Caesar Creek Gorge

About this Location

The preserve’s prime feature is the gorge that was formed by great volumes of glacial meltwater cutting down through the bedrock to expose Ordovician limestone and shale rich in fossils. The steep walls rise to 180 feet above the river. More than two miles of Caesar Creek flow through the gorge to the Little Miami State and National Scenic River.

  • Limestone gorge with Ordovician fossils
  • Spring wildflowers
  • Parking lot
  • 2.25-mile trail system

The stream and its banks support a wide variety of plant and animal life. Many of the aquatic insects and small fish found here, such as darters, indicate excellent water quality.

The preserve also contains diverse habitats ranging from successional fields to heavily wooded hillsides with beech, maple, hickory, and oak. A luxuriant herbaceous flora covers the floodplain, and a variety of prairie species is found on the shallow soil of the cliffs and in old fields.

Adjacent to the preserve is 135 acres of Scenic River land, a river access site and the Corwin M. Nixon covered bridge.

This forested land, managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, helps maintain bank stability, serves as an example of good floodplain land use, and provides recreational access to the Little Miami State and National Scenic River.

Notable Trails

Caesar Creek Gorge Trail
The Caesar Creek Gorge Trail may be accessed on the west end from the Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve on Corwin Road or on the east end from Caesar Creek State Park. The hike is about 5 miles round trip from either direction, taking the loops on either end.

The Caesar Creek Gorge Trail is a segment of the Buckeye Trail.

With just 2.25 miles of trails, Caesar Creek is a fun place to walk through the woods and take in the scenic beauty along the creek. Offering a lower and upper loop, with minimal elevation gain, the trail is especially beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Official Website and 6 Amazing Day Hikes on the Buckeye Trail

Last updated February 9, 2023