Here Is The Most Incredible Natural Wonder Hiding Near Cincinnati
By Andrea Limke|Published September 15, 2017
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
There are many naturally beautiful areas within Cincinnati, but if you take a short drive northeast of downtown, you’ll discover a natural wonder that is unlike anything else in the state. The Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, found just outside of Yellow Springs, is a magical area, filled with natural beauty and mysterious formations. If you haven’t visited this gorge hiding near Cincinnati, you’ll want to make plans to check it out.
Just over an hour northeast of downtown, Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is a 268-acre preserve that protects one of the most incredible natural wonders in our state.
Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge is a part of the Little Miami State and National Scenic River. The Preserve includes four trails that give you different views of the gorge and surrounding features.
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The gorge itself is an amazing natural wonder and one of the best examples of post-glacial canyon cutting. The formations are simply breathtaking.
Since this is a nature preserve, pets are not allowed on the trails, so leave the furry friends at home. This historic area is constantly changing and it's important that we leave as few footprint as possible while enjoying the wonder of it.
Clifton Gorge is a lovely place to visit any time of year.
Winter is also enchanting, especially with a light dusting of snow and the ice formations that hang from the rocks. This is a scene from along the Orton Trail.
Springtime is especially brilliant, thanks to some of the best wildflowers in the state. The woods and trails are filled with colorful buds and unique flowers as the gorge comes back to life.
Clifton Gorge is adjacent to John Bryan State Park, so you can really spend an entire weekend in this area, exploring the natural beauty in both parks!
A short drive will take you to this naturally beautiful and historic area that’s perfect for exploring. Have you ever hiked around this incredible gorge? We’d love to hear your experience in the comments!
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve is located at 2381 State Route 343 Yellow Springs, OH 45387. For more information, visit its website here.
And for more interesting things to do in this area, check out our feature on Yellow Springs in our previous article here.
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