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Winter hike to Charleston Falls

Tipp City, Ohio

Details

Distance

1.75 miles

Elevation Gain

75 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by James Blumenschein

Charleston Falls has always been a favorite preserve for local families and runners. The cold temperatures of winter draws photographers and 'not-so-fair-weather' hikers to the 37', frozen waterfall.

The trails are wide, paved with crushed gravel and relatively even. So for an adventurer looking for a trail with a little more edge, Charleston Falls may not be the most ideal location.

The trail offers two routes to the falls: a short and a long route. The trailhead begins just east of the parking lot and immediately splits. Take the trail north and it splits again in about 1/8 of a mile. Take the trail right and the falls are about 1/2 a mile farther. If you are looking for a longer adventure, trek left at the split - and save the main attraction for the end of the hike.

Tracking left at the split, you wind, northwest, through a rolling prairie, catching glimpses of the woods as you go. The trails are clearly marked and you will eventually come to a marker pointing north to Cedar Pond. Taking that northbound trail, Cedar Pond is a short two-tenths of a mile up. Once at the pond, you can take advantage of the boardwalk and trail around the pond’s circumference.

Moving west and north from Cedar Pond, there are two trails that lead north to the same point, a bridge across a small creek. The creek is mostly frozen with areas of faster moving water exposed throughout the bends. For the next three-tenths of a mile, the trail meanders through the woods along the creek. A bench near the end of this section of trail is conveniently placed at the creek’s bank. Farther up from the bench, you’ll see a trail marker directing you to either Red Bud Valley or the Thorny Badlands.

Follow the Thorny Badlands Trail and you will almost immediately start up a good incline (75′ of relief over 660 linear feet) and end-up at a wooden tower that offers a great overlook of the northern acreage. Beyond the overlook, you move more uphill before the descent; after which you enjoy a nice stroll through a relatively young woods. Again, the trail is not entirely flat and you will run into some decent, yet short, inclines.

At about ½ a mile, you’ll come across another marker directing you to either Red Bud Valley or the Falls. From here, the falls are about .125 miles south. Like much of our area, this 37′ water fall shares a common Silurian nick point with many other regional waterfalls in our area. A boardwalk at the bottom of the gorge allows visitors to get a closer look. The falls may not be entirely frozen, but the ice is an impressive sight nonetheless. Columns of ice around the main feature compliments the icy attraction and are tell-tale signs of where groundwater seeps through.

You won't need a lot of gear for this short hike, but you definitely will not want to forget your camera!

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Features

Hiking
Forest
Lake
River
Scenic
Waterfall

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