John Bryan State Park - Slow Paced

Time for another hike with Mountain Laurel. We will hike about 5 to 6 miles at a slow speed of 2.0 to 2.5 mph. Wear your hiking boots, bring water, dress for the weather and bring your hiking poles if you have them.

The trail is rocky in places with a few moderate inclines. We will hike on both sides of the Little Miami River keeping to the lower elevations where the trail is easier for most of the hike.

Description of the park:
John Bryan is the most scenic state park in western Ohio. The 752-acre park contains a remarkable limestone gorge cut by the Little Miami River which is designated as a state and national scenic river. A portion of the gorge itself is designated as a national natural landmark.
Much of the history of John Bryan State Park is "written in the rocks" of the Little Miami River gorge. Entering the area at Clifton, at 980 feet above sea level, the Little Miami drops 130 feet through layer upon layer of bedrock. Each layer has a story to tell of times when the area was covered by warm, shallow seas or was a part of a muddy river delta or was scoured by tons of slow-moving glacial ice. Each layer has its own characteristics as well. Some of the shale layers are easily worn away by the forces of erosion, causing undercutting in the cliff face. The more erosion-resistant dolomite or limestone rocks above are weakened by this undercutting and large "slump blocks" fall away, creating unusual rock formations including Steamboat Rock. Springs feeding small waterfalls and cascades are common.