HOCKING HILLS, Ohio — When it comes to fall colors in Ohio, the Hocking Hills area can be hard to beat.
The leaves are finally starting to turn, so now is the perfect time to head to the southeast part of the state to experience autumn in all of its glory.
10TV sent a crew to check out some of the many ways — other than driving — to see the fall foliage.
10TV's Brittany Bailey first checked out the Superzip at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.
The dual zipline takes adventurers down a quarter-mile-long ride from an 85-foot tower down through the trees and over the Hocking River. Riders can either sit or lie in the "superhero" position while reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
The company also offers tree canopy tours and Segway rides along the trails on the property.
"(The Segway) should go up and down hills, no problem, over sticks and logs like it’s nobody’s business, and you can get out much further, much quicker, every time," said Alec Rogers, assistant manager for Hocking Hills Canopy Tours. "Honestly, I’d say it’s one of the better ways to do it now because you can hop right off, you can hop right back on, and honestly, it’s a fun story to have at the end of the day."
From there, it was off to meet Harry Sowers, the pilot behind Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tours. Sowers has been flying for 51 years, and he operates out of the Vinton County Airport.
"You get a new perspective of the hills and how the glaciers came down here and formed the hills and the lakes and things, and, plus, in the fall, it’s very, very beautiful. We have every color under the rainbow," Sowers said of seeing the leaves from above. "It just looks like a giant canvas painted with millions of different leaves of colors, so it’s really, really pretty."
The plane can seat up to three people, plus the pilot. Sowers also offers flight instruction.
For those wanting to stay a bit closer to the ground, Touch the Earth Adventures offers kayak rides in parts of Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Cape Cod.
10TV took a spin around Lake Hope to see the fall colors just starting to peek out near the water's edge.
"It’s like a hike through the woods, only you’re floating," guide Mimi Morrison said. "You can really kayak right along the shore, so you get to experience the trees from a whole different perspective. It’s just good for your soul."
Finally, it was time to head back toward the skies for some rappelling with High Rock Adventures. The crew offers various cliff rappels, from a height of 35 feet for the faint of heart up to a height of 90-plus feet for those more daring.
"It’s definitely a break from the routine," said guide Martin Strange. "If anything, it gets you out into the woods. It’s not always an everyday opportunity for people. It’s definitely usually a special experience every time, so this helps facilitate that."
Visitors also can try out rock climbing or take an eco-nature tour to learn more about the history of the area and sample edible plants and flowers.
For more information on the various adventures in the Hocking Hills area, visit Explore Hocking Hills.