Date: 09/26/2020 – Distance: 2.9 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.75 hr – Ascent: 318 ft – Descent: 308 ft – Difficulty: Medium
Charleston Falls Preserve is a 216 acre park in Miami County just north of Dayton, Ohio. Beautiful woods, open prairies, deep ravines, and a 37 foot waterfall over a recess cave carved in dolomite cliffs makes this park a joy to hike.
Sign at the entrance.
Trailhead kiosk.
Map of the trails.
The trails are nice here.
I’m heading for the Goldenrod Hexagon on the map.
It’s a nice prairie trail.
Goldenrod.
Back in the woods heading for the falls.
Kind of disappointed that the falls are dry. Cool cliff though.
There is a way to get down there.
A little history of the falls.
The stone is Dolomite, a Magnesium infused Limestone, common only in this area of Ohio.
The trail down to the base of the falls follows the cliff.
Dolomitebis harder than standard limestone.
Look at that recess.
Wow.
A view of the boardwalk below the falls.
And the creek below the falls.
This is the open area on the boardwalk, what a view.
From the side.
The trail follows the cliff on the opposite side.
Climbing toward the top.
Interesting cave.
This cliff is cool.
Hey, an Aster.
The trail wraps around the top of the cliff, back toward the falls.
This is the stream that feeds the falls, and today, it’s dry.
I continued the trails north from the falls.
That sounds interesting.
A little boardwalk through a small prairie.
There are several hills here to entertain your legs.
Prairie Dock.
Whoa, what’s that? An Obedient Plant.
The pond is small.
Cool sign.
Bladderwort is a carnivorous plant. It floats and has a bladder that sucks in prey and ingests it with enzymes.
Black Walnut is one of the first trees to turn in the fall.
If you are in the Dayton area, you must get a pizza from Marion’s. This one is in Huber Heights.
[…] a recess cave carved in dolomite makes this park a joy to hike. I have hiked all of the trails here before, and after recent rains and since I was in the area, I wanted to see the […]
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