Hiking with Doc

20200222 – Miller Sanctuary State Nature Preserve

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Date: 02/22/2020 – Distance: 3.8 mi – Elapsed Time: 2.5 hr – Ascent: 505 ft – Descent: 502 ft – Difficulty: Easy

Miller Sanctuary is an 86 acre State Nature Preserve in Highland County just outside of Hillsboro Ohio. It has some interesting dolomite cliffs. The cliffs actually extend on the opposite bank of the Rocky Fork River as well as upstream in nearby Highlands Nature Sanctuary, which is run by the Arc of Appalachia group. The trails traverse both the rim and gorge of this small park and are spectacular. Even though I was here before spring, I’ve heard the early spring wildflowers are good here as well with Trillium and Virginia Bluebells. The parking area along Barrett Mill Road is small and can only fit a few cars.

Park Entrance
Map at the trailhead about a half mile from the gate.

I first hiked the Arch Trail which features a natural stone arch which can be seen from the trail head kiosk.

Natural Bridge from the kiosk
You can see the Rocky Fork River below
Sign just past the kiosk pointing to the Arch Trail to the right
See the kiosk above and the ice below? The natural bridge is just beyond the ice.
Cliff just under the kiosk.
It’s hard to see but you can see light under the middle of the arch.
Natural Stone Arch
The cliff here is pretty intense.
Some ice fell when I was here (was 50F) and it scared me nearly to a heart attack.
Dolomite. Magnesium Limestone.
The cliffs on the other side of the river are just as intense.
This short loop trail is not hard to follow, but there are orange blazes.
Back at the top where I continued on the Falls Trail.
Just down the hill from the kiosk.
The Falls Trail is another loop which goes into the gorge and back along the rim.
There’s a bench just below the small falls at the bridge which is a nice place to contemplate the beauty of this place.
One of the falls at the beginning of the Falls Trail (from the bench).
Small recessed cave across from the bench.
Taking the Falls Trail counter clockwise. It looks they are building a new bridge.
Small stone pillar.
Down at the river again.
Another waterfall.
Pretty cool rock hanging over the falls.
Falls are about 10 feet high.
Sometimes these rocks are scary.
The trail continues along the river.
Large slump rock.
Cliffs on both sides of the river.
Looking back at that slump rock.
Nice view of the other side.
You actually have to go under this slump rock.
This looks scary.
These stairs climb the cliff at another stream.
Now at the top of the cliff, the trail heads back.
Looking back down the staircase.
This is the top of the second waterfall. You can see the balancing rock.
The river from the rim.
Another view of the first waterfall from above.
There’s the bench where I rested before.
An old rake at the start of the Tulip Tree Trail.
Tulip trees are tall and straight.
Back at the trailhead along the trail back to the parking area, there are a few cedars.
Younger cedars.

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