experience levels!
• Lookout Rock trail- A beautiful 2 hour ride that winds down to Racoon Creek (the longest creek in the world) and passes under Lookout Rock!
• Moonville Ride- A 2.5 hr ride, touring through the “haunted” Moonville tunnel and through the Moonville cemetery! 

Also on property is the The Lady Buck Saloon, an old west style restaurant to have a nice drink and meal after your ride!

• 73930 Buck Lane, New Marshfield, OH 45766
• Only 33 Minutes from Cherry Ridge Retreat!

Over 20 different trail options available, ranging from beginner to expert riding level.

Unique offering: PRIVATE RIDES. For an additional charge, you’re guaranteed  a private ride. Only you and your special someone and your guide on your ride, no screaming kids or chatty strangers to ruin your perfect private horseback ride.

Not ideal for kids, most trails are too extreme for little ones!

• 18920 Keifel Road Laurelville, OH 43135
• Located 36 minutes from Cherry Ridge Retreat

Spotted Horse Ranch offers some unique riding packages:

• One Hour Ride
• Two Hour Ride
• Cowboy Cookout Ride, consisting  of a two hour ride, then off to a meal cooked over an open fire. After an hour or so of eating and socializing, you’re off on the trail again for another couple of hours of trail riding before riding back into the sunset.

• 17325 Deffenbaugh Road Laurelville Ohio 43135
• Located 42 minutes from Cherry Ridge Retreat

HISTORIC TRAIN RIDES IN NELSONVILLE, OHIO

The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization primarily operated by volunteer members and dedicated the restoration, operation and maintenance of historic railroad equipment for the education and entertainment of the general public. Since our founding in 1972, we have operated historic train rides out of Nelsonville and restored numerous historical locomotives, passenger cars and more.

• [email protected]
• 33 West Canal Street
  Nelsonville, OH 45764

Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Company, Ltd. offers a variety of ballooning services. As a full-time and full service hot air balloon company featuring rides, Southern Ohio FAA-certified maintenance & inspection facility, (FAA #R4BR027N), as well as retaining SW Ohio's only FAA designated pilot examiner.

• Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Co. Ltd
  Warren County Airport
  Hanger 8-J
  2460 Greentree Road
  Lebanon, OH 45036

This year take your vacation expectation WAY UP! Come fly the sky trails above the scenic vistas of the Hocking Hills and capture the wonder of the region's natural beauty. Clearly see the fascinating geological footprints preserved from antiquity. Entertaining info and special points of interest offered by our local, veteran pilot with 40 years' flying experience and tour guiding talents. Cameras are recommended and reservations appreciated.

• Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tours
  66285 Airport Rd.
  New Plymouth, Ohio
• 740-649-2207

The John Glenn Astronomy Park is a project of the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, a non-profit (501c3) membership organization for people who love the Hocking Hills and take special interest in improving Park features and preserving it for the enjoyment of future generations.  Please visit the FHHSP website for more information about other projects and activities.