A full moon rises opposite the setting sun, which means on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Hunter's Moon comes up over the eastern ridges of Hocking Hills within minutes of the 6:36 p.m. sunset — big, low, orange, and this year a supermoon. From the right deck you don't have to go anywhere. From the wrong one you'll miss it entirely.
Why the deck orientation matters
Moonrise is a horizon event. The dramatic version — the oversized orange disc clearing the ridgeline — lasts about fifteen minutes and requires a clear line of sight to the east-southeast. A cabin down in a hollow sees the moon an hour later, already high, white, and small. A cabin on a ridge with an east-facing deck sees the whole thing from a chair. In October the moon rises a bit north of due east and swings south through the night, so a deck facing anywhere from northeast to southeast works; a deck facing west gets the sunset and then the moon over the roof around 9.
Cabin types that get the show
- Ridge-top cabins with open decks. The luxury tier and the "panoramic view" listings off SR 374 and on the high ground east of Logan. These are the ones built for exactly this. Cabins with the best sunrise and sunset views sorts by orientation; a sunrise-view cabin is a moonrise-view cabin.
- Treehouses on the high side. Elevation plus an open deck. The treehouses built into ridges rather than hollows put you above the near trees. Treehouse cabins covers which is which.
- Lakefront near Lake Logan. Open water to the east reflects the rising moon. Lower elevation, but the lake gives you the horizon.
- Cabins with a cleared meadow or field edge. Farm-adjacent properties on the Laurelville and Sugar Grove sides often have an open field to the east. Read the photos for horizon.
What doesn't work: creek-bottom cabins near Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. Perfect for the fog, wrong for the moon. If you've already booked one, the fix is a short drive to open ground — John Glenn Astronomy Park a mile from the visitor center has the horizon, or any pull-off with an east view along SR 664 between Logan and the park.
The night, in order
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 4:30 p.m. | Last hike of the weekend — Conkle's Hollow rim or the Ash Cave loop in golden light. Be back at the car by 6:15; trails close at dusk. |
| 6:36 p.m. | Sunset. Moon clears the eastern ridge within a few minutes. Be on the deck with the drinks poured. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Light the fire. The Hunter's Moon bonfire is the night's centerpiece; have the wood delivered Friday. |
| 8:30 p.m. | Hot tub, lights off. The moon is high enough now to light the whole hollow. |
| 12:12 a.m. | Full phase, technically. Nobody needs to be awake for this. |
The supermoon question
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is near its closest point to Earth in its orbit. It appears somewhat larger and brighter than an average full moon — noticeable if you're paying attention, dramatic in photos with a long lens, and mostly an excuse to plan the night. The bigger effect is the "moon illusion" at the horizon, which makes any rising moon look enormous. Both are working for you on the 25th.
Photographing it from the deck
Phone cameras turn the moon into a white dot unless you use the telephoto lens, tap the moon to expose for it, and drop the exposure slider. A real camera with a 200mm+ lens on a tripod gets the orange disc with the tree line in silhouette. Shoot in the first ten minutes after moonrise while it's low and colored. The stargazing guide has the rest of the sky.
If the sky is cloudy
The moon is nearly full Saturday the 24th and Monday the 26th, and thanks to the autumn moon's shallow rising angle, it comes up only a little later each night — so you have three chances. If all three are overcast, you still have a ridge deck, a fire, and a hot tub on the last peak-color weekend of the year. That's a good weekend without the moon.
Book the east-facing deck
Ridge cabins and treehouses with the moonrise view. Search October 23–26.
Search live availability & pricing →Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Hunter's Moon rise in Hocking Hills in 2026?
Within minutes of the 6:36 p.m. sunset on Sunday, October 25, 2026, over the eastern ridges. It reaches full phase at 12:12 a.m. on Monday the 26th and is a supermoon this year.
Which cabins are best for watching the moonrise?
Ridge-top cabins with east-facing decks, treehouses on the high side of a ridge, lakefront properties near Lake Logan, and farm-adjacent cabins with an open field to the east. Creek-bottom cabins in the hollows see the moon late and high.
Can I hike under the full moon in Hocking Hills State Park?
No — park trails close at dusk. Plan a golden-hour hike that ends at the trailhead by about 6:15 p.m. on the 25th, then watch the moonrise from your cabin deck or an open spot like John Glenn Astronomy Park.