Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

No pets??? This nature preserve has decent natural views, but is lacking in basic groundskeeping and maintenance. It seems the State course to invest more in the fancy signs at the entrance than the actual trail itself. Uneven and unkempt trails, no trash/recycling, and no pets allowed?? Do better!

As I stepped into the nature preserve for the first time, I was filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. The sign warning of a high crime rate had made me uneasy, but I decided to push those thoughts aside. With no particular expectations, I wandered into the lush expanse that unfolded before me. To my delight, the preserve proved to be absolutely breathtaking. Cascading waterfalls echoed through the trees, their waters glistening in the sunlight as they tumbled over moss-covered rocks. The air was fresh, infused with the earthy scent of damp soil and blooming wildflowers, and the vibrant greenery all around was a feast for the eyes. As I strolled along the winding trails, I was captivated by the picturesque scenery—sunlight filtering through the canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows on the path below. It was a serene escape from the worries of daily life, and despite my initial concerns, I felt a profound sense of peace washing over me. In that moment, the beauty of nature held my undivided attention, easily eclipsing any fears I had about the area.

This nature preserve is stunning. If you are in the area, please don't miss it. It's amazing that you can be driving through cornfields and all of a sudden there's this! Be aware that the lower trail is a little more precarious and lots of rocks. Can be very slick if it has just rained. The upper trail is very easy to do. This preserve connects to the John Bryant State Park so if you want to make the trail longer you can head into the park. Today the flowers are beautiful. Every time I go there are different flowers blooming. Even if you only have a short time, you should still go here. Worth every minute.

Peaceful walk through beautiful woodland trails beside the river. Went midweek middle of the day. Easy parking a short stroll from Clifton Mill where you can get a hearty breakfast before hitting the trails. We went late May after a very wet spring so there was lots of white water creating stunning views down the gorge. There are plenty of look outs to take your photos. Some trails are easy others needed sturdy footwear and good balance as rocky path is quite slippery after the rain.

If you love Hocking Hills like I do you'll love it here. Great easy trail, no litter and spectacular views!

A beautiful hike at Clifton Gorge the other day with my two best friends. Our GPS on Google took us to this small parking lot right next to a neighborhood. The sign said "high crime area do not leave valuables in vehicles". My vehicle was ok when we were finished with our hike. Also no dogs allowed on this trail. The pictures do this area no justice. This trail is beautiful. I think we started at the perfect spot. There were spots along the wood trail to look out at the gorge. And some spots on the trail were fairytale-like. When we came to the stairs there was a nature center with two porta potties. It was nice to come across a restroom in the middle of your hike. We decided to go down the stairs and follow that trail then come back up on the north rim trail. This hike had all the things that I enjoy while taking in nature.

First visit here and surprised to find the park almost empty. This is a truly amazing natural landscape. I’d recommend this to anyone who can handle moderate hiking difficulty.

Nov 6 - Turkey vultures, waxwings & more The trails are beautifully maintained, clean, and easy to explore, making it an enjoyable outing. I particularly loved photographing the wildlife—the area is teeming with diverse species and offers plenty of opportunities to capture nature at its finest. The scenery along the gorge is stunning. That said, the stairs on the gorge trails are quite steep and can be challenging without the right footwear. I plan to return with proper shoes to fully enjoy everything the preserve has to offer.

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is my first state park I have visited in Ohio, and it did not disappoint. I'm not a hiker, but I found the trail to be a somewhat easy hike for a senior and the walkways and guardrails were well-maintained. There are lots of benches to sit on to take in nature, darling native plants, and plenty of interesting facts to read about along the trail. We saw photos and explanations of how the Little Miami River was used to power grist and cotton mills, paper factories, and breweries. In the information building, we were greeted by the very friendly ranger, who gave us a botanical identification brochure (it would have been very useful during the hike) and introduced us to the turtles in their enclosure. The preserve was quiet, and we enjoyed ourselves so much. This is just the start of our adventure of the Clifton Gorge, and there are so many more activities to explore. We hope to be back during another season when the water in the gorge is flowing more rapidly.

A truly beautiful Ohio state park. It is 260+ acres and backs up to another park- the John Bryan Park. You can take trails between both parks - so you can hike for miles! The little Miami river runs through it. We hiked a loop. Starting by at the North Rim trail by the nature center and taking it to its end, which actually is in the John Bryan state park. We then looped over to the John Rich trail and hiked back. The total hike approximately 4.3 miles. But of course, there are multiple trails and options for length of hike. What made this hike absolutely beautiful was the deep gorge and valley into the river. The northern rim is on top of the gorge and the John Rich trail follows at the base of the gorge alongthe river. There are stunning views from the top of the gorge looking down, as well as numerous places with bolts for rock climbing. It is heavily wooded and provides for nice shade in the warm weather months. Along the lower trail you can experience river up close. The views are stunning. We saw a large Great Blue Heron on the bank looking eagerly for its next meal. The heavily wooded area provides for a wealth of plant life including beautiful ferns and in the sunny spots, wildflowers. There are picnic areas located along the trails as well as benches and overlooks. There are no entrance fees.

