Hikers enjoy the view at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan.

Hocking Hills State Park ranks among "The 50 Most Beautiful Places in America," according to Condé Nast Traveler, joining places like the Grand Canyon, the Badlands in South Dakota, the Everglades in Florida, Crater Lake in Oregon and many more.

And it's not the first time the park in Southeast Ohio has been noticed by a national publication.

Here's what Condé Nast Traveler said about Hocking Hills State Park and the other honors it has received.

Why Condé Nast Traveler says Ohio's Hocking Hills State Park is one of the most beautiful places in the nation

The travel magazine has this to say about Hocking Hills in its unranked list:

"Open (and beautiful) all year round, Hocking Hills State Park is packed with hiking trails that pass by waterfalls, cliffs, thick forests, and gorges canopied by hemlock trees. The trail leading to the Whispering Cave—a 300-foot-wide recess cave with gentle waterfalls—is particularly lovely."

And if the detail that there are 50 spots makes you think the publication just chose one from each state, think again. Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming, among others, get multiple mentions.

Sites in states neighboring Ohio to make the list include Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, Indiana Dunes National Park, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan.

Previous honors and awards for Hocking Hills

In 2024, it had the Best Hiking Trail in the nation, as decided by readers in USA TODAY'S 10Best ranking. Forbes listed it among the Best Places to Travel in 2023. Also, Hocking Hills topped U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Visit in Ohio that same year.

Whispering Cave trail named Best Hiking Trail in USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice 2024

Whispering Cave is one of several trails at the park. According to the 10Best article, the 5-mile loop takes hikers over a swinging bridge and features the second-largest cave in the region, with a 105-foot seasonal waterfall flowing to the floor below.

Whispering Cave beat out trails in Yellowstone National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the trail to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, a fact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources bragged about on Facebook. "Well, well, well...Hocking Hills State Park beat out some impressive hikes to claim the top spot for USA TODAY's 2024 Readers' Choice for 10 Best Hiking Trails!"

Things to do at Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills offers seven hiking trails, according to its website, with Whispering Cave being the longest. The other trails range from a quarter mile to two miles in length, and from easy to difficult.

Apart from hiking, Hocking Hills offers boating and fishing at Rose Lake, mountain biking on two 2-mile trails, hunting in designated areas, stargazing at John Glenn Astronomy Park, and an archery range, among others.

Hocking Hills Lodge and Conference Center

The newest state park lodge in Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park Lodge offers modern accommodations in a rustic setting, according to its website.

It has 81 guestrooms as well as 40 cabins (some pet-friendly) available to rent, as well as several restaurants and pubs. The venue is also available for weddings, retreats, meetings and other events.

The lodge is among seven named Best in Lodging in Midwest Living magazine’s 2024 Best of the Midwest list, which lists the 25 best Midwest spots for lodging, food and drink, and more.

"As the first new state park lodge in Ohio in more than 30 years, it’s a transformative addition to a region known for hiking but not big hotels," the magazine wrote.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hocking Hills ranks among most beautiful spots in US, per travel magazine. Here's why