Hocking Hills Canoe Livery
Book Now

Fall Canoe Trip in Hocking Hills: The Quietest Weeks on the River

Fall Canoe Trip in Hocking Hills: The Quietest Weeks on the River

The months of September and October are when we tell our own friends to come. The summer rush is over, the water is quiet, and the hills on both sides of the river start showing autumn colors. Our fall season runs from September 8th through October 17th, and it is a short window.

Kayak on a calm river at peak fall color with red and gold trees.

What Changes After Labor Day

Summer weekends here are busy. Everybody wants the same Saturday morning slot, the sun is strong, and the launch schedule stays packed. By mid-September that all eases off. You will have long stretches of water with nobody in front of you.

The weather helps. Over the past decade, September in this area has averaged a high near 79 with lows around 60, and October has averaged 67 and 49. That means you can paddle for hours without cooking, and you stay comfortable even if you take a splash.

When the Color Peaks

The ridgelines along SR-664 turn first, then the color works its way down into the gorges. Mid to late October is the stretch most people aim for to fully enjoy the fall foliage. Sugar maples go red, birches turn yellow, and the oaks hold copper tones into early November.

From a canoe the view is different than it is from a trail. You are looking up at both banks at once, and on the calm sections you get to enjoy the reflections as well. A weekday trip in mid-October gets you all the color without any of the weekend traffic.

Two paddlers in layers on a quiet, cool-weather stretch of the Hocking River

Trip A or Trip B

Both routes run all season, by canoe or kayak.

Trip A covers 5 miles and takes about two hours at a comfortable pace. It’s good for a first trip, a short outing, or a day where you also want to hike. Read more on our Trip A page.

Trip B runs 7 miles and passes Natural Rockbridge, one of the largest natural sandstone bridges in the Midwest. You can even pull over and walk up to it. In October the hillside around the bridge is covered in color. Details are on our Trip B page.

Either way, our drivers shuttle you to the put-in and brief you on the way up. You paddle back down to your car, ending your trip right at the parking lot. Minimum age is 3, and life jackets are required for anyone 12 and under and for non-swimmers.

What to Wear in September and October

Fall paddling needs a few adjustments from your summer kit.

Layer up. A wicking base layer plus a light fleece you can peel off once the sun gets high over the trees. October mornings are genuinely cool.

Rethink footwear by late October. Water shoes and strapped sandals are fine in September. Closed-toe shoes keep your feet warmer once the temperature drops.

Bring a dry bag. Phone, keys, spare layer. The river is gentle but splashes happen, and wet gear on a cool day is miserable.

Keep the sunscreen. As leaves drop, the canopy thins and some stretches are wide open.

Pack food and water. Eat a snack or a packed lunch on a sandbar partway down the river. Remember to bring a bag for your trash.

Close-up of a red Hocking Hills Canoe Livery boat on the Hocking River

Fall Hours

From September 8th through October 17th:

  • Monday: 10am to 3pm
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 10am to 3pm
  • Friday: 10am to 3pm
  • Saturday: 9:30am to 3:30pm
  • Sunday: 9:30am to 3:30pm

Weekend mornings give you the widest launch window. Thursday and Friday are quieter. We take walk-ups when boats are free, but October weekends do fill up quickly, so reserve from our services page if your date is fixed.

Our season ends October 17th.

Add a Hike

Three of the best-known trails are a short drive away. Old Man’s Cave runs a mile and a half round trip through a gorge past two waterfalls. Cedar Falls is about a mile round trip into a narrow gorge. Ash Cave is the largest recess cave in Ohio, a horseshoe overhang 700 feet across, reached by a quarter-mile paved path.

A morning on Trip A and an afternoon at Old Man’s Cave fits comfortably into one day.

Why Paddle With Us

We have been on this river since 1996, when Aaron Fox started the business. It is still family run, and we are veteran owned. We handle the boats, the shuttle, and the route so all you have to do is show up.

If you want more than a day, we also have cabin rentals for a fall weekend of paddling, hiking, and a fire at night.

We are at 12789 State Route 664, Logan, OH 43138. Call 740-385-0523 or email info@hockingriver.com. Book before the October weekends go.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does your fall season run?

September 8th through October 17th, 2026. We are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays during that stretch, and the season ends on the 17th.

When do fall colors peak on the river?

Mid to late October is the usual window. The ridgelines turn first and the gorges follow a week or so later.

Is the water too cold to paddle in October?

No. You stay in the boat for almost all of the trip, and layers handle the rest. October days here have averaged around 67 degrees over the past decade.

Can we still go tubing in the fall?

Tubing is a Trip A option and depends on the water level. Call us before you drive down and we will tell you what conditions look like.

Do we need to reserve, or can we walk in?

We take walk-ups whenever boats are available. October weekends are the ones that fill, so reserve ahead if you are locked into a specific date.

Which trip is better for a first-timer?

Trip A. Five miles, about two hours, calm water, and it leaves time for a hike afterward.

What should we bring?

Layers, closed-toe or strapped shoes, a dry bag for your phone and keys, sunscreen, water, and a snack. Skip anything you would hate to get wet.