Charleston Falls Preserve (Blog Hike #86)

Trails: Falls, Redbud Valley, Creek, and Prairie Trails

Hike Location: Charleston Falls Preserve

Geographic Location: north of Huber Heights, OH (39.91600, -84.14852)

Length: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: March 2001, July 2016

Overview: A short loop trail through young forest featuring a waterfall, creek, and pond.

Park Information: https://www.miamicountyparks.com/parks/charleston

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717462
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Charleston Falls Preserve is easy to reach from anywhere in greater Dayton.  Just east of I-75, take I-70 to SR 202 (exit 36).  Exit and go north 2 miles on SR 202 to Ross Road.  Turn left.  The entrance to the preserve is one mile ahead on the right.  Park in the large, paved lot.

The hike: Tucked away in the very southeastern corner of Miami County, Charleston Falls Preserve protects 169 acres of mostly reverting farmland.  The preserve is owned and managed by the Miami County Park District.  Created in 1967, the Miami County Park District is one of the newer Metroparks system in Ohio.  To date, the system consists of only 3 preserves with maintained hiking trails.  Nevertheless, these three trail systems are well-designed, well-maintained, and offer excellent scenery.  The park districts employs several rangers to staff its locations (odds are you will see at least one of them in this park) and new additions are planned for the future.

            Charleston Falls Preserve was the first land acquisition by the Miami County Park District.  The newly formed park district purchased the land in 1976 with the help of federal matching funds.  The central feature of the preserve is Charleston Falls, a beautiful 37 foot waterfall accessible only by trail.  In addition to the trail to the falls, the small preserve has an extensive trail system that allows visitors access to almost every corner of the preserve.  Our hike will start with the Falls Trail, then continue to form a loop of 1.5 miles.  Restrooms and fresh water are provided at the parking lot.

Trailhead at Charleston Falls Preserve

            All of the preserve’s trails share a common entrance trail at the east end of the parking lot by an information board and map dispenser.  After 50 yards, the gravel entrance trail ends at a T-intersection.  The two options encircle a field directly in front of you and rejoin at the falls in 0.3 miles.  I suggest turning left to stay further away from noisy Ross Rd.  At the next fork, bear right.  The left trail will be our return route later in the hike.  Slowly curve to the east through young oak-hickory forest with a thick shrub-layer of honeysuckle.  This part of the trail makes for particularly good wildflower viewing in early April.

            In 0.3 miles Charleston Falls can be heard coming from the left.  For the best view, look for a side trail that goes off to the left, descending some crude stone stairs to arrive below the cliff line.  The trail soon becomes a wooden boardwalk with three good viewing areas for the falls.  Depending on the water levels, the falls may be anything from a rushing torrent after a thunderstorm to three small spouts in the dryer months.  The falls get their name from the town of West Charleston, located just west of the preserve.  This waterfall is one of the best in the area because of its height and easy access.  In addition, a total of five viewing areas (three below the falls and two more on the main trail above the cliffs) allow the falls to be viewed from every angle.

Charleston Falls in winter

            Past the falls, the trail remains below the cliff line, passing a small limestone cave on the right.  Finally, the trail turns right and ascends steeply to intersect the main trail.  Turn left to continue the loop, remaining on the hilltop for 500 feet before descending steeply to creek level.  You are now in Redbud Valley, a streamside section of land featuring redbuds, red cedars, and prairie grass.  A boardwalk keeps your feet dry and protects the prairie from being damaged by visitors.

            At the next intersection, turn left to hike the Creek Trail.  Back in the young hardwoods, follow downstream along the same small stream that created Charleston Falls, now behind you.  In about 800 feet, the trail turns left and crosses the creek on concrete steps that have been poured into the creek bed.  This crossing could be wet or even impossible during times of high water.  Once across the stream, the trail begins a long moderate ascent, first in the young forest, then through a tallgrass prairie planting. 

Stepping "stones" across creek

            Stay left at the trail intersection half-way up the hill and soon arrive at Cedar Pond.  The small, man-made pond named after some nearby cedar trees would not particularly noteworthy except for one unusual feature: a wooden “Cedar Pond” sign in the middle of the water.  The letters are printed backward so that the hiker must read the sign in its reflection.  Some small fish can also be seen swimming in the pond’s clear waters.  A bench sits near the water so that the surroundings can be admired.  This also makes a good rest stop after the long climb from the creek.

Cedar Pond

            Continue climbing the hill (more gradually now) and reenter the young forest where the Locust Grove Trail enters from the right.  Soon after crossing an oil pipeline easement the trail connects with the Falls trail to close the loop.  Either continue straight ahead to return to the entrance trail and complete the hike, or turn left to see the falls one more time before leaving.