Rounding out the year and reminiscing about all my favorite hikes, John Bryan State Park gets the Ohio vote for the best fall hike. It has all the views of its sister park: Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve, which is literally within walking distance of the state park, but an extra treat: John Bryan State Park allows you to take along your pet.
If you’re looking for something that feels like you are out of town but don’t want to travel, this green space is perfect for those Red River Gorge vibes. Located about an hour north of Cincinnati, Yellowsprings offers a perfect day trip with plenty of things to do and see for the family or solo-traveler. It’s here in this small town that you’ll catch my favorite hike—and locally known favorite hike—through this state park following the John Rich Trail to North Rim to the Pittsburgh Connector Trail.
Catch this hike mid-October for all the golden yellow leaves of the birch trees then grab ice cream down the street at Young’s Dairy or dinner at the Clifton Mill. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite fall traditions in Ohio!
JOHN BRYAN HIKE DETAILS:
Ridge Trail to South Gorge Trail to Pittsburgh Connector Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 1.5 - 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate + option to scramble down to the creek or to the top of the gorge
Option for Extension: add on a few additional miles through Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve
OVERVIEW: Easy for all ages and families, this trail gives a great picture of the surrounding gorge with trails parallel to both sides of the creek. You can do a large loop or turn around when you are ready to make it an out-and-back.
This path is well-trafficked and easy to navigate. It does climb rolling hills both up and down through sometimes muddy or rocky and rooty terrain. The trail does allow for opportunities to climb over rocks and get closer to the water.
WHAT TO BRING: I would wear hiking boots, especially if you would like to check out the creek or rock scramble. If you have trekking poles, they would be helpful on the South Rim portion or if you continue into the gorge.
PROS: this trail is easy to follow, as it is a loop. You get views of the creek during the entire hike plus landscape views when you cross over both bridges at the beginning and halfway point. Half of the hike has rolling hills and the other half is mostly flat. If you want to start with more of an incline, I would go counterclockwise and keep the creek to your left.
CONS: Although you still get views of the gorge through John Bryan State Park, the best view of the gorge is located just beyond the border of John Bryan State Park in the Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve— which does not allow pets due to the hazardous cliffs.
TIPS:
There are several bathrooms and designated parking lots, located at various trailheads throughout John Bryan State Park.
There are lots of picnic areas, playgrounds and green spaces to enjoy throughout the park— as well as Ohio State Park’s StoryBrook Trail: a small hike with a story printed along the trail.
Download the trail map on your mobile device beforehand or take a picture of the map when you arrive in the park. Cell phone service is spotty in this area of Yellow Springs, especially down in the gorge. There are trail maps posted on site.
Short on time? Park at the nature center in the lot off of 343. Take the stairs down to the gorge underneath the nature center and continue until you hit John Bryan State Park and see the bridge on your left. Cross the bridge and explore a bit of South Rim Trail and the creek. When you’re ready, retrace your steps back to your vehicle. This is a shortened version of the trail and gives you all the views.
How to get here: you can easily plug John Bryan State Park into your GPS. If you’re using the AllTrails app, search for John Rich Trail loop in John Bryan State Park or the Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve. If you are struggling with cell phone service, you may get reception down the road at the Clifton Mill.
HAVE EXTRA TIME?
If you have any extra time or want to extend your hike, I would add on the Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve. Due to the ravines and drop-offs, dogs are not allowed on this section of the trail.
CLIFTON GORGE NATURE PRESERVE TIPS:
In order to start with the Clifton Gorge hike, you can park at the Clifton Mill and walk or drive past the mill about .25 of a mile to a small parking lot. If it’s full, you can drive to 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 through the South Rim Trail & the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati connector trail. You’ll still get views of the river, just not the large drop-offs.
John Bryan State Park & Clifton Gorge connect. You’ll see a large sign on the trail announcing the end of Clifton Gorge and the beginning of John Bryan. If you have a dog, your hike will need to be a loop taking both bridges: one bridge crossed the creek at the South Rim trailhead and the other is located at the entrance of Clifton Gorge. You can’t miss it.
If you want to explore the gorge, you’ll continue towards the nature center. There are a few trails to explore with signs explaining directions; however, if you parked in John Bryan State Park, the section of your hike will be an out and back. Just turn around when you have seen all you wanted of the gorge.
EXTENSION HIKE DETAILS:
If you are wanting to add on the views of Clifton Gorge and view the nature center, it’s easy to add on this additional mileage.
Starting with the parking lot near Clifton Mill, take the Narrows to North Rim Trail
At the nature center, take the stairs down to the gorge. This path runs parallel to North Rim but you get view of the gorge through the nature preserve.
Continue this trail into John Bryan State Park and take the bridge across the creek to pick up the South Gorge trail.
Follow South Gorge Trail, parallel to the water until it ends in a a bridge.
Cross over the bridge near the entrance of John Bryan State Park and take the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Trail back towards Clifton Gorge.
Retrace your steps through the gorge and back through the narrows for a long hike and a sampling of both parks: John Bryan and the Clifton Gorge.
This is one of my favorite Midwest hikes and is exceptionally gorgeous in October during peak season—add it to your list!
