glen helen nature preserve

The Glen is heaven on earth. The Yellow Spring surrounded in snow is a sight you don't want to miss.

What a lovely area! Lots of hikes (bring your own maps they are open everyday but that doesn't mean the visitor center is and they don't even have a map on the board). Pretty river you can hop across rocks to cross or take a bridge. The raptor center was just awesome to see those birds up close. It is free, but donations can be made. You walk along the path outside the enclosures for the raptors that could not survive in the wild on their own due to injuries, etc. I was there on a cold day in December and was almost always in sight of other people so I can't imagine how busy it is on a warm day.

If you're in the area to do John Byran SP and Clifton Gorge, then this makes a relaxing warm up or winding down. All three could be done in the same day, especially in the summer when there's more daylight. We hiked from the parking lot to the Pine Forest, then up to the Raptor Center. That was well worth the visit, no guides around, but you could see many kinds of owls, hawks, and even a bald eagle in outdoor enclosures. From there we hiked a loop around the main 'Sights', the waterfall, spring, grotto, etc. Then we kind of got off the marked trail and eventually found our way above the cliff line on the west side of the park before getting back to our car.It would be nice if they marked the trails. If you were new there and didn't have a map, I have no idea how you would know where to go or even to get back to where you started. We were able to stay mostly on course by paying attention and looking at the map frequently.

There is so much to see at Glen Helen. Our winter hike was in the afternoon after a morning of hard rain. The sun barely peaked out. We saw a pileated woodpecker first thing. The waterfalls were flowing steadily. Also liked seeing the old dam, the yellow spring, and Pompey's Pillar. Glen Helen is a bit of a hidden gem in Ohio.I do wish the trails were marked with signage or paint. I had a map, but got turned around as we crossed streams and intersections. There were also fences around some of the foliage. It was clear that some plant was being protected, but there was no information to hand about what it was. A sign would have been appropriate to educate visitors.

Lovely hikes throughout the Glen. If you don't like the crowds that are there on lovely, warm weekends, then get a map and explore some of the other areas of the Glen. The Raptor center and the Nature Center have some nice interpretive displays. Fun for kids.

Visit the lovely park in a small town in Ohio when you are in the area. This park has many small waterfalls and great trails to follow. As a bonus visit the town of Yellow Spring when you are finished with your hike. Visit the many small shops and places to eat. You won't regret it.

This is an educational themed park with trails and two centers. One of which has several birds on display including a one winged bald eagle that has been there for many years. Small parking lots is the only drawback.

Come here at least once a year. Any time of year offers hiking trails, picnic spots and a place close to nature.We are wildflower lovers and have discovered things here we've never seen anywhere, particularly wild ginger, a rare brown flower.Also a beautiful drive in the Fall.

What a beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature. The springs and surrounding preserve are a must see when in Yellow Springs.

My 3 year old son and I visited to see the outdoor raptor center. We got to see different kinds of owls, hawks, eagles and vulchers.

Have hiked here many times and really love it, but they could use some trail signage! I know it is run by a nonprofit now, so they probably don't have the funds.

Love it, I go there so often I need to find another nature preserve to go to because I've been there too much :-)

This nature preserve is located just a few steps from downtown Yellow Springs and was formerly the site of the 19th century health spa from which the village derived its name. It is a beautiful walk down about 100 steps from the nature center to the floor of the valley and from there paths diverge to the actual yellow (actually orange) iron rich spring or the the legendary Pine Forest in the opposite direction. There is a beautiful waterfall that is all that is left of the raging, post glacial torrent that carved out the valley and several places where paths cross the stream and invite getting your feet wet on a hot summer afternoon.

I found the Glen in 1997 when on a retreat while a student at UD. I have been going back almost annually since then and love the peacefulness of the place. There are enough sites of interest that keep my kids excited about what they are going to see next but it's big enough that it never feels crowded, except maybe at the waterfall. We hiked the gorge and glen in one day and while it's doable- it might be better to split up and really enjoy both amazing places on their own. The hiking trails are all well marked and wide- nothing too difficult about it for younger kiddos.

This is a sprawling area full of waterfalls, wildlife, trails and watercourses that offers much of what nature lovers need to breathe. It's serene beauty will quiet any agitation upon setting foot on protected lands.