CLIFTON GORGE: you can easily see why I love this part of the woods! First time hiking the Clifton Gorge Section of this trail earlier this fall. The views were just as good as John Bryan State Park, but on a whim, I think we caught more of the peak colors last fall as we went a week later this year: still gorgeous! //HIKING TIPS: You can park at the mill & walk or drive about .25 of a mile to a small parking lot. If it's full, you can pick up another lot near the nature center off State Route 343. Dogs are not allowed on this trail due to hazardous cliffs around the gorge area. If you do bring a dog, just start your hike in John Bryan State Park and do a loop. You'll still get views of the river, just not the large drop-offs. John Bryan State Park & Clifton Gorge connect. You can follow on the All Trails App. I did the Narrows to John Rich Trail to North Rim and maybe a little of Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Trail. These trails run parallel to each other and connect in a big loop, so you can't really get lost.

Well marked trails with great views. Bathrooms available along the way. Lots of parking and beautiful park. Kids play area with well maintained equipment.

Wow what a beautiful park!! Challenging hiking trails with scenic river views! I absolutely loved it! The gorge reminded me of Watkins Glen in New York. We only walked 3.5 miles but there's so much to explore and see.

A Grand nature tour in a day or less. We have enjoyed several times a year for the past 60 years. Totally Glorious experience.

It is cool but lots of people kinda small trail the water fall isn't far tho I recommend free to go

I had the most glorious day here at Clifton gorge. If you appreciate nature and all it's splendor, then this is the perfect place for you! I'd advise to visit in April or May, just when Nature shows off it's glory and charm!! I was thrown into a star of great awe! Taking in all the sounds and scenic views all around me, ever so enjoyable! Never new such a place existed, until my boyfriend took me there. This is a must go and explore for yourself, you won't be disappointed in the least.

Clifton Gorge is so gorgeous (ha ha). In all seriousness, this is a really lovely area with so much to see. While there are only about 3 miles of trails in the nature preserve itself, it connects to nearby John Bryan State Park, particularly with the new bridge across the river, providing access to a much larger group of trails. The steep and rocky areas, particularly when going down into and up from the lower Gorge Trail, also provides a nice bit of challenge, as opposed to a casual stroll. The Gorge Trail, as the name suggests, takes you down into the gorge itself, where you can walk along the river, check out waterfalls coming down the sides of the cliffs, scrambling over boulders and rocks, check out a slump block cave, and access the bridge across the river into John Bryan State Park. During the spring, it is also full of gorgeous wildflowers. This is a one mile trail. There is also a one mile Rim Trail, that takes you around the top of the gorge. Because of some of the overgrowth, some of the overlooks are a bit obscured when the leaves are on the trees and bushes. There are two 1/2 mile trails - the Orton and the Narrows. The Narrows Trail is very neat - it takes you right along the most narrow parts of the gorge. This is up top since it's so narrow in the gorge here that the river takes up the full space. There are plenty of overlooks with signage to both enjoy the view and learn some of the history of the area. This is a fascinating section, and one end puts you within a few blocks of the historic Clifton Mill. Pets are not allowed in the nature preserve, but are welcome in John Bryan State Park, so watch the signage to help guide your way if you are accompanied by a four legged friend. There are several parking areas available, but it can be popular, particularly on the weekends, so you can also refer to John Bryan State Park for additional parking opportunities, as well. Well worth a visit!

Tony Vanoy & I got up and decided to take Road trip into Ohio to go hiking at Clifton Gorge State Preserve. Free to enjoy!! BUT BEWARE there are several signs warning of High Crime Area. So Be Careful! Free parking and located on RT 434 outside of Clifton Mills, Ohio. The weather was very nice. There was about 30 groups of peeps in groups of 2 or more milling around enjoying the weather & sites. We will definitely go again when in the area. Highly recommend to all to enjoy!

Nice relaxing walk. Easy "hike". Down by the water the temp is cool but humid (obviously). Lots of signs to not leave valuables in car, but not many people were out when we were there, so no worries. Worth it! Porta potties by the maintenance center if needed. Took us an hour to walk the rim and connect to come back along the gorge bottom. Neat slump block "cave".

