Yellow Springs Hiking - 2023 Beautiful Ohio Hiking

Yellow Springs is located just west of central Ohio. Yellow Springs Hiking is popular for all ages and skill levels.

Visit Yellow Springs Hiking Area

Yellow Springs is a village located in Green County, Ohio. The total population of Yellow Springs Village is under 5000. The village had previously been occupied by the Shawnee Native Americans. It takes its name from a nearby natural spring with waters rich in iron which leaves a yellowish coloring on the rocks. 

Yellow Springs Ohio is coined as “Everyone’s Favorite Place” and we can see why! When it comes to Yellow Springs Hiking, there are several options! This article is divided into four sections for Yellow Springs hiking.

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve - Yellow Springs Hiking

Clifton Gorge State Nature Reserve is very popular. It is a 268-acre preserve that works to protect the local dolomite and limestone gorges. These gorges are spectacular and encompass a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State and National Scenic Rivers. 

There are 3 miles of Yellow Springs Hiking at Clifton Gorge. You can trek the Gorge Trail for 1 mile, the Narrows Trail for 0.5 mile, the Orton Trail for 0.5 mile, and the Rim Trail for 1 mile.

The park opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset. Pets are not permitted and remember to stay on the designated trail at all times. 

If you want to visit Clifton Gorge for some Yellow Springs Hiking, be sure to check here for park updates and directions.

Check out our article about Clifton Gorge! 

Glen Helen Nature Preserve - Yellow Springs Hiking

Glen Helen Nature Preserve is another great place for Yellow Springs Hiking. The legacy of Hugh Taylor Birch, who in 1929 donated Glen Helen to Antioch College in memory of his daughter. The preserve is over 1125 acres and is accessible by a network of footpaths. This area is perfect if you are heading to the area for Yellow Springs Hiking.

Glen Helen Multi-Trail Loop

The Glen Helen Multi-trail loop is a heavily trafficked loop that is considered a moderate hike. This loop features a waterfall. The trail is used mostly for hiking and walking and consists of gravel and blazed paths as well as stream crossings and views of cascades. Many hikers report that the trail is not marked well, be sure to print a map or save it to your phone before you head out. This trail is pet friendly, but be sure to keep your pup on a leash. 

Glen Helen, Little Miami, and Clifton Gorge

The Glen Helen, Little Miami, and Clifton Gorge is an 11.6-mile loop that is moderately trafficked. It features a waterfall and is great for hiking from March through October. This one is perfect for a frozen hike. Just make sure you are wearing good hiking boots.

Glen Helen Pine Forest Loop

The Glen Helen Pine Forest Loop is a trail that is pretty well known for its beautiful wildflowers! This makes it a perfect Yellow Springs Hiking Trail for flower lovers!

Glen Helen Inman Trail

Trails are open from dawn to dusk and you can explore over 20+ miles of Yellow Springs Hiking at Glen Helen.  There is a parking fee of $5 a car of $2 a person for group visits. For the Glen Helen Trail Map, visit here.

Check out our article about Glen Helen Nature Preserve!

John Bryan State Park - Yellow Springs Hiking

Image credit: Betty B on Flickr

When it comes to Yellow Springs Hiking, John Bryan State Park is a must-visit in the area.  It is a 752-acre park. Ten trails provide beautiful options for Yellow Springs Hiking. Some of the yellow springs hiking in this park do have wheelchair accessibility. 

In addition to traditional trails for Yellow Springs Hiking, they also feature a storybook trail at this site. This is great fun for young children! It makes for an interesting walk or “hike”. Besides hiking, there is also rock climbing, rappelling, and fishing in this park. 

Arboretum Trail at John Bryan State Park

The  Arboretum Trail is a 1.1-mile long trail that is perfect for beginner hikers who want a taste of hiking or just want a quick walk. This trail is a moderately hiked trail perfect for all skill levels. Others have noted that biking trails cross and run along parts of this trail, so keep your eye out for bikers who need to pass on the trail. 

Orton Memorial Monument at John Bryan State Park

The Orton Memorial Monument trail is just over 2 miles in length and is considered a moderately trafficked trail for all skill levels. It features a river and is great for hiking, walking, ruming and to view nature. Pets are NOT allowed on this trail.

South Gorge Trail and North Rim Trail Loop at John Bryan State Park

This loop comes in at 3.1 miles in length and is considered a moderately trafficked trail, which is pretty common for the area trails. The hike itself is also rated as moderate. It is great for hiking and viewing nature. Other hikers have shared that the trail can get very muddy, so plan ahead. 

Greene County Parks and Trails

More hiking is available on the Greene County Trails. This area is a little further out from Yellow Springs and closer to Xenia. There are five main trails:

• Creekside Trail - 11.7 miles
• Wright Brothers-Huffman Prairie Bikeway - 4.6 miles
• Ohio to Erie Trail - 14 miles
• The Little Miami Scenic Trail - 15.9 miles
• Xenia-Jamestown Connector Trail - 15.5 miles

Little Miami Scenic Trail

Image credit: Adventures4U on Flickr

The Little Miami Scenic Trail is one of the longest multi-use trails in the US. The trail is 78 miles long and runs from Springfield, Ohio to Anderson Township in southwestern Ohio. The part of the trail that runs through Greene County is 15.9 miles. There are various places to park along the trail, and an online trail map is available - you do have to register to view the map - registration is free.

Let's go!  Yellow Springs Hiking!

When it comes to hiking at Yellow Springs Ohio, you have some great options. We certainly recommend you check out all of the above. There are more trails than you could hike in a weekend! So bookmark this page, for your return trip for some more hiking. And don't forget to pack a snack for the trails, we love to bring along Bliss Balls.

Have you gone hiking at Yellow Springs? We would like to know where you hiked! Drop us a comment below and let us know!

If you love to hike and are in the central Ohio area, check out the Metro parks. We love heading to the metro parks like Glacier Ridge Metro Park, Scioto Grove Metro Park, Three Creeks Metro Park, Rocky Fork Metro Park, Blendon Woods and more!

Do you love the Yellow Springs area as much as we do? Let us show you some of the best things to do in Yellow Springs Ohio!

For a fun family day out "under one roof", be sure to check out Youngs Dairy, or Clifton Mills.

Remember to let us know if you have visited any of the places we've highlighted, or even if you know of anything we've missed! We would love to hear from you on team (at) visitohiotoday (dot) com, or simply let us know in the comments below.