Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, in Greene County, Ohio, is located three miles east of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and immediately southwest of Clifton, Ohio.[1][2] The preserve constitutes 268 acres of gorges along two miles of the Little Miami River.[1]
History
Geologically, the canyon was cut into dolomite and shale bedrock dating to the Silurian Period some 400 million years ago.[3] It was created by meltwater from glaciers about 15,000 years ago.[3] The Little Miami River rushing through the narrow canyon created a water power source in the nineteenth century for grist mills, cotton mills, paper factories, and breweries.[3] But by the late 1800s, most of the industrial activity ended when water power ceased to be an economical source of energy.[4] Eight acres of the area was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1967,[5] and the upper gorge became a state nature preserve in 1973.[6]
Facilities
The preserve has a Nature Center, and three miles of trails for hiking and biking.[7] It also adjoins the 752-acre John Bryan State Park, which offers additional trails as well as boating, fishing, camping, and other amenities.[4][8] That park, in turn, adjoins the 1,125 acre Glen Helen Nature Preserve, which has its own 15-mile network of footpaths, and which includes the famous Yellow Spring that gave the nearby town its name.[9][10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve". Greene County, Ohio. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve". Google Maps. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Clifton Gorge Marker # 7-29". The Ohio Historical Society (accessed on Waymarking.com). Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "John Bryan State Park". StateParks.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Clifton Gorge". National Park Service. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Clifton Gorge". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "John Bryan State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Blog--The Yellow Spring... or is it?". Vanessa Query, The Yellow Springs News, November 10, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Yellow Springs, Ohio". Ohio History Central. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Glen Helen Nature Preserve". Glen Helen. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
39°47′38″N 83°50′02″W / 39.794°N 83.834°W
This page was last edited on 12 March 2023, at 11:44