Amazingggg views Beautiful hike Great for young kids around 5 & up Also beautiful spot for pics

Clifton Gorge is a must see for nature lovers visiting the Yellow Springs area. In late spring, the trees are thick with foliage. Plenty of shade while enjoying the views of the gorge. Periodic overlooks have been built so hikers may enjoy the views without blocking the path. Different sections of the river run at different rates creating variations in the views. There is even a trickling waterfall. (Speed of a trickle during our visit.) Not much in terms of animals. Then again, the trail was fairly busy. We did see geese, some squirrels, and some small flowers. Trail itself is a fairly easy in and out. There are a number of exposed roots, stones, and stairs. Easy enough for the adults and older kids in our group. My youngest tripped a few times. Though that did not stop him from enjoying the hike. A lot of though has gone into the preservation and care of the trail. Not to mention creating an optimal viewing experience while balancing safety for visitors, and protection of nature. Unfortunately for us, the visitor center did appear to be closed. We would have liked to learn more. Some of the viewing areas do have little blurbs of information. I was not expecting to like the Clifton Gorge nearly as much as I did. Photos do not do the area justice. There is something about the whole experience. Hearing the rush of the water as one moves through the trail only for sound to desist upon reaching calmer water. The void created by stiller waters then being enveloped by chirping birds. It makes for something different than a standard nature hike. All the sights, smells, and sounds, it is quite the sensory experience.

Beautiful nature park to visit. They've woven in the pathways in a natural way both high and low and you can really take in great views of the scenery. Lots of parking options as well as paths to hike.

SUUUUUUUUUPER crowded now on weekends... Parking lot was too jammed to even try to venture in for a visit the second weekend of May. I hope "overuse" doesn't force this gem to temporarily shut down during the pandemic. Not sure about weekdays...

Such a beautiful place to explore if you're in need of a nature fix! Definitely pack some water and snacks as it does get fairly hot in the summertime and it does help to stay hydrated and have a little fuel to get you through a hike. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area!

Awesome experience and great food. The staff makes you feel a part of the family. I love the view of the gorge.

We did the easy hike which is a good thing because I'm old! Joking (maybe). My husband and son took the stairs down to the bottom of the gorge but I skipped that part. The views of the water were beautiful. The sun was streaming through the trees. Ahhh, so pretty. There are longer trails for those who are looking for more. Nice stop.

Worth a special trip from Columbus, Clifton Gorge is well-signposted and well-maintained, yet peaceful and relaxing. The trails have a range of lengths, suitable for anything from an hour to a full day. Would recommend.

Great place to hike- trails are well maintained and easy to get to from I-70. Close to Yellow Springs and Springfield, stayed at an Airbnb the night before our hike. Not as crowded as Hocking Hills but also not as many waterfalls. Several different parking lot options to choose from.

Beautiful place to hike, even when it's busy! It connects to another park as well so you can hike much longer than any of the smaller trails say. Beautiful trails and small waterfalls and rivers and cragly rocks.

Just your basic trails, not strenuous. The only thing I didn't like about this Clifton Gorge is that you cannot bring pets. My dog likes hiking with us and I was pretty upset that we couldn't bring him. It is very beautiful and scenic, but not so spectacular like some trails.

Very nice hiking park, you can take the hike route beside the river then went up to the higher side, and go with the loop to finish two hiking route, which is very nice and no need to repeat the route.. this park actually is connected with another park, you definitely could spend more time here.. but after two hours hike, we are exhausted.. definitely will come back.

This place is really cool. The food is a little pricey but worth it. The chicken strips are delicious. I get the chicken and waffle.

Ties into John Bryan Park so you can hike for hours. Trails are muddy after rainfall but that's probably the best time to go because the waterfalls and river rapids are full. Relatively flat hiking trails that have railings and metal hatched wooden walkways which are nice to avoid slipping. Nice river walk.

Park in the lot near the intersection of Jackson St and Water St (in Clifton) and follow the North Rim Trail to the west. The trail is pretty basic, but you still need to exercise caution as sections have sheer drops as well as a lot of roots and rocks that can trip you up. The wow factor kicks in once you realize that the Little Miami isn't babbling anymore - it is roaring! You are standing on the rim above a narrow chasm of noisy, rushing water. Overlooks are scattered all along the trail and each one is worth a stop. One of the overlooks tells the story of Darnell's Leap. Darnell was a member of Daniel Boone's outfit who was captured by Indians. Soon after his capture, he escaped, but his escape was soon discovered and he was hunted down. His captors caught up with him near this narrow part of the gorge, and the legend says that he miraculously lept across the chasm to avoid being recaptured. Much of the trail to the west of The Narrows follows the Little Miami River as it languidly babbles through the park. One especially scenic pool, named The Blue Hole, was the setting of a famous painting by Robert S. Duncanson. There are birds a-plenty, including honking Canadian Geese, hawks, and Blue Heron, and wildflowers such as jack-in-the-pulpit, trillium, Virginia Bluebell and wild ginger.

