A natural spring, a grotto, a quaint hotel, and a dairy with miniature golf was all part of our adventure in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
It is located between Dayton, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio. It is 20 miles east of Dayton and 50 miles west of Columbus Ohio and only about eight miles south of Springfield, Ohio from Interstate 70 on U.S. Highway 68.
Our first activity after driving here was to explore a nature preserve with rocky formations, a waterfall, and springs.
Hiking at Glen Helen Nature Preserve
We entered the preserve from a side trail near the intersection of Glen Street and Corry Street since it was close to where we were staying in town.
A brown information sign marked the start of the trail.
The natural surface trail begins through a forest and is relatively level. Then the side trail ends at a sign that says Trail Closed since they have reworked the trail system here. From here we turned left to go towards the natural springs.
Here you start to head further downhill to Yellow Springs Creek. We stopped for a moment at a pillar-like rock formation. My son Andrew enjoyed climbing around it.
Down to the Dam Walkway
Next, we headed to a long wooden bridge. This is a newer bridge constructed in 2017 on a former dam site high above the creek.
A flood in 2014 destroyed a previous wooden bridge that was lower.
Grotto Falls
After crossing the creek, we came to the grotto falls. It is a short waterfall that also includes a cave behind it.
We crossed a small stone bridge over a small brook flowing from the grotto down to the creek.
Yellow Spring
After the grotto, we went left and up around to Yellow Spring.
The town of Yellow Springs was named for this geological wonder. In the 1800s the area was popular for those seeking the curative waters of the spring.
Yellow Spring is more of an orange color coming from below a green rock ledge. It flows into a small pool bordered by a rock sidewalk. We stopped for a bit admiring the waterfall-like spring spewing forth from the rock wall before heading back.
Final Thoughts
Even though we didn’t do the full loop, we did a mile of walking here. During this walk, we crossed a bridge, saw a waterfall and a spring. We want to come back in the future and explore more of the preserve.
MORE TO SEE
This area allows for more exploring than the time we had. You could do a four-mile loop to see a lot of it or even explore more side trails through the area.
The Cascades is another waterfall you can view from doing the entire trail. It is a plunge waterfall on Birch Creek, which is a tributary of Yellow Springs Creek.
A Hopewell Indian Mound or Orator Mound is a Native American site. This mound has been known throughout frontier history since it is near the springs.
The name comes from the use of the mound for an orator’s platform during the 1840 election campaign between Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
Excavation shows that the mound was built with stone and measured 49 feet in diameter and five feet and three inches high.
Little Miami Scenic Trail
Also, by the trailhead is the paved Little Miami Scenic Trail that goes throughout the area. It is 78.1 miles long stretching from near the intersection of Ohio State Highway 32 and Beechmont Avenue in Anderson, Ohio, to the intersection of W. Jefferson Street and Center Street in Springfield, Ohio.
Trailside Museum
Located by the main parking lot is the Trailside Museum which has hands-on exhibits, although it is currently closed.
To park at the main lot costs $5. Located at 405 Corry St. in Yellow Springs.
Address:
Little Miami Scenic Trail, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Glen Helen Raptor Center
On the other side of the preserve is the Raptor Center where you can learn about injured and rehabilitated raptors and see them.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., winter; 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., spring, and fall; 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. in summer.
Address:
405 Corry St, Yellow Springs, OH 45387 –The center has limited parking but you can also hike to it from the preserve.
STAYED AT MILLS PARK HOTEL
The 24-room hotel is modeled after the 19th-century home of William Mills, a local settler who is also the namesake of the local elementary school. A gift shop and restaurant are on site. We chose this hotel since we could walk to restaurants and shops in historic downtown Yellow Springs. Most of all we could walk to the Glen Helen Nature Preserve from the hotel.
Address:
321 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
DRIVE TO YELLOW SPRINGS
Since the preserve can be accessed by either staying in town or the parking lot here is the drive to Yellow Springs. Take Interstate 70 east out of St. Louis. Then exit onto Interstate 675 south. Next, take exit 22 off of Interstate 675 and make a left onto Ohio Highway 235. Then make a left onto W. Dayton Yellow Springs Road and this will lead to the town.
For the main parking lot make a right onto E. Limestone Street and where it ends make a right onto Cory Street and parking is on the right. The fee is $5.
The town is about 5 hours and 40 minutes from the St. Louis area.
We used this as a stop along our trip back from the East Coast.
YOUNG’S JERSEY DAIRY
Only two miles north of Yellow Springs is Young’s Dairy. Here you can have ice cream, play miniature golf or see farm animals.
We first stopped into the restaurant and store combo to have a cheeseburger, fries, and ice cream.
This large space has lots of seating and includes a gift store along with cheese and other food you can take home.
After eating our meal, we went down a path through the parking lot to the 18-hole Udders & Putters miniature golf course. This was a nice one with waterfalls and a creek created in a farm thing. There are two courses and the main one here is a tougher course.
My son enjoyed the different challenges he found on the course. We did the more challenging course.
Other activities include a petting zoo, a large slide, a batting cage, a driving range, corn mazes, and wagon rides in the fall.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday – Thursday; 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday; 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday, and 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday.
Address:
6880 Springfield Xenia Rd, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
OTHER SITES
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve
A limestone and dolomite gorge with hiking paths, wooden walkways, and lookouts.
Address:
2381 OH-343, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
John Bryan State Park
Here you can hike, fish, camp, and rock climb along with going to overlooks of a limestone gorge.
Address:
3790 OH-370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Clifton Mill
Historic site with a mill, covered bridge, and restaurant.
Address:
75 Water St, Clifton, OH 45316
ANOTHER INTERSTATE 70 ATTRACTION: HOOSIER HILL
Indiana’s high point is Hoosier Hill located 13 miles north of Richmond, Ind., and our stop on our drive along Interstate 70 going east. It is not that high, and you won’t get altitude sickness, but it is an easy way to mark off the list of the high points.
