My daughter, Maggie, and I took a drive north recently to visit Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park. It has been several years since I made the trip. Winter may not host ideal temperatures for hiking, but the season unleashes a starkness to the trees and a crispness to the air and the water which I thoroughly enjoy. I find winter hiking to be therapeutic and refreshing.
This hike was no different. The trails aren’t packed and the winter views of the river and the woods are phenomenal. As you hike along the trails, you can really get away from the distractions of life and focus on the beauty of nature. Join me for a walk along the Little Miami River as it passes through the Narrows and beyond.
Narrow it Down
When you park in the lot specifically for the gorge in the town of Clifton, you will enter Clifton Gorge at a place referred to as the Narrows. Here, the Little Miami River enters the preserve in between very high cliffs of dolomite and limestone. The river rolls through this area very quickly with several rapid areas. It is very cool to watch the rushing water. Photographs are challenging, especially in season, due to the trees and the steep drop-offs to the river. Wintertime does afford you the best view of the river and rapids.
We discovered an interesting story about a man named Cornelius Darnell getting separated from Daniel Boone’s party. The Shawnee pursued him into the gorge area. At this point, Darnell supposedly leapt over the narrow chasm and made it to safety by grasping a tree on the other side. Maggie and I spent time looking for a possible location. The leap seems possible. The chasm seems to be less than 20 feet in several places. The landing and its subsequent impact would seem to be the problem. We did not attempt to recreate the stunt.
Clifton Gorge
Past the Narrows, you head directly down into the gorge. The trail winds over rocks and around trees between the Little Miami on one side and the cliffs of the gorge off your other shoulder. Your head will swivel between the rapids in the river and the waterfalls flowing over the top of the rim of the gorge. Plenty of photo opportunities.
At the end of Clifton Gorge, you move directly into John Bryan State Park on the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Stagecoach Trail. I could not find any information on the history of the trail, but I have to believe it could have been part of a route that stagecoaches would have taken from Cincinnati to Springfield, OH to access the National Road, now US-40. From there, travelers could head east or west. We had no such aspirations, and therefore, continued to head down river.
We followed the Stagecoach trail 1.3 miles along the river, passing small limestone caves and more waterfalls coming over the rim of the gorge. As you hike downriver, the area flattens out and the river slows down and widens. It’s a nice relaxing stroll. At the end of the trail, you can choose between a foot bridge to loop back upriver or a connector spur that runs back uphill to the North Rim trail. We headed to the rim, since the bridge was closed.
Fill it to the Rim
As it name implies, the rim trail runs along the top of the gorge. It offers nice views from above. Unfortunately, the waterfalls coming over the top of the gorge all drain over the north rim. Consequently, you can watch the waterfalls run over the edge but you cannot see panoramic views of the falls across the gorge. Oh well. We enjoyed our walk in the woods high above the canyon below.
We hiked 5 miles and covered the distance in 2 hours. The trails are relatively flat. There are a good deal of rocks and roots, especially in the gorge area. There are stairs down from the rim on one end and a rocky ascent on the other end. I would rate the trails from easy to moderate. With the heavy traffic on these trails, you will not have any problems staying on the trail. If you take kids, beware of steep drop-offs and uneven footing. The trails do have plenty of railings. It would take mighty determination to get off the trail and into the river. We were not that determined.
If you want to hike more, you will find more miles of trail connections in the John Bryan State Park. In addition, the nearby village of Yellow Springs has enough exploration available to fill an entire day or multi-day adventure. Perhaps, I will explore that area soon, including Glen Helen Nature Preserve, and add an article onto the page. Until then, enjoy your next adventure.