This is one of my favorite hikes. It's a beautiful trail with lots of overlooks. Great whether you are just strolling or going for more of a workout. Some of the sections of steps are steep, but it is a well maintained trail and, if I remember correctly, there are hand-rails at most of them. There is even a section where you can take either an upper trail or a lower one - you can take one trail in one direction and come back on the other. Very nice if you are like me and you don't like to back-track unless you have to. And best of all, the river and the gorge are just beautiful the whole way. The two times I've done this hike, I parked in the lot on Jackson Street just north of Water. There is another lot along 343, but I prefer the one on Jackson Street just because it's such a pretty place to start the hike.

Great hiking and amazing views from the cliffs. Stay on the trails, hikers have died going off the trails. There are easy trails for families with young kids and there are expert trails too.

We came to the Yellow Springs area for hiking and a little getaway. We started at Clifton Gorge. SO beautiful. Not overly crowded (like Glen Helen) and so many cool areas. The river is beautiful, the blue hole is so serene, loved the moss, rocks, cliffs, trees...we will definitely be back. Favorite part of our trip.

Parking is close to the trails. The trails are relatively easy to walk for the able bodied. There are lots of nice views of the creek/gorge. It's especially lovely here in autumn. The area seems pretty safe, crime-wise. You do have to keep hold of small or overly adventurous children, as there are several fall hazards very close to the trail. Nearby Clifton Mill is a good option for breakfast, lunch or dinner before or after hiking at Clifton Gorge. Yellow Springs is just a bit farther, and offers many more dining options.

It has been YEARS since I've been here and it was so beautiful. We got a tip to park off Jackson Street and start on the trail from there. I'm so glad we did because otherwise we would have missed some of the most scenic areas at the top of the gorge looking down on the river. This is a moderate hike with some gravel areas and then it gets more complicated as you make your way down to the level of the river - very rocky! Highly recommend wearing actual hiking boots. We went across the bridge and hiked on a less traveled trail until it was more muddy and we turned back. I would have liked to explore the trail to the right along the river (before we had crossed over the bridge) but we didn't have time (I think that one was a little more well traveled). I would recommend bringing a small backpack with water and snacks as you can easily spend hours exploring. It was beautiful though! A little busy due to going on the weekend and the fact that Glen Helen was currently closed so people had less options of where to hike in the area. There are plenty of places to eat in the area, and of course Young's Jersey Dairy is just around the corner!

Great hard hiking for all levels. There is a rugged trail close to water and higher trails which are easy hiking trails. Romantic as well with great scenery.

It's beautiful, I won't deny that. But it's very disappointing that this hike keeps you so rigorously on the trail. I prefer hands-on hikes, where you can tramp up the river, clamber down boulders, and generally get your hands dirty. If your preferences are like mine, you'll be disappointed. But it really is beautiful.

A long-time favorite hiking spot. Have enjoyed trail, gorge, and water views here during every season of the year and it never grows old or disappoints. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for rocky, slippery, or muddy paths and don't forget to bring a camera. There are usually friendly hikers to meet along the way, yet it's easy to feel as if you have the whole, magical place to yourself. Clean trails, many beautiful spots to stop for snack or water breaks. Yes, mosquitos can be bad in summer or after a rain. Highly recommend if you're looking for a restful place to walk & re-charge your batteries.

It's a lovely area, but it is more of a stroll along crowded paths and less of a hike. Also, we encountered multiple people on the trail SMOKING and leaving cigarette butts behind. I have never hiked anywhere where people were smoking cigarettes on a trail...much less a crowded one. The trail along the river is much more interesting than the North Rim trail. Lots of wild flowers. But if you are looking for a hike with some rigor where you are not surrounded by the masses, this is not the place.

This place was awesome. We hiked three different trails on a Sunday. Great time. Loved it.

One of the most beautiful hikes (very short) in Ohio. The gorge is breathtaking, especially if there has been rain.

This is a very very beautiful park and hiking trail. Definitely worth the visit for anyone who likes nature. Drive to John Bryan State Park Campground and park in the southern most parking lot to have a nice short walk (about 20 steps to go down and back up) down to the river. The other parking lots in the reserve have many more steps that might be too much for people who have kids or are out of shape.

As far as hiking in the Dayton area goes, this is about as good as it gets. You might even trick yourself into believing that you've wandered into Appalachia for a minute.