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Glen Helen Nature Preserve

The Cascades–Lower Birch Creek Trail, 3 sights

5 mi · ▲ 211 ft · 1 hr 46 min

The Cascades–Lower Birch Creek Trail, 3 sights is a 5-mile out-and-back in Glen Helen Nature Preserve near Yellow Springs, OH. The route reaches The Cascades at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 211 ft of elevation gain. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi853 – 978 ft5.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Little Miami Scenic Trail 39.78909, -83.88346
Nearest town Yellow Springs, OH
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Cascades–Lower Birch Creek Trail, 3 sights

5 mi · ▲ 211 ft · 1 hr 46 min

Elevation 852–976 ft

Out & Back · Glen Helen Nature Preserve

Trailhead: Little Miami Scenic Trail · 39.78909, -83.88346

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 8:47 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Little Miami Scenic Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.3 miSharp left, heading E.
  3. 0.5 miBear right, heading E.
  4. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  6. 450 ftBear right onto Upper Birch Creek Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Sassafras Grove Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Lower Birch Creek Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Oak Triangle Trail, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftReach The Cascades, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lower Birch Creek Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.7 miBear right onto Sassafras Grove Trail, heading S.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Upper Birch Creek Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.6 miBear left, heading SE.
  15. 450 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  16. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  18. 0.5 miSharp right onto Little Miami Scenic Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lower-birch-creek-trail-upper-birch-creek-trail-out-back

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 8:47 PM

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Little Miami Scenic Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Yellow Springs, Ohio