⟶ Pre‑1600s — Indigenous Presence
The gorge around Cedar Falls was used for travel, hunting, and seasonal movement by Native peoples, including the Adena, Shawnee, and Delaware. Trails through the hollow predate European settlement by centuries.

⟶ 1782 — The “Road to Hell” Legend
Local lore tells of a captive who carved “This is the road to hell, 1782” into a beech tree near the falls while being marched along a Native trail. The phrase became one of the most enduring stories tied to the site.

⟶ Early 1800s — Settlers Misname the Falls
European settlers mistook the surrounding hemlock trees for cedars. The name “Cedar Falls” stuck, even though no true cedar species grow in the gorge.

⟶ Late 1800s–Early 1900s — Conservation Interest Grows
As the region developed, naturalists and local residents pushed to preserve the sandstone gorges and waterfalls. Cedar Falls became a highlight of early tourism in what would eventually become Hocking Hills State Park.

⟶ 1920s–1940s — Park Formation & CCC Improvements
The state began acquiring land for Hocking Hills State Park. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built trails, bridges, and access routes that shaped the visitor experience still used